Cornel West
The Arrested Development of Democracy

Cornel West, Ph.D., Professor of Religion, and Director, Afro-American Studies Program, Princeton University—Princeton, New Jersey

One of America’s most provocative public intellectuals, Cornel West has been a champion for racial justice since childhood. His writing, speaking, and teaching weave together the traditions of the black Baptist Church, progressive politics, and jazz. The New York Times has praised his “ferocious moral vision.” Currently the Class of 1943 Professor at Princeton University, West burst onto the national scene in 1993 with his bestselling book, Race Matters, a searing analysis of racism in American democracy. Race Matters has become a contemporary classic, selling more than a half a million copies to date. In addition, West has published 16 other books and has edited 13 texts. Martin Kilson, one of his professors at Harvard, describes West as “the most intellectually aggressive and highly cerebral student I have taught.” In his last book Democracy Matters, West analyzes the arrested development of democracy both in America and in the crisis-ridden Middle East. He argues that if America is to become a better steward of democratization around the world, it must first recognize its own long history of imperialist corruption. His latest CD, Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations is a collection of socially conscience music featuring collaborations with Prince, Outkast, Jill Scott, Talib Kweli. West also offers commentary weekly on The Tavis Smiley Show from PRI.

Informal meeting/Book Signing: Democracy Matters—2:30–3:30 p.m.

Haunani-Kay Trask
Militarism and Tourism in the Pacific

Haunani-Kay Trask, Ph.D., Professor, Center for Hawaiian Studies, University of Hawai’i—Manoa, Hawai’i

Haunani-Kay Trask, a Native Hawaiian, best-known indigenous leader, and human rights organizer in her Native land of Hawai‘i. Professor Trask descends from a long line of Native orators. Her grandfather, a Hawai'i Territorial Senator, and her father, a lawyer and advocate for Hawaiians, were among the political figures known for their speechmaking and political contributions toward securing Native land rights in Hawai'i. Today, Professor Trask is widely considered an authority on Hawaiian political issues, as well as an internationally-known Indigenous human rights advocate. Born in California, Trask has represented Native Hawaiians in the United Nations and various other global forums. She has spoken at venues across the Pacific, including New Zealand and Australia, in the United States and Canada, in Europe, including at the United Nations in Geneva, the Human Rights forum in Strasbourg, and the Basque country in Spain, and in Africa at the World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa. For the past twenty years, Trask has enlightened audiences about conditions facing indigenous peoples, including the global struggle for human rights. Described by the San Francisco Examiner as the “radical firebrand, feminist author and native daughter of royal blood who is one of the leaders of a growing sovereignty movement in Hawai‘i,” Trask was ranked one of the top Native leaders in a 2001 poll taken by The Honolulu Advertiser.

Trask has authored four books, including the bestseller, From a Native Daughter: Colonialism and Sovereignty in Hawai‘i. Alice Walker has called the book, “A masterpiece on decolonization,” that is “so powerful, it will change the way you think about Hawai‘i and all the lands seized by force forever.” From a Native Daughter:Colonialism and Sovereignty in Hawaii is a collection of essays on the Hawaiian sovereignty movement. Trask produced the award-winning film, Act of War: The Overthrow of the Hawaiian Nation. She also has a public-access television program called First Friday. Dr. Trask’s dissertation was revised into a book entitled Eros and Power: The Promise of Feminist Theory and was published by the University of Pennsylvania Press in 1986. Trask has at times been an outspoken and visible leader within the Hawaiian sovereignty movement. She opposes the tourism industry and the United States military presence in Hawaii. She identifies with other activists and leaders, most notably Malcolm X, Franz Fanon and the Kenyan writer Ngugi wa Thiong'o. She also maintains a friendship with Ward Churchill, Angela Davis and Alice Walker. More recently Trask has spoken against the Akaka Bill.

Book Signing and Informal Dialogue: 10:30 a.m.–noon “From the Native Daughter” published by the University of Hawai’i Press.

Ron HIS HORSE IS THUNDER
Mitakuye Oyasin (We are All Related)

Ron HIS HORSE IS THUNDER, J.D., is a member of the Hunkpapa-Lakota Oyate and currently serves as the Tribal Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. He is also the Chairman of the Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association.

The Standing Rock Sioux Reservation is situated in North and South Dakota. The people of Standing Rock, often called Sioux, are members of the Dakota and Lakota nations. "Dakota" and "Lakota" mean "friends" or "allies." The people of these nations are often called "Sioux", a term that dates back to the 17th century when the people were living in the Great Lakes area. The Ojibwa called the Lakota and Dakota "Nadouwesou" meaning "adders." This term, shortened and corrupted by French traders, resulted in retention of the last syllable as "Sioux." There are various Sioux divisions and each has important cultural, linguistic, territorial and political distinctions.

In 1988, Ron His Horse Is Thunder received his Juries Doctorate from the University of South Dakota School of Law. His Horse Is Thunder began his career by serving in several professional capacities, e.g., as an attorney, director, and grants evaluator on the Rosebud and Standing Rock Sioux reservations. From 1991-1993, His Horse Is Thunder served as president of Standing Rock College, where he was responsible for the overall college operations and led the college in achieving five years of accreditation. He left the college in 1993 to head up the American Indian College Fund based in New York city, where he served as the President until 1995. He returned to North Dakota and accepted the position of President at Little Hoop Community College in Fort Totten, North Dakota. Returning to the presidency of Sitting Bull College (formally Standing Rock College) in 1996.Under his leadership the college was granted ten years accreditation, and began offering fully accredited bachelor degrees. He also developed a new campus capital campaign, raising over sixteen million dollars. His Horse is Thunder served in this capacity until his election as Tribal Chairman in 2005.

In the higher education arena, His Horse Is Thunder has served as a Commissioner for the Higher Learning Commission for the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. He also served on the boards of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium, the North Dakota Tribal College Association, and the American Indian College Fund. In 2002, President George W. Bush appointed him Chair of the President's Board of Advisors on Tribal Colleges and Universities and he continues to serve in that capacity today. As Tribal Chairman His Horse Is Thunder now serves as the Chairman of the Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association, Chairman of the Aberdeen Area Tribal Chairman’s Health Board, and Co-Chairman of The Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Budget Advisory Council. He also serves as a board member for the National Congress of American Indians, the National Indian Health Board, and the Native American Rights Fund.

Pedro Noguera
Racial Inequality and Higher Education:
Moving Beyond Race in Post Civil Rights America

Pedro Noguera, Ph.D., Professor, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development; and Executive Director, Metropolitan Center for Urban Education, New York University; Co-Director, Institute for the Study of Globalization and Education in Metropolitan Settings (IGEMS)—New York, New York pedro.noguera@nyu.edu

Pedro Noguera is one of country’s most important voices on education reform and diversity, an award-winning educator, author and activist. An expert on school reform, diversity, and the achievement gap. Dr. Noguera is the author of several groundbreaking texts, a regular guest on CNN, and a dynamic speaker who translates social theory into concise, hip language with emotional impact and intellectual rigor. As a leading urban sociologist, Noguera examines how schools are influenced by social and economic conditions in the urban environment. What are the challenges they face in providing safe, academically rewarding environments? What is the state of race relations, racial inequality? What is the role of diversity? What is the impact of violence, parents, and school vouchers? What factors promote student achievement? Which detract from it? What is the impact of immigration and migration? A realistic, hopeful speaker, Noguera presents you the hurdles we face in providing equal education to all—and then unveils the solutions that are already working to overcome them.

Book Signing and Informal Dialogue: 5:00–6:00 p.m. For more information, visit the Speak Out web site at www.SpeakOutNow.org