Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter Movement to Speak at UH Sept. 27

Social activist Patrisse Cullors has experienced labels throughout her life. Many are positive: Fulbright Scholar, civil rights leader and New York Times best-selling author.  But she’s also been called a threat and a terrorist.  Cullors, co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement and author of “When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir,” will reflect on her experience as an activist and organizer at “A Day of Perspective,” hosted by the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work in collaboration with the Houston Coalition Against Hate on Friday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m.

Cullors co-founded a global movement with the viral Twitter hashtag #BlackLivesMatter in 2013. It has since grown into an international organization with dozens of chapters around the world fighting anti-black racism. A Los Angeles native, she is also co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Global Network and founder of the grassroots organization Dignity and Power Now.

“As a college of social work, we are committed to providing a community platform to lead important conversations,” said Alan Dettlaff, dean of the Graduate College of Social Work. “This year we are proud to partner with Houston Coalition Against Hate to bring this conversation with Patrisse Cullors, whose work reflects a bold and progressive commitment to racial justice. As social workers, we have a responsibility to confront racism, discrimination and oppression. Bringing together communities in partnership to achieve real and lasting change is one of the pillars of social work values and ethics.

The day will begin with an art exhibit that showcases the work of socially relevant/conscious Houston artists Patrick McGrath Muniz, Jessica Gonzalez, David McGee, Monica Villarreal and Kay Sarver followed by a panel discussion about art in the space of social and political advocacy.