2018 Sojourner Truth Lecture: Sybrina Fulton
Monday, February 19, 2018 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM EST
The Hub, HUB Ballroom
History of Sojourner Truth Lecture:
Each year at Mason, Women and Gender Studies and African and African American Studies co-sponsor the Sojourner Truth Lecture Series during the spring in honor of Black History and Women’s History months. In the past, our speakers have included Ntosake Shange, Donna Brazile, bell hooks, Anita Hill, Patricia Hill Collins, Dorothy Roberts, Nekima Levy-Pounds, Janet Mock and other notable women. It is one of our signature events during the spring semester. We design the Sojourner Truth lecture to be a rich and varied experience and thus we construct the speaker's visit around the lecture but also include a smaller event, such as a seminar with students or a conversation among women across racial/ethnic backgrounds.
2018 Sojourner Truth Lecture:
This year’s lecturer is Sybrina Fulton. Sybrina Fulton is dedicating her life to transforming family tragedy into social change. Since the death of her 17 year old son, Trayvon Martin, during the violent confrontation in 2012, Fulton has become an inspiring spokesperson for parents and concerned citizens across the country. In 2017, her book, co-authored with Tracy Martin, Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin, was released, sharing the intimate story of a tragically foreshortened life and the rise of a movement that awoke a nation’s conscience.
The publicity surrounding Trayvon’s death and the ensuing trial catapulted the country into national debate. Despite the intense struggle of losing a child, Fulton has become a role model to many by turning her grief into advocacy. Remaining strong throughout the trial and ensuing months, she lends her voice to speak against violence towards children and the need to build better, safer communities for all.
Her message not only appeals to people’s hearts as it relates to children, but is also one of hope and change, exemplified by her personal experiences and endeavors. As a mother, she inspires audiences to continuously educate their children about civil rights and to help them feel accepted as part of an ever-changing society. An honest and relatable speaker, Fulton always looks forward sharing her powerful message with everyone from colleges and legal professionals to community and family organizations, and all other proponents of social justice.
A Miami native, Fulton graduated from Florida Memorial University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in English. A proud mother, Fulton worked for the Miami-Dade County Housing Development Agency for over 25 years, and is a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Miami Gardens.
