Wittenberg University’s Julius Bailey, associate professor of philosophy, will be the featured speaker for the Akron Roundtable, a free, one-hour live virtual forum, at noon this Thursday, Oct. 15.
According to its website, the Akron Roundtable was established in 1976 as a community forum that has featured more than 400 major corporate executives, writers, government officials, artists, and civic leaders from around the country sharing their thoughts with Akron Roundtable audiences on a wide range of topics.
Joining the ranks of such past popular speakers as Phillip Caldwell, the Ford Motor Company CEO; Clifford Grum, publisher, Fortune Magazine; William Webster, FBI Director; Rita Dove, the nation's poet laureate; and Gen. Alfred Gray, commandant, U.S. Marine Corps, Bailey will discuss “Sustaining Democratic Hope in this Gut-Wrenching Age of Racism, Hypocrisy, Bad Faith,” wherein he will talk about history, the upcoming election, and American democracy.
“What I find amazing about this opportunity is the respect their board has for me, my work, and my voice,” Bailey said. “I’m preparing for the best 35-minute speech of my life.”
Bailey, who teaches philosophy and African American studies at Wittenberg, is a philosopher, Christian existentialist, cultural critic, social theorist, diversity lecturer, and the author of five books, including his most recent release in February 2020, Racism, Hypocrisy and Bad Faith: A Moral Challenge to the America I Love (Broadview Press), and the award-winning book No. 4 Racial Realities and Post-Racial Dreams: The Age of Obama and Beyond. He recently started hosting a podcast titled "Straight no Chaser with Dr. Julius Bailey," featuring numerous noteworthy guests and providing insight and guidance on social change.
Interviewed on CNN, Fox, B.E.T, and ABC Nightline over the years, Bailey has been a guest on numerous radio shows as a social critic and education advisor. He is often sought out to speak at colleges, prisons and community organizations across America. He also completed a memoir, Be-Longing: Triumph in the Mirror, a self-published piece of narrative non-fiction and lyrical coming-of-age story about himself, a troubled kid from the south side of Chicago and how he battles haunting demons in search for love and acceptance.
Registration is not required for Thursday’s free, online event. For more information, go to www.akronroundtable.org.
