The Age of Obama: Fear and Anxiety Toward Race in a Post-Racial Society with Salim Muwakkil, Paul Street, Stan West. Moderated by Raquel Monroe

Sponsored by Art Activists at Columbia College Chicago

Admission is FREE. Donations are encouraged

Upon the election of Barack Obama, the media proclaimed the US to be a “post-racial” society. But are we? Are the hostility & vehemence directed at the President and his policies racially based, as Jimmy Carter suggested? And can a country that still suffers from race-based disparity & injustice be considered post- racial regardless of who sits in the oval office? This panel will look at the current state of race in this country, as seen through the public discourse of politics, protest & punditry. It will also be an opportunity to explore how the media covers race & racism in America.

Salim Muwakkil is a senior editor for In These Times, where he has worked since 1983. He is also the host of “The Salim Muwakkil” show on WVON

Paul Street is a radical-democratic policy researcher, journalist, historian, and speaker based in Iowa City, Iowa, and Chicago, Illinois. He is a frequent contributor to ZMag and four books such as Barack Obama & the Future of American Politics.

Stan West is a Columbia College instructor and a former radio host for WVON.

The event is part of the "Art, Access & Action" Summit. (See here for more info-- http://artsmediasummit.wordpress.com)