LeVar Burton, known for his commanding roles as Kunta Kinte in the award-winning TV miniseries Roots and as Lt. Commander Geordie LaForge on Star Trek: The Next Generation, is keynote speaker at the 26th Annual Black History Month Kickoff Brunch set for Saturday, Jan. 26, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the University of New Mexico Student Union Building in ballrooms A and B.
“LeVar Burton’s remarkable ground-breaking career as an actor, director, and writer is simply one of the most important in African American cultural history,” said Finnie Coleman, acting dean of University College. “I cannot think of anyone who better embodies this year’s theme ‘Remembering Our Roots; Preparing for Our Future.’”
For more than 25 years Burton has also served as host and executive producer of the highly acclaimed PBS children’s show Reading Rainbow. He has won ten Emmy Awards, five NAACP Awards in producing and starring in the PBS series. In addition to his acting, Burton is an accomplished director. He is the only director to contribute episodes to each of the four live-action Star Trek series following the original Star Trek.
The event is sponsored by the UNM Africana Studies Department. Tickets are $25 in advance or at the door. Advance tickets are available at University Arena box office, 925-5626, the UNM Bookstore box office, 277-4569, or at www.unmtickets.com.
For more information about the UNM Black History Month Kickoff Brunch, please call 277-5644.
UNM events to commemorate Black History Month start with a flag-raising ceremony, tentatively scheduled for Friday, Feb. 1. For updated information about Black History Month events on campus, contact African American Student Services at 277-5645.
Media Contact: Benson Hendrix, (505) 277-1816; e-mail: bhendrix@unm.edu