Wall Street Journal Editorial Board Member Jason Riley to Discuss 'Economics & Politics of Race' at LSU Manship School’s Reilly Center
November 9, 2020
BATON ROUGE– Despite America’s having a twice-elected Black president and a growing number of Black elected officials, there is a lag in Black economic advancement. Join Wall Street Journal editorial board member and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute Jason Riley as he discusses strategies to promote Black economic, social and political growth on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020, at 5 p.m. CT on Zoom.
Southern University’s Department of Political Science and History Chair Albert Samuels will join the conversation, hosted by LSU’s Eric Voegelin Institute and the Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs.
Riley, a seasoned columnist for the Wall Street Journal and a Fox News commentator, brings a distinct perspective surrounding the continued inequalities of Black people in the United States and the political structure encompassing them.
“Although many were hoping that Black political success, including the presidency of President Obama, would translate into more Black economic advancement, that's not what happened,” Riley said. “In fact, Blacks have experienced lower unemployment rates, lower poverty rates and higher wage gains under President Trump than they did under President Obama.”
Joining Riley in the conversation is Southern University’s Department of Political Science and History Chair Albert Samuels. His research focuses on American politics, Black politics, Louisiana politics, educational policy and voting rights.
“I am delighted to join Mr. Riley for this discussion and offer my understanding of the historical context behind the economics and politics of race,” Samuels said. “There are obvious disparities in public advancement for Black Americans, and understanding the systems and structures that have led to those disparities is key to understanding where we are now.”
Riley’s participation in this event is supported by the Eric Voegelin Institute and will be moderated by LSU students Justin Franklin and Tyler Hunt. Franklin is studying mass communication with a concentration in political communication, and Hunt is double majoring in political science and African American studies.
The event, “Economics & Politics of Race: A Conversation with Jason Riley of The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board,” will take place Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020, at 5 pm CT via Zoom. Admission is free and open to the public, but you must register in advance. Reserve, via Eventbrite, your virtual seat in the conversation by Wednesday, Nov. 11. The event will also be recorded and uploaded to the Reilly Center’s website.
For more information, contact Kelci Sibley at ksibley1@lsu.edu or (225) 578-0416.
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The Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs is partnership-driven, action-oriented and dedicated to exploring contemporary issues at the intersection of mass communication and public life. Its interdisciplinary approach draws together experts from diverse fields to advance research and dialogue. The intent is to inspire our communities to think deeply, take action, develop solutions and broaden knowledge. Underlying the Center’s endeavors is to strengthen and advance the Manship School’s national and state leadership in media and politics.
LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication ranks among the strongest collegiate communication programs in the country, with its robust emphasis on media and public affairs. It offers undergraduate degrees in public relations, journalism, political communication, digital advertising and pre-law, along with four graduate degree programs: master of mass communication, Ph.D. in media and public affairs, certificate of strategic communication, and dual MMC/law degree.
The Eric Voegelin Institute, named for one of LSU’s original Boyd Professors and a scholar of international recognition and acclaim, is a humanities and social science research institute devoted to the revitalization of teaching and understanding of the great works of civilization.