Speak Out Day
Moseley Braun was the first African-American woman to serve in the U.S. Senate, representing Illinois from 1992 to 1998. An advocate for health care reform, retirement security, and equal opportunity in education, she was appointed by President Clinton to serve as ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, a post she held from 1999 to 2001. She also ran briefly for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination.
Her career in public service began in 1973, when she joined the office of the United States Attorney in Chicago as a prosecutor. She won election to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1978, going on to serve for ten years and earning recognition primarily for education reform. A native of Chicago, Moseley Braun is a graduate of the University of Illinois, Chicago, and the University of Chicago School of Law.
Junior Matthew Segal, a native of Glencoe, Illinois, and former constituent of Moseley Braun's, was instrumental in arranging her visit in observance of "Speak Out Against Discrimination Day." Segal is working as an intern with the NAACP in Washington, D.C., this semester.
"In a nation where corporate interests are seemingly paramount in controlling our government, Ambassador Braun fights for the rights of the individual," Segal said. "During her tenure in the Senate, she wrote the Education Infrastructure Act, which reflects her commitment to equal opportunity in education. Students can expect a candid insight into Washington, D.C., culture, as well as an examination of the plight of minorities and women within the political and corporate world."
"My hope is that 'Speak Out Day' will not only underscore the value of patience, tolerance, and empathy, but also mobilize our student body in recognizing, understanding, and participating in the struggle to stop bigotry," Segal added.
Moseley Braun's appearance at Kenyon is sponsored by the discrimination advisors and Speak Out Against Discrimination Day, along with Student Lectureships and the following College offices: multicultural affairs, student activities, equal opportunity, human resources, and the provost.