News
What: Charles Johnson, nationally recognized novelist, short story writer, essayist and cartoonist, will deliver the keynote address at PSU's annual community-wide event celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The event is sponsored by Portland State University and Oregon Public Broadcasting.
When: Monday, February 19, 2007, at 7 p.m.
Where: Smith Memorial Student Union Ballroom (SMSU), room 355 (1825 S.W. Broadway).
Cost: Tickets are $5 for the general public, free for students with a valid student ID, and can be purchased at the PSU Ticket Office (SMSU, room 102, 503-725-3307) or Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets purchased for the original date will be honored. Seating is limited.
Contact: For more information call 503-725-5342. Media requests for an interview with Charles Johnson should be directed to Laura Jundt at 503-725-8555.
Background: Charles Johnson, a scholar of African-American literature, first came to prominence as a political cartoonist. In 1970, he published a collection of cartoons that led to a television series on PBS. Johnson won the National Book Award in 1990 for Middle Passage, which embodies his provocative version of black literature and in 2003 published Turning the Wheel, a collection of essays about his experiences as an African-American Buddhist. He is currently the S. Wilson and Grace M. Pollock Endowed Professor of English at the University of Washington and is a MacArthur Fellow. He is also the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship
Due to inclement weather, Charles Johnson was not able to make the original scheduled date on January 18, 2006.
Original release date: December 6, 2006
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (#06-139A)
