Ann Arbor Times

Eastern Michigan University’s Department of History and Philosophy will host the next event in its History Speaker Series on Monday, Oct. 27, at Strong Hall. The featured speaker is David Waldstreicher, a history professor at The City University of New York.

The annual series aims to connect students with historians recognized nationally and internationally, expanding their understanding of historical topics. This year’s theme is “Globalizing the American Revolution and Its Legacies,” focusing on revolutions, empires, and liberation movements.

Walter Lorenz, assistant professor of Middle Eastern and North African History and coordinator of the series, said: “The series reminds us why history matters. For students, attending these talks can be transformative. They see how historians ask questions, analyze evidence, and challenge assumptions.”

Waldstreicher’s lecture is titled “Black Poets and the Patriots who Mocked Them in Jefferson's America.” The discussion will explore African American literature during the revolutionary era and its political impact. Topics include race, democracy, migration, as well as a focus on Phillis Wheatley—one of the first African American poets to publish her work—and comparisons between figures such as Francis Williams and Thomas Jefferson.

The event provides an opportunity for open dialogue about historical issues relevant to both EMU students and the wider community. All events in the series are eligible for LBC credit.

Eastern Michigan University was founded in 1849 and is Michigan’s second-oldest public university. It enrolls over 12,000 students across undergraduate through doctoral programs with more than 300 majors offered by several colleges within the university. EMU emphasizes career readiness through hands-on learning experiences and partnerships with industry.

More information about upcoming events can be found on the Department of History and Philosophy website or by visiting EMU Today.