Nationally Acclaimed Author to Give Lecture at Northern Illinois University College of Law

February 18, 2005

Who : Christopher D. Benson, nationally acclaimed author, to give a lecture entitled “The Intersection Between Brown v. Board of Education, the Emmett Till Hate Crime, and the Civil Rights Movement.”

Benson is a Chicago-based writer and attorney. His most recent work includes Death of Innocence: The Hate Crime That Changed America (Random House, 2003), which he co-authored with the late Mamie Till-Mobley. An Essence magazine bestseller, the memoir recounts the life and tragic death of Mrs. Mobley's son, Emmett Till, and the love and faith that helped her survive. Death of Innocence received the 2004 BlackBoard Non-Fiction Book of the Year Award and a 2003 Robert F. Kennedy Book Award honor.

What: As part of Black History Month celebrations, the NIU College of Law, Center for Black Studies, and Unity in Diversity have sponsored Benson’s lecture. A book signing and reception will follow the lecture. Benson’s most recent book, Death of Innocence will be available for purchase.

When: 4 p.m. on Tuesday, February 22, 2005, in the Francis X. Riley Courtroom at the College of Law in DeKalb.

About Christopher D. Benson:
Benson has held numerous leadership positions as a journalist, attorney, and writer. He has been an editor for Ebony magazine, a writer for Jet, Chicago, and the Crisis magazines, and he has contributed to The Washington Post and Reader's Digest. In addition to his journalism experience, Benson has served as vice-president and associate counsel of Johnson Publishing Company. He has also worked as a promotional and speech writer for several politicians including former U.S. Representative Harold Washington and as Press Secretary for former U.S. Representative Cardiss Collins.

Benson is the author of several books and short stories including Special Interest (One World/Ballantine, 2003), a suspense-thriller based in Washington, DC. He also served as editorial consultant for The New York Times bestseller and NAACP Image Award-winning memoir by Patti LaBelle, Don't Block the Blessings: Revelations of a Lifetime (Riverhead/Putnam, 1996).

Editors Note: The event is free and open to the public.
 
 
For more information, contact:
Melody Mitchell
Director, Alumni Events & Public Relations
815/753-9655l