MEDIA CONTACT: Frederick Douglass Institute (585) 275-7235 or Sharon Dickman (585) 275-4128

October 7, 2003

EVENT: Work in Progress Seminar on "Black Autoworkers and the Rise of Racial Liberalism in Detroit, 1941-1973" by David Lewis-Colman, postdoctoral fellow at the Frederick Douglass Institute for African and African-American Studies at the University of Rochester

TIME, DATE, AND PLACE: 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, in room 302 of Morey Hall on the University of Rochester's River Campus

ADMISSION: Free and open to the public

David Lewis-Colman, postdoctoral fellow at the Frederick Douglass Institute for African and African-American Studies, will discuss the rise of racial liberalism and its implications for black autoworkers in Detroit at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22. The seminar will be held in room 302 of Morey Hall on the University of Rochester's River Campus. It is free and open to the public.

From 1941 to 1973, increasing numbers of African Americans were hired in Detroit's automobile plants and joined labor unions. Lewis-Colman contends that "racial liberals" backed the principle of racial equality and defended basic civil rights, but lacked the militancy to create lasting working-class solidarity between black and white union members.

The presentation by Lewis-Colman, who earned his doctoral degree in history from the University of Iowa, is part of the Frederick Douglass Institute's Work in Progress Seminar Series, a multi-disciplinary seminar on topics related to Africa and its Diaspora. The seminars offer an environment where students and faculty working in the broad area of African and African-American Studies can present and discuss their research.

Refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact the Frederick Douglass Institute at x5-7235.