DETROIT (Feb. 6, 2012) - Wayne State University Law School's Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights is pleased to host a lecture by Patricia J. Williams, Columbia Law School James L. Dohr Professor of Law. Williams will deliver "Hope, Home and Homeland: Bailing out the Beloved Community," on Thursday, Feb. 9, at 5:30 p.m. in Spencer M. Partrich Auditorium.

Williams has taught at Columbia since 1991 and has served on the faculties of the University of Wisconsin Law School, City University of New York School of Law and Golden Gate University School of Law. As a law professor, she has testified before Congress, acted as a consultant and coordinator for a variety of public interest lawsuits, and served as a past member of the boards of the Center for Constitutional Rights, the Society of American Law Teachers, and the National Organization for Women's Legal Defense and Education Fund. She is the recipient of the Alumnae Achievement Award from Wellesley, the Graduate Society Medal from Harvard and a MacArthur Foundation grant. Her books include The Alchemy of Race and Rights, The Rooster's Egg and Seeing a Color-Blind Future: The Paradox of Race. She also writes a monthly column for The Nation titled "Diary of a Mad Law Professor."

"Patricia Williams is a leading scholar and practitioner in the areas of multiculturalism and civil rights," said Peter Hammer, professor of law and director of the Keith Center. "I do not want to give either of our ages away, but a speech I saw her give while I was in law school was one of the most inspiring parts of my legal education. We are pleased to be able to share that same experience with students at Wayne State and the residents of Detroit." 

This event is co-sponsored by the Wayne State University Department of Africana Studies, in collaboration with the Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies and the Humanities Center. For more information, call 313-577-2321.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering more than 400 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students.

For more information about Wayne State University Law School, visit law.wayne.edu.