Panel discussion could shed light on
Black political behavior

KINGSTON, R.I. -- January 23, 2000 -- A panel discussion, "Africans of the Diaspora: Implications for Leadership in the 21st Century" will take place in the URI Library's Galanti Lounge on URI's Kingston Campus on February 22 at 3:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

"We are looking forward to the discussion which we believe will shed new light on Black political behavior in the wake of the 2000 Presidential election and the disappearance of Black urban communities," says Dr. Cynthia M. Hamilton, director of URI's African and African-American Studies Program which is presenting the panel.

Panelists are Dr. Vincent Thompson, a professor of history at Connecticut College, who specializes in modern Africa, Africa and the New World, African-American History, and the role of women in African history, and Dr. William Nelson, research professor of African American and African Studies, professor of political science, and director of the Center for Research and Public Policy at the Ohio State University. Nelson's training and research interests are in the areas of American politics, urban politics, Black politics, race and ethnic relations, comparative urban studies, and public policy.

Dr. Harold Horton, UMASS-Boston-Trotter Institute, will moderate.

There will be a book signing and reception following the discussion. Both panelists had books published in 2000 on the subject matter. Thompson's book is "Africans of the Diaspora: Evolution of Leadership, 18th Century-20th Century." Nelson's book is "Black Atlantic Politics Dilemmas for the Political Empowerment in Boston and Liverpool."

For Information: Dr. Cynthia Hamilton, 874-2536, Jan Sawyer, 874-2116