SMU is launching the academic year with frank discussions on religion, politics and race led by experts known for finding successful ways to talk about the things that divide us.
Speakers Eboo Patel, Arlie Hochschildand W. Kamau Bell will open the Bridge Builders lecture series on Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 18 and 19, with lectures and one-on-one conversations with students and faculty. The series is part of SMU’s Cultural Intelligence initiative designed to equip every member of the SMU community with the skills and knowledge to communicate in complex cultural contexts.
Wednesday, September 18
Eboo Patel, author, founder of Interfaith Youth Core and advocate for religious diversity and cooperation:
- 10 -11 a.m. Patel leads discussion with students and faculty
- noon to 1:30 p.m. Keynote luncheon open to public
Arlie Hochschild,sociologist and author of Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right, the story of her quest across Louisiana to understand Tea Partiers who feel their interests have been left behind:
- 3 – 4:30 p.m. Hochschild leads discussion with students and faculty
- 7 p.m. Lecture open to public
Thursday, September 19
W. Kamau Bell, sociopolitical comedian, podcaster, author, executive producer and host of CNN docu-series, “United Shades of America:”
- 5 – 6 p.m. Bell leads discussion with students and faculty
- 7 p.m. Lecture open to public (SOLD OUT)
The series continues on October 2 with Arthur Brooks, author of Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America From a Culture of Contempt and concludes on Oct. 7 with Malcolm Gladwell discussing his new book, Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About People We Don’t Know.
