Polaris lecture tonight: Prof. Ken O'Reilly on Obama rise

Thursday, Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m.
Rasmuson Hall, Room 101

Ken O'Reilly, UAA professor emeritus and one of America's greatest historians of the Civil Rights era, will turn his attention to the rise of President-elect Barack Obama in a free public lecture this evening on the UAA campus, part of the Teaching American History Polaris Lecture series.

"The Unlikely Path of Barack Obama to the White House" is the title of O'Reilly's talk, which begins at 7:30 p.m. this evening in Room 101 of the Rasmuson Hall. Admission is free, and so is parking.

O'Reilly will discuss what Obama overcame to enter history as the first African American to be elected a U.S. president. He will focus on political opportunism along the color line during the long presidential campaign and within the larger history of the 20th century.

The Teaching American History Polaris Lecture series is sponsored by the Anchorage School District with a grant from the U.S. Dept. of Education. Other sponsors of Thursday's lecture include the UAA Democracy Forum, the 49th State Fellows Program, University Honors College and the Polaris Society.

For additional information about this event and UAA's Polaris Lectures, please contact Louise Lazur at (907) 786-1051 or anlcl@uaa.alaska.edu.