Political writer and commentator Juan Williams
to present Sept. 18^th JPH Lecture

   Juan Williams, one of America’s leading political writers and thinkers, will speak Thursday, Sept. 18, at North Arkansas College in the John Paul Hammerschmidt Lecture Series.  His presentation, “The Changing Face of America – The Powerful Mix of Money, Race, and Age in the New Century,” will be open to the public free of charge at 6:30 p.m. in the JPH Conference Center on Northark’s South Campus.

   With uncompromising integrity and insight into issues and ideas that dictate our nation’s discourse, Williams has risen to the top of the media as one of our most accomplished journalists.  With a breadth of experience spanning over 20 years at The Washington Post, where he served as an award-winning editorial writer, op-ed columnist, and White House correspondent, to his current role as Senior Correspondent for NPR and a political analyst for Fox News, Williams understands the hot button topics that affect the way we live and do business.

   As an Emmy winner for television documentary writing, Williams has won widespread critical acclaim. He has written six highly regarded books on the state of our nation, including Enough: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movements and Culture of Failure That Are Undermining Black America - and What We Can Do About It, igniting nationwide debate with his point blank analysis of black leadership.

   His previous book, My Soul Looks Back in Wonder, presents stirring, eyewitness accounts of history-making movements for Black, Hispanic, and Women’s rights, as well as other successes at creating a better America.  Previous books include the nonfiction bestseller, Eyes on the Prize, and the critically acclaimed biography, Thurgood Marshall: American Revolutionary, which The New York Times selected as a notable book of the year.  Time magazine described American Revolutionary as a “magisterial” work of American history, and the book was reissued in 2004 with a new epilogue to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s historic Brown v. Board of Education decision.  His other books include I’ll Find a Way or Make One, A History of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and This Far By Faith, a history of the Black religious experience in America – which was accompanied by a  six part PBS series.

   As one of the nation’s most influential journalists, Williams’ understanding of American history and his inside access to Washington politics give him a unique and informed voice as an analyst of current events.  In 2000, NPR selected Williams to host their afternoon talk show, “Talk of The Nation,” and in two years he brought the show’s ratings to record heights.  His daring perspectives on American politics, race, and culture are based on his historical understanding, political expertise, and knowledge of diversity. 

   Because of Williams’ expertise, the President’s commission chose him as the keynote speaker at the start of the Smithsonian Museum’s celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the Brown decision.  He was also selected as the first speaker in 2003 for CSPAN’s nationally televised series, Students and Leaders.  As senior correspondent for NPR’s “Morning Edition” and a regular panelist for FoxNews Sunday, Williams is at the cutting edge of America’s culture and politics.

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