Ethnic Studies Scholar to Speak at CSU-Pueblo: Ronald Takaki Has Helped Inject Multicultural History

Oct 28, 01:42 PM

Current Headlines: By Gayle Perez, The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.

Oct. 28--An internationally recognized scholar on race and immigration in American History will speak at Colorado State University-Pueblo on Nov. 13 as part of the Voices of America Distinguished Lecture Series.

Ronald Takaki, emeritus professor of ethnic studies at the University of California-Berkeley, will speak on the topic "America in a Different Mirror: Re-Visioning History."

Takaki's lecture will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Occhiato University Center Ballroom. The event is free, but because of limited seating, tickets are required.

Earlier in the day, Takaki will host a workshop at 3:30 p.m. for K-12 teachers only. The workshop will be held in the Cottonwood Room of the Occhiato University Center.

Teachers attending the workshop will receive a complimentary copy of Takaki's award-winning book, "A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America."

Teachers can reserve tickets (limit of four) for the workshop and/or the lecture by calling 369-3026.

All others may reserve tickets at 549-2810 or pick them up in Room 320 of the Administration Building at CSU-Pueblo. There is a limit of four tickets per person.

The lecture series, which features speakers on American history, is being funded by the federal Teaching American History grant program that was co-sponsored by CSU-Pueblo and District 70.

The institutions received two grants of just less than $1 million each to improve teaching American history through intensive and ongoing professional development.

As part of the project, organizers will be bringing in a series of speakers to lecture on topics relative to American history.

Takaki, 68, is the grandson of immigrant Japanese plantation workers in Hawaii. Inspired by one of his teachers, Takaki went on to earn a degree from Wooster College in Ohio. He later went on to earn a doctorate in American history from Cal-Berkeley.

Takaki taught UCLA's first Black History course and was instrumental in founding that university's centers for African-American, Asian-American, Mexican-American and Native American studies.

Takaki returned to Berkeley in 1972 and began teaching in the newly instituted Department of Ethnic Studies.

One of his courses, "The Making of Multicultural America: A Comparative Historical Perspective," provided the framework for bachelor's and doctoral degree programs in Comparative Ethnic Studies.

He would go on to teach for 34 years at Berkeley, where he was recognized by his colleagues as a distinguished teacher.

Takaki also has been honored with the Goldwin Smith University Lectureship at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., and Cornell's Distinguished Messenger Lectureship.

He has been featured on several national television programs where he has discussed issues from race and U.S.-Japanese relations to multiculturalism and affirmative action.

Takaki has written 11 books, including several award-winning publications, for which his honors include Notable Book of the Year and the American Book Award.

Takaki also is a well-noted debater on affirmative action issues, and on America's diversity and foreign policy. He also has lectured around the world.

Takaki's books will be for sale at the CSU-Pueblo bookstore on the night of his lecture. He will sign the books following his presentation.

The final two lectures in the series will be held during the spring semester.

Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin will appear Feb. 19 and author and former University of Vermont Professor James Loewen will speak May 12.

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