Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West

Television host Tavis Smiley and historian Dr. Cornel West will join musician and entertainer Bootsy Collins Saturday at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center for what promises to be a lively discussion of the cultural impact of African American music.

The trio’s presentation, which is free, will be in the Freedom Center’s 300-seat Harriet Tubman Theater from 2 – 4 pm.  Radio One’s Faith Daniels will moderate the discussion. Smiley will speak about African-American Music from the broader pop cultural standpoint; and Dr. West will provide historical context.

Smiley’s exhibition on African-American culture, “America I Am,” is currently showing at the Cincinnati Museum Center.  Smiley and West will hold a forum about that exhibition at 10 Saturday morning at the Museum Center, before coming to the Freedom Center for their conversation with Collins.

The event with Smiley, West and Collins provides the perfect accompaniment to the Freedom Center’s Textural Rhythms exhibition, a jazz inspired quilt exhibit, said the Freedom Center’s community programs manager, Charles Davis.

“All in one weekend, you have a well-known cultural critic and observer in Tavis Smiley, a high profile historian in Dr. Cornel West, and a Cincinnati musical icon in Bootsy Collins coming together at the Freedom Center to talk about music, at the same time we’re offering an exceptional exhibition on jazz and quilting – and with the Jazz Festival in town,” Davis said.  “You can hardly beat that!”

This program is free and open to the public.  Seating is first come, first serve.  You must pay admission to tour the Freedom Center or view our current exhibition Textural Rhythms.

Tags: African American Music, Bootsy Collins, Dr. Cornel West, Faith Daniels, Museum Center, Radio One, Tavis Smiley

Posted on Friday, July 30th, 2010 at 1:53 pm in Events, News, Press Releases.
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