Delaware State University will present an author who is connecting in a big way with this year’s DSU community when it hosts Thomas Chatterton Williams in a guest lecture at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8 in the Education & Humanities Theatre on campus.

 

The event is free and open to the public.

 

Thomas Chatterton Williams is the author of Losing My Cool, a memoir in which he describes his life growing up as a mixed race youth who always considered – and still does – himself to be black. The book also deals with the lure of the hip-hop culture, Mr. William’s struggle for identity, and the love of family.

 

Mr. Williams’ book takes an extraordinary look at a subset of culture through his personal experience as well as through anthropological and philosophical discussions. Within the book, the author shares his pointed perspective on hip-hop culture and the obstacles it can be to serious engagement with the world.

 

Losing My Cool is DSU’s choice this academic year for its annual “One Book, One Campus” program, which selects a book each year for the campus community – students, faculty, staff – to read and discuss. The book is also used as part of DSU’s University Seminar Course for first-year students.

 

Thomas Chatterton Williams notes in his bio that he “was educated in his father’s study.” He holds a BA in philosophy from Georgetown University and a master’s degree from the Cultural Reporting and Criticism program at New York University. His writings have appeared in the Washington Post and n+1, among other places. He lives in New York City.

 

At the end of his presentation, Mr. Williams will engage the audience in a question and answer period.