February 20, 2025
Black History Month Keynote - Rev. William J. Barber II, President, Repairers of the Breach, Co-Chair, Poor People’s Campaign & NYT Best-Selling Author.
Due to a personal situation, The Rev. William J. Barber II has had to postpone his visit to Dickinson. Rev. Barber was scheduled to deliver Dickinson’s Black History Month keynote address, We Are Called to Be a Movement, on Thursday, Feb. 20. He reached out to let me know that his closest mentor and colleague passed away, and the travel to Carlisle would conflict with the services. We regret to learn of this loss and look forward to Rev. Barber delivering a unifying message to our community in the near future.
The Rev. William J. Barber II will deliver Dickinson’s Black History Month keynote address, We Are Called to Be a Movement. The lecture will take place on Thursday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. in the Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium (ATS), 360 W. Louther St. The event is free and open to the public. The keynote address will also be livestreamed and available via a link at clarkeforum.org. A book signing will follow the lecture.*
Barber asserts that it is time for change and togetherness. In this address, he will explore how the American people can overcome the politics of rejection, division and greed, collectively uplift the disadvantaged, and revive democracy. In this time of change, Barber argues, it is up to us to heed the call to move to higher ground.
Barber is president of Repairers of the Breach and a co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign. He is a New York Times bestselling author of multiple books, including White Poverty: How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy and We Are Called to Be a Movement. He is also a professor at Yale Divinity School. By relaunching the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Poor People’s Campaign, Barber unites people of all walks of life in a fight against poverty. He has earned national acclaim for his Moral Monday movements, dedicating himself to uplifting those impacted by systematic racism, poverty and injustice.
Barber’s efforts have been recognized through accolades including the 2018 MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Grant; the North Carolina Award, the state's highest civilian honor; the 2015 Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Award; and 12 honorary doctorates. Barber has also given national keynotes, including at the 2016 Democratic National Convention and the homily at the 59th inaugural prayer service for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
This program is sponsored by Dickinson’s Division of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Clarke Forum for Contemporary Issues. For additional information, please visit clarkeforum.org or email clarkeforum@dickinson.edu.
*Copies of Barber's most recent book, White Poverty: How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy, will be available for purchase at Whistlestop Bookshop ahead of the keynote address. Event attendees may stop by Whistlestop Bookstore during their regular business hours to buy the book beginning Feb. 13. To claim a copy or to check availability, interested persons may call Whistlestop at 717-243-4744 or email info@whistlestoppers.com.
Further information
- Location: Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium
- Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
- Cost: $0.00