Center for Study of Race and Democracy to open at ASU

March 21, 2011

A new center to examine, explain and redefine race and democracy has been established at Arizona State University. U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor will be the keynote speaker for a ceremonial launch scheduled for 11 a.m. March 21 at Coor Hall on ASU’s Tempe Campus. The new center will also host a national conference on March 24-25: “Barack Obama and American Democracy.”

“The goal of the center is to examine race and democracy as a whole,” said Matthew Whitaker, founding director of the center. logo for Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at Arizona State University Download Full Image

The Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at ASU will serve as a hub of scholarly activity and interchange among several departments and schools, including law, political science, English, sociology, anthropology and religious studies, according to Whitaker, an associate professor of history in the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies in ASU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

“We will examine and discuss race and American democracy, produce research, and analyze public opinion. Through traditional and non-traditional scholarship our efforts will be designed to positively impact race relations and public policy,” Whitaker said.

Congressman Pastor, representing Arizona’s 4th Congressional District, will provide remarks at the ceremonial launch. Pastor, who graduated from ASU with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1966 and a Juris Doctorate in 1974, was first elected to Congress in 1991.

The ceremonial launch is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Among the new center’s research projects is one that focuses on participatory democracy and the American presidency.

“As part of this project, we are hosting a national conference to assess the achievements, failures and possibilities of the presidency of Barack Obama,” said Whitaker.

The conference will feature keynote addresses and panel discussions facilitated by authors and scholars including Catherine Clinton, William Jelani Cobb, Peniel E. Joseph, Jeremy I Levitt, John Stauffer, Rhonda Williams and David K. Yoo.

“This is the second bi-annual symposium on Barack Obama and American democracy,” said Whitaker. “Dr. Peniel Joseph hosted the first conference at Tufts University in 2009. The conference at ASU will examine the first two years of the Obama presidency, and its meaning for democracy in America.

“It will pay close attention to issues of race, gender, class, domestic affairs and foreign policy,” Whitaker said.

Panel topics include “The Obama Doctrine: American Foreign Policy in an Era of War and Peace,” “Imagery, Rhetoric and Media in the Age of Obama,” and “Hope and Change? Assessing Obama’s Domestic Policies.” Yohuru Williams, an associate professor of African American history at Fairfield University, Connecticut, will deliver the closing keynote address.

Also scheduled to speak at the conference are Michael Crow, ASU president, and Elizabeth D. Capaldi, ASU executive vice president and provost.

Conference events will take place at the University Club on ASU’s Tempe campus and at the Mission Palms Hotel in Tempe. Details and registration information are at http://shprs.clas.asu.edu/BOAD.">http://shprs.clas.asu.edu/BOAD">http://shprs.clas.asu.edu/BOAD.

Writing for young readers? Think back to when you were that age

Authors Lucy Hawking and Jewell Parker Rhodes talked about writing for young readers at the 2011 Desert Nights Rising Stars writing conference at ASU.

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Writing for young readers? Think back to when you were that age

March 21, 2011

“Pigs don’t just vanish, thought George as he stood staring into the depth of the very obviously empty pigsty.”

Thus begins Lucy Hawking’ science-themed novel for young readers, “George’s Secret Key to the Universe.” Download Full Image

So how does a pig’s escape lead to a discussion about electricity, space travel, computers and more?

When young George searches for his lost pig, he finds the pig – and new neighbors, one of whom (aha!) is a scientist. And the scientist, Eric, and his daughter, Annie, and a super computer named Cosmos, lead the way.

Thus Hawking sneaks up on the subject, drawing young readers into the realm of science and wonder.

Hawking, author of books such as “George’s Secret Key to the Universe” and “George’s Cosmic Treasure Hunt,” joined Jewell Parker Rhodes, whose first children’s book was “Ninth Ward,” published in 2010, to talk about “Writing for Young Readers” at the 2011 Desert Nights Rising Stars writing conference at ASU.

Hawking, who wrote the “George” books with her father, theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, said she writes “scientific fiction,” and her challenge, with the “George” series, was to turn her father’s famous 1988 book “A Brief History of Time,” into a book for young readers.

Rhodes, whose recently published novel “Hurricane” completes her New Orleans “voodoo” trilogy, said the first paragraph of “Ninth Ward” – which is about Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans – came to her in a dream. “I immediately began writing. It took about three months to finish the first draft.”

“Ninth Ward” was named one of the best books of 2010 by School Library Journal and selected as a Coretta Scott King Honor Book by the American Library Association.

Hawking and Rhodes answered questions and offered suggestions in an informal talk with the audience. Here are some of their points:

• An author shouldn’t expect to connect with every single reader.

• Good dialogue is crucial. Dialogue is concrete, immediate and active. Dialogue makes people seem alive.

• A good story line takes children away from their environment and brings them in.

• Stay really close to a child’s perception. What did you know when you were in that age group?

• Your hero and heroine will find that they have power. Allow them to solve problems themselves.

• Keep up with the books for young people that are being published. Read voraciously what’s being done now.

• Don’t query until you’ve finished the book. Many people never finish their book. If someone isn’t captured by your first chapter they won’t be captured by the book.

• A good editor won’t give you a formula. You have to find your unique voice. Kids are hungry for real things.

• Think back to what you liked as a young adult – but you have to keep up.

Parker added that “telling stories is part of human nature, and we’re essentially still telling the same stories. Human nature hasn't changed. We all need stories to inspire us, comfort us, and explain the nature of our world and our role in it.”

The authors recommended ">http://www.hbook.com/">“The Horn Book”, a magazine and Web resources for writers and others interested in books for young readers.

Desert Nights, Rising Stars is an annual writing conference sponsored by the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing at ASU. For more information contact the Piper Center, (480) 965-6018, or www.asu.edu/piper.">www.asu.edu/piper">www.asu.edu/piper.