Hip-hop artist Common to speak on community, interfaith at Hendricks Chapel
Bridging the gaps between hip-hop and community awareness, rap artist Common will be coming to Syracuse University to lecture about the positive effects of social integration within the Syracuse community and beyond.
Hosted in a collaboration between the Student African American Society and the Muslim Students Association, Common will spread awareness about Islam and racial issues, host a question and answer session with the audience, and perform two pieces of poetry at Hendricks Chapel on March 24 at 7 p.m.
‘We carry a series of events on campus where we educate and spread awareness about Islam and also African Americans,’ said Nyuma Njie, President of SAS and Vice President of Programming for MSA. ‘Common being that he is very dedicated to the community, basically does what we do on a larger level.’
Common, a Grammy-Award award-winning artist, has produced over seven albums including ‘BE’ and ‘Finding Forever.’
‘We thought this was a very important person to bring to campus to talk about anything about interfaith or lessons in life that students can benefit from, listen to and enjoy,’ said MSA President Mahad Hashi.
Beyond producing music, Common founded ‘The Common Ground Foundation’ in 2007, in which the artist reaches out to urban communities in order to help them realize their full potential.
In addition to SU students, President Assistant for MSA and Vice President of External affairs for SAS Yusuf Abdul-Qadir hopes to include students from public schools in the Syracuse area. By interacting with the youths of the Syracuse, Abdul- Qadir said he wants Common to inspire them to become more involved with the community.
‘Were going to give away about 30 free tickets to kids in the community, that would include local high school students,’ said Abdul-Qadir. ‘We want them to engage with him and see that there’s a lot of opportunities that can be useful.
Both MSA and SAS believe that Common has the ability to unite the campus and community through his inspiring lectures and poems said Abdul-Qadir. He believes that there’s a lack of unity on the SU campus between not Muslim and African American communities, but all groups and communities.
Through Common however, he believes awareness will be raised toward the diverse set of communities at SU and beyond.
‘We wanted to bring someone who can give to the campus community,’ said Abdul-Qadir, ‘but at the same time, would also bring people together.’
Published on March 11, 2010 at 12:00 pm
