Weinberg to Hold Memorial Tribute to Richard Iton Oct. 1

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences Dean Sarah Mangelsdorf and Northwestern’s African American studies department will honor the late Professor Richard Iton with a memorial tribute today, Oct. 1, at 4:30 p.m. in Harris Hall Auditorium, 1881 Sheridan Road, Evanston campus.

Speakers at the tribute to the late professor -- who was nationally known for his insights on the ways black popular cultured forged community and affected politics -- will include faculty members, administrators, students and members of the Iton family.

A reception at 6 p.m. in Harris Hall’s nearby Leopold Room will follow.

Iton, who died in April, was the author of the award-winning book, “In Search of the Black Fantastic: Politics and Popular Culture in the Post-Civil Rights Era. The Los Angeles Times called it a “fascinating history and analysis of black popular culture and activism from the Jazz Age to the hip-hop era.” 

For more about Iton, who played a key role in developing Northwestern’s African American studies Ph.D. program, read his obituary.