The New Diversity
Barack Obama’s election to the presidency marked a significant turning point in American politics and history. Within Obama’s own lifetime, African Americans faced severe discrimination when attempting to vote. Now, an African American will soon occupy the highest office of the land.
On January 23, City Club welcomes M. Lee Pelton, president of Willamette University, who will discuss the political and social forces that drove this rapid societal change and abetted Obama’s victory in the recent presidential election. Dr. Pelton will address the significance of this election and will examine whether Americans now live in a “post-racial” world.
M. Lee Pelton holds a doctorate from Harvard University, where he taught in the English Department and was the dean of one of Harvard’s 13 undergraduate colleges. He also served as dean at Colgate University and Dartmouth College. Pelton was appointed Willamette University’s president in July 1998.
