Melissa Harris-PerryProfessor, television host and author Melissa Harris-Perry and actress, producer and transgender activist Laverne Cox have been engaged to speak during the University of Alabama at Birmingham Lecture Series in 2015.
Harris-Perry is host of MSNBC’s “Melissa Harris-Perry” and presidential chair professor of politics and international affairs at Wake Forest University. She has written two books, “Barbershops, Bibles and BET: Everyday Talk and Black Political Thought” and “Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes and Black Women in America.” Her lecture, “Crashing into Michael Brown: A Decade of Race, Rights and Justice,” is set for 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9.
Laverne CoxCox is the first trans-woman to produce and star in her own television show, “TRANSform Me,” appear on the cover of Time magazine and be nominated for an Emmy award. She is also the first trans-woman of color to have a leading role on a mainstream scripted television show, “Orange is the New Black.” She was Emmy- nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her acclaimed portrayal of character Sophia Burset on the series. Cox was scheduled to speak Monday, March 2, but her lecture has been postponed until this fall due to her filming schedule with the new CBS drama "Doubt."
Both lectures are free and open to the public and will be held in UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center Jemison Concert Hall, 1200 10th Ave. South. Doors will open at 6 p.m. The Lecture Series Committee and the Office of the Vice Provost for Student and Faculty Success sponsor the events. For more information, email diversity@uab.edu or visit www.uab.edu/lectureseries.