In August of 1981, Johnetta Cole spoke at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst about the intensification of racism, sexism and anti-social behavior in the United States. In her lecture, Cole discusses an increase of racism and sexism in civil society; the source of recent incidents of assault; and the possible solutions to these problems. This was originally broadcast on WFCR’s “Under the Sun.”
Cole was born in Jacksonville, Florida on October 19th, 1936. She graduated from Oberlin College in 1957 with a B.A. in anthropology before attending Northwestern University, where she received her master’s and doctorate degrees in 1959 and 1967 respectively. Three years later Cole began teaching in the anthropology department at UMass Amherst, eventually becoming provost of undergraduate education from 1981 to 1983. From there she moved on to Hunter College, where she taught for a few years before becoming Spelman College’s first black female president.
Today Cole currently serves as director for the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African Art.
Download: mp3 — recording begins at 00:38 seconds
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