Fletcher Word, co-owner and publisher of The Sojourner’s Truth, will speak Thursday, Feb. 6, at 12:30 p.m. in Student Union Room 3016.
Word
The Sojourner’s Truth is known as Toledo’s African-American newspaper. Since 2002, the weekly has reported local, state and national information of interest to the African-American community.
More than 65,000 readers pick up the paper, according to Word.
“We are fortunate to have Fletcher Word scheduled to discuss the topics of the changing media and the importance of those changes to communities of color,” said Dr. Rubin Patterson, professor and chair of sociology and anthropology, and director of the Africana Studies Program and the Institute for the Study and Economic Engagement of Southern Africa. “The storied history of black daily and weekly newspapers in American cities dates back to the 19th century, but a key question is how have their role and niche shifted and expanded in the age of new media?
“There is no one better to lead us into this discussion than Fletcher Word.”
Word serves on executive committees of the Northwest Ohio Black Media Association, the Toledo Press Club, the Greater Toledo Urban League and the Center of Hope Family Services.
He is a board member of the Toledo Museum of Art Cultural Diversity Committee and the UT Africana Studies Program.
Word’s talk is part of The Sojourner’s Truth and Africana Studies Brown-Bag Seminar Series and is part of the University’s celebration of Black History Month.
For more information on the free, public talk, contact Patterson at rubin.patterson@utoledo.edu or 419.530.7253.
