FAIRMONT -- Two civil rights figures will be coming to Fairmont State College as part of the college's Black History Month activities, officials said Monday.
Ward Connerly, chairman of the American Civil Rights Institute, will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Turley Center ballroom. The Rev. Ambrose I. Lane Sr., a Washington, D.C., radio talk show host, author, educator and activist, will speak at 6 p.m. Feb. 14, in the
college's library, Room MMA.
Both events are free and open to the public.
According to Rico Tyler, director of FSC's Office of Multicultural Affairs, this year's speakers were chosen because they represent opposing black views.
"We wanted to portray that black is not a monolithic culture but has many things going on within. These are two men who represent different ends of the spectrum," Tyler said.
Connerly's American Civil Rights Institute is a national organization aimed at educating the public about problems created by racial and gender preferences. Connerly has gained national attention as an outspoken advocate of equal opportunity for all Americans.
In 1995 Connerly became campaign chair for the California Civil Rights Initiative, a campaign that led to Proposition 209, which called for an end to race-based preferences in all sectors. California voters passed Proposition 209 by a 54 percent to 46 percent margin.
The Rev. Lane has been a radio talk show personality and a political and religious commentator since 1978 on a station affiliated with the non-commercial Pacifica network. He co-anchored the nation-wide broadcasts of the U.S. Senate's confirmation hearings on the Supreme Court nominations of David Souter, Anthony Kennedy and Clarence Thomas. He also co-anchored national coverage of the Persian Gulf War.
Lane has published in national daily newspapers and authored books, pamphlets and editorials on major issues. For 17 years he was part owner, editor and publisher of a weekly newspaper in New York, and later served as editor and publisher of two public policy magazines.
For more information, people can contact the Office of Multicultural Affairs at 367-4604.
In Harrison County, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will hold a Black History Month banquet at 7 p.m. on Feb. 25, at the Holiday Inn. President Allen Lee said the plans for the speaker have not yet been finalized.
The NAACP will also sponsor a free health screening clinic from 2-5 p.m. on Feb. 26 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Lee said mammography screening, HIV and AIDS testing, diabetes testing and other health information will be available during the day.
"We want to do something to remind people how far we have come and to let young people know that they can do anything they want if they just apply themselves," Lee said.
For banquet reservations or more information about the health clinic, people can call Lee at 623-2335.
