The student-run University Lecture Series is free and open to the public
TAMPA, Fla. (Nov. 15, 2017) – The student-run University Lecture Series at the University of South Florida will host singer, actor and activist Harry Belafonte as a guest lecturer at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 16 in the Marshall Student Center Ballroom. The lecture will take place during USF’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Week in January. MLK Week brings the university community together through events and programs that honor King’s dream and vision.
Belafonte is best known for his hit song “Day-O,” which earned him the distinction of being the first recording artist to sell over a million copies of a single album in 1956. In 1960, he became the first black performer to win an Emmy Award. Years earlier, Belafonte met King on his historic visit to New York and the two men developed a deep friendship. Belafonte played a key role in the civil rights movement, including the 1963 March on Washington. Having spent decades on the frontlines of social justice struggle all over the world, from the Civil Rights Movement in the United States to anti-apartheid efforts in Africa, Belafonte possesses deep experience in this arena.
Whether drawing on his friendship with King, his work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, or his role as celebrity ambassador for juvenile justice issues with the American Civil Liberties Union, Belafonte is expected to provide the audience with his perspective on social issues – from the Black Lives Matter movement and equal rights struggles to U. S. foreign policy and humanitarianism in Africa.
The lecture is free and open to the public on a limited first-come, first-served basis following priority seating for USF Tampa students. Doors open approximately 30 minutes before the lecture start time. Real time captioning will be provided; additional reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request by calling 813-974-1001 (FL Relay 711). For more information about the lecture series, including the audience policy, visit the ULS website.
About the University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, established in 1956 and located in Tampa, is a high-impact, global research university dedicated to student success. The USF System includes three, separately accredited institutions: USF; USF St. Petersburg; and USF Sarasota-Manatee. Serving more than 49,000 students, the USF System has an annual budget of $1.6 billion and an annual economic impact of $4.4 billion. USF ranks in the Top 30 nationally for research expenditures among public universities, according to the National Science Foundation. In 2016, the Florida Legislature designated USF as “Emerging Preeminent,” placing USF in an elite category among the state’s 12 public universities. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference.
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