Marc Lamont Hill, distinguished professor of African American studies at Morehouse College, kicked off Black History month at Auburn University with his speech on "Building Community in an Hour of Chaos: Progress in the Age of Obama," according to Allen Sutton, director at the Multicultural Center.
Hill said being able to expand the classroom and being able to expand his audience by his involvement with media outlets, such as CNN and FOX News, is what continues to inspire him to be an activist.
"The goal is always to reach one person," Hill said. "If my classroom, my book, my segment or my show allows one person to make a different decision, the decision that might advance freedom or expand justice or produce a more humane action, then the impact has been significant to me."
Sutton said one of the things that prompted him to organize Hill's visit to Auburn was the impact Hill had on him during one of his speeches.
"He spoke on being a part of a community and doing things to actually make a difference within the black community," Sutton said.
Hill knows how to connect what is important about doing positive things in the black community by using hip-hop and is able to communicate what the civil rights leaders did. He does it in a language that resonates with young people today, according to Sutton.
Jocelyn Vickers, diversity initiatives coordinator for the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, said the importance of African-American history goes beyond just being a celebration for a month, rather it should be celebrated throughout the year. \0x200B
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