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Health & Fitness

LANGUAGE, RACE, AND THE MEDIA: COMMUNITY FORUM

Eric Deggans, author of Race-baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation will kick off “Conversations: A Community Forum” with a discussion of the book. The floor will then open up to local media professionals Susan Campbell, Frank Harris III, and Colin McEnroe.

 

The event is in collaboration with the West Hartford African American Social and Cultural Organization and the University of Hartford President’s College.  It will take place at the Playhouse on Park (244 Park Rd, West Hartford) on Wednesday, September 18 at 7 p.m. The forum is made possible in part by a grant from the Connecticut Humanities and the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.

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Deggans, a TV and Media Critic with the Tampa Bay Times, recently published Race-Baiter as a response to Bill O'Reilly of "The O'Reilly Factor" who called him, "one of the biggest race-baiters in the country." 

“This book is an attempt to decode the ways media outlets profit by segmenting Americans,” says Deggans. Ironically, over 200 years ago Noah Webster had a similar feeling. Webster committed most of his adult life to uniting the young country around language, yet he also understood and spoke out against its use as a dividing force.  He wrote to Daniel Webster that, “The freedom of the press is a valuable privilege; but the abuse of it, in this country… is a frightful evil."

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The forum will be in a town meeting format with Deggans sharing his perspective on the media, its usage of language, and stories from his book.  A panel discussion with award winning author Susan Campbell, professor and media specialist Frank Harris III, and respected radio personality Colin McEnroe will follow along with questions and answers from the audience. Deggans’ book will be available for signing at the event or in advance through the Noah Webster House’s museum shop and website.

With a strong tie to Noah Webster (both through race relations and language), Deggans' opinions and ideas will allow participants to question the past, present, and future of the media and its effect on the relationships between different groups within the United States and around the world.  The museum’s Executive Director, Christopher Dobbs stated, “Our intent is to create a civil atmosphere, where contemporary issues that relate to Noah Webster’s legacy and West Hartford can be discussed.  It is poetic to have as our first forum a discussion around language and the media.”

Reservations are highly recommended due to limited space and can be made at www.NoahWebsterHouse.org. Advance tickets are $10 per person and $5 for museum members and community partners. The price at the door will be $10 per person (members included). Forum Patron tickets can be purchased for $50, which include a meet and greet with the speakers, hors d’oeuvres and drinks, and recognition in the printed program.

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