One of the nation’s most distinguished historians will visit Macomb Community College on Thursday, March 11, as part of the And Still They Prospered: Living Through the Great Depression program series at the college’s Lorenzo Cultural Center.
David Kennedy, professor emeritus of history at Stanford University, will synthesize the material presented in his book Freedom From Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945 to present a vivid account of how Americans coped with the Great Depression. Kennedy was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his writing of Freedom From Fear. He previously had been nominated for a Pulitzer for his book of Over Here: The First World War and American Society.
“Professor Kennedy is one of the premier historians of 20th century America,” said Geary Maiuri, dean of Community & Student Enrichment at Macomb. “His insights into the American experience during the 1930s will add significantly to the And Still They Prospered series.”
And Still They Prospered opened Feb. 27 at the Lorenzo Cultural Center and continues through May 8. Through a series of exhibits, performances and presentations, the series examines the economic, social and cultural changes that took place during the 1930s and how these shifts laid the foundation for future prosperity in the Motor City and beyond.
The series features exhibits from the Smithsonian Institution and the Michigan State University Museum; more than 40 presentations providing a comprehensive look at the people and the times; and a performance of Forgotten, a “jazz-blues opera” that tells the story of a mysterious death at the Ford Rouge Plant during the effort to organize a labor union there.
On April 29, Columbia University professor Alan Brinkley, whose latest book, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was published in January 2010, will visit Macomb as part of the And Still They Prospered series. Brinkley will identify aspects of Roosevelt’s New Deal program that have left a lasting legacy.
Both the Kennedy and the Brinkley presentation will begin at 7 p.m., with a Meet & Greet option at 5:30 p.m. Tickets to each presentation are $15 or $5 for seniors, students or military; tickets including the Meet & Greet are $30.*
Admission to the presentation’s exhibits are free and will include The Way We Worked**, a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution that reveals the effects of industrialization, urbanization, immigration, labor unrest, wars and economic depression on ordinary working Americans, whether they toiled in a coal mine, on a tractor, at a typewriter or on an assembly line. An exhibit from the Michigan State University Museum will highlight the challenges faced by Michigan’s Jewish population during the 1930s and another offers a look at the legacy of quilt-making from that era.
The Lorenzo Cultural Center is located on Macomb Community College’s Center Campus, Garfield & M-59, Clinton Township. The cultural center is open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Wednesday – Saturday; and 1-4 p.m. Sundays. Additional information on the cultural center and on the And Still They Prospered program series is available at www.lorenzoculturalcenter.com.
*The Smithsonian Community Grant program, funded by MetLife Foundation, is a proud sponsor of these public programs.
**The Way We Worked is an exhibition created by the National Archives with the support of the Foundation for the National Archives and organized for travel by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service.
About the Lorenzo Cultural Center
The Lorenzo Cultural Center (lorenzoculturalcenter.com) explores the influences and experiences that shape our community's heritage, examining topics from a variety of perspectives and creating interactive opportunities for learning, celebration and entertainment. Located on Macomb Community College's Center Campus, Hall and Garfield Roads in Clinton Township, the cultural center is adjacent to the Macomb Center for Performing Arts.
About Macomb Community College
Macomb Community College (www.macomb.edu) is one of the nation’s leading community colleges, providing learning experiences to more than 59,000 students annually. Macomb nationally ranks in the top two percent in the number of associate degrees awarded and as the largest grantor of associate degrees in Michigan. The college’s comprehensive educational programming includes pre-collegiate experiences, university transfer and career preparation programs, bachelor degree completion and graduate degree programs, workforce training, professional education and certification, and continuing education and enrichment opportunities.
Media contact:
Dan Heaton
586.445.7271
heatond@macomb.edu