Ali Mazrui doesn't need to look far for an example that
supports his assertion that racial prejudice is fading
in this country. Barack Obama sits in the oval office,
a clear signal that at least some racial divisions are
closing.
But, as racial prejudice fades, Mazrui says that cultural
prejudice — and, in particular, a prejudice
against Islam — stands ready to take its place.
Mazrui, Eastern Michigan University's 2008-09 M. Thelma
McAndless Distinguished Scholar, hopes to engage EMU faculty
and students in discussion and thought about this shift
in human relations when he visits campus March 13-23. The
McAndless endowed chair program brings distinguished artists
and scholars in the humanities to campus. Event details
can be found at http://www.emich.edu/aas/news_events.htm.
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Mazrui |
Mazrui will present a public lecture, "Africa in Global
Racial Context: From Othello to Obama," March 16, 5:30-7:30
p.m., Student Center Auditorium.
"Negrophobia is beginning to be a thing of the past, where
Islamaphobia is very much the current form of prejudice," said
Mazrui, whose visit to EMU is hosted by EMU's Department
of African-American Studies in the College of Arts and
Sciences. "I will be tracing that all the way back to William
Shakespeare and two plays: "Othello," on one hand, and "The
Merchant of Venice" on the other. My argument would be
that, in Shakespeare's day, to belong to a different religion
was more reprehensible than having a different skin color."
Mazrui, director of the Institute of Global Cultural Studies
and Albert Schweitzer Professor in the Humanities at Binghamton
University — State University of New York, is
a globally acknowledged scholar in African politics, international
political culture, political Islam and the role of language
in society.
His degrees — a bachelor's from from Manchester
University (England), a master's from Columbia University
(New York) and a doctorate from the University of Oxford
(England) — are in political science, but Mazrui's
interests have always steered him toward cultural questions.
"I regard myself as a student of political phenomena rather
than politics as they're commonly understood," Mazrui said. "My
interest is in things that are political; the politics
of language, literature (rather than the actions of politicians)."
Mazrui will present a four-day seminar (March 17-20) on
African history and political influences, entitled "The
Africans: A Triple Heritage." His PBS television series
by the same name is still a standard in classrooms.
He'll mingle with students from the International Studies
Program within the political science department, the department
of African-American Studies, and representatives from the
African Students Association and the Black Student Union
at a March 19 mixer at the Student Center
Mazrui also is scheduled to guest lecture in classes on
contemporary Africa, the African political economy and
African civilization. During his visit, the department
of African-American Studies will formally launch a new
undergraduate certificate program in African Studies.
"Professor Mazrui is a distinguished international scholar
and a globally acknowledged authority on African studies," said
Victor Okafor, head of EMU's Department of African-American
Studies. "'The Africans' came on in the 1980s (1986)
and was very helpful in transforming Americans' visual
images of Africa. Prior to that, there was nothing comparable
to it in terms of depth and magnitude aired on American
TV."
Okafor said he still uses excerpts from "The Africans" in
class. Parts are dated, but the substance of the documentary
— the discussion of historical backdrops and the influences
that shift contemporary Africa — is still relevant
and rock-solid, he said.
Mazrui was born in Kenya, but his visit to EMU represents
a homecoming of sorts.
He came to Michigan in 1974 and spent 15 years as a political
science professor at the University of Michigan. He and
his first wife, Molly Mazrui, raised three children in
Ann Arbor. She still lives there, now remarried, and they
remain friends.
"It will be nice to reconnect," Mazrui said.
But, regardless of the personal ties, Mazrui said he was
honored to accept the distinguished professorship at EMU.
In addition being a widely published scholar, Mazrui
has received several major awards, including the Medal
of Grand Companion of Oliver Tambo, bestowed upon him by
President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa in 2007. He also
was given the Living Legend Award from the Economic Community
of West African States and the Pan-African Communication
Agency.
He's been called upon to serve as a special adviser to
the World Bank, served on the board of directors of the
American Muslim Council, had visiting professorships at
universities around the world and lectured on five continents.
"Given his rich background knowledge of Africa and its
history, the lecture he's going to give when he's here,
the seminar and classes he's going to address; all of those
experiences will enrich the intellectual dialogue that
makes us a university," Okafor said.
