Why a Social Justice Day and Speaker Series?
The annual Nelson Mandela Commemoration is a speaker series that directly addresses social justice issues that affect the local or national community. As USI expands its student population, questions of diversity will come into an even starker relief on campus, and this series aims to address some of those issues, helping to prepare students to live wisely in a diverse, global community.
The mission of the Nelson Mandela Social Justice Day and Speaker Series is to raise dialogue at USI around current issues of human and civil rights, public service, and activism through diverse, dynamic, nationally, and internationally known public intellectuals and academics. We aim to augment each speaker’s visit with a day of educational opportunities for the USI community. In these activities we hope to commemorate Nelson Mandela, an internationalist educator, activist, and champion of human and civil rights.
Nelson Mandela was a South African Nationalist, a democratic socialist, an anti-colonial freedom fighter, an anti-racist activist, and a political prisoner for a third of his long life. He was imprisoned for his efforts to liberate South Africans from apartheid, racism, and colonialism. In addition to fighting in these struggles, he also played a crucial part in reconciliation efforts and the recreation of South Africa as an inter-racial democracy. His legacy is inspirational to those who seek a world in which social justice reigns, and human rights issues guide our leaders to create better societies.
Presented by the Nelson Mandela Social Justice Committee and the College of Liberal Arts in partnership with:
- USI Center for Social Justice Education
- Pott College of Science, Engineering and Education
- College of Nursing & Health Professions
- Romain Business College
- Multicultural Center
- Housing & Residence Life
- Provost's Office
