Cultural Enhancement Series

Last week, the Potter College of Arts and Letters (PCAL) welcomed acclaimed author, New York Times columnist, and MSNBC analyst Charles Blow as part of its Cultural Enhancement Series (CES) in celebration of Black History Month.

The event attracted aspiring journalists and community members, eager to hear Blow’s insights as a distinguished author and columnist. His talk, titled A People’s Access to Political Power, was followed by an on-stage interview with Dr. Martha Sales, Vice President of Student Experience and Dean of Students. The evening concluded with a Q&A session, allowing audience members to engage in meaningful discussions.

During his speech, Blow discussed the Great Migration, a historical movement in which Black Americans relocated from the South to the North in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, largely in response to racial oppression under Jim Crow laws.

“Chronic racial terror, suffocating Jim Crow, and a lagging economy in the South came at the same time as Northern factories were recruiting workers,” Blow explained. “This push and pull helped to launch what we now know as the Great Migration.”

Blow then examined the political consequences of this migration, noting that the shift led to a decline in Black political influence in the South. As a potential solution, he proposed the idea of reverse migration—encouraging Black Americans to return to Southern states to regain political and economic power at the state level.

“I believe it is time for more Black people to move back to the South,” Blow stated. “If Black populations today reflected their pre-Great Migration percentages in Southern states, they could have greater influence over state policies that promote equity.”

He supported his argument with data, pointing to the growing trend of Black Americans, particularly young, college-educated individuals, relocating from Northern and Western cities to the South. Georgia, he noted, is a key example of this movement’s impact.

Blow shared that he has already participated in reverse migration by moving from Brooklyn, NY to Atlanta, GA in 2020. He emphasized that while this trend is already underway, it has the potential to further reshape the South in positive ways.

At the conclusion of his speech, Blow discussed the overarching challenges that Black people in America face today. “Black people in America are put through so much pressure that people come to regard the resulting ill effects as a product of the culture rather than an infliction on the culture,” Blow said.

To see change, Blow offered this advice: “As Frederick Douglass once said, ‘I prayed for freedom for twenty years, but received no answer until I prayed with my legs.’ I’m just asking for more Black people in America to do like Douglass and, once again, pray with your legs.”

Many students left the event feeling inspired by Blow’s words. Four students shared their reflections on the talk. Cecilia Alali, a senior Public Relations major from Oklahoma City, OK and co-executive editor of WKU Talisman, appreciated hearing his perspective as a fellow journalist.

“It’s important to hear commentary from marginalized journalists’ perspectives. If you don’t examine it from a different lens other than the majority, what is there to learn?” she said, adding that Blow’s statement— “you have to have courage”—is something she hopes to relay to her staff.

Danielle Williams, a senior Psychological Sciences major from Goodlettsville, TN, resonated with Blow’s insights on generational pain in the Black community. “He explained how Black people need a space to remember our trauma, but that we also have to remember our trauma is not our whole story,” she reflected.

Fadé Akinbayo, a Performing Arts major from Houston, TX, was struck by Blow’s assertion that “prayer is running,” emphasizing that writing should not always seek to comfort readers. “My biggest takeaway is that my writing should continue to make people uncomfortable,” she said.

Similarly, Shylin Jordan, a senior Performing Arts major from Louisville, emphasized the importance of dialogue and vulnerability. “If we didn’t have conflicts, we wouldn’t have debates. If we didn’t have debates, we wouldn’t have conversations. If we didn’t have conversations, we wouldn’t have art, journalism, politics, or news,” she stated. She also connected with Blow’s message about emotional expression, noting, “I have the thought that because I’m a black woman, I shouldn’t be able to cry because I need to be strong, but I should be able to be frustrated, in pain, and be able to scream.”

Charles Blow’s discussion left a lasting impact on the audience, leading to meaningful conversations about history, politics, and the power of collective action. His insights challenged attendees to reflect on the past while considering the role they can play in shaping the future.

The PCAL Cultural Enhancement Series (CES) offers students and the broader community the opportunity to engage with some of the nation’s most influential artists and intellectuals. The goal of the series is to challenge perspectives, introduce new ideas, and encourage thoughtful discussion.

For more information about the Cultural Enhancement Series, visit https://www.wku.edu/culturalenhancement/.