Chris Benson visit, Nov 17-18
Award-winning journalist Dr. Christopher Benson, co-author of Death of Innocence: The Story of the Hate Crime That Changed America, will speak on campus Nov. 17-18, brought by the Department of English & Journalism and other campus and local co-sponsors. Benson’s visit includes four events:
- Nov 17: Workshop, "Writing Nonfiction" with Christopher Benson, Simpkins 327, 5:30pm.
- Nov 18: Screening, The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till by Christopher Benson, Union Sandburg Theater, noon.
- Nov 18: Panel discussion, "A Critical Look at The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till." Union Sandburg Theater, 2:30pm.
- Nov 18: Lecture, "From Emmett Till to Barack Obama: The Evolution of an American Narrative," Christopher Benson. Union Sandburg Theatre, 6:00pm.
The panel dicussion will feature Benson and several WIU faculty: Peter Cole, History; Oswald Warner, Sociology; Roberta Di Carmine, English & Journalism; and Darwin Fishman, African American Studies. Moderated by Janice Welsch, English & Journalism, Emerita.
The video The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till is on reserve at the Malpass Library beginning Thursday, Nov 5, 2009.
Benson co-wrote the 2003 Random House book with Mamie Till-Mobley about the life and death of her son, Emmett Till, and the history-making changes that followed his 1955 lynching in Mississippi.
Benson has worked in radio and TV, and for Ebony magazine. His journalism has also appeared in Chicago magazine, the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times and Reader’s Digest. He now teaches at the University of Illinois in Urbana.
