As a part of the broader Bear Beginnings programming, the WashU Department of Sociology invites first-year and transfer student to attend our Faculty Spotlight session, featuring Prof. David Cunningham presenting a talk titled "Take 'Em Down: Removed Confederate Monuments and Racial Inequality in the U.S.." We strongly encourage students who are interested in history, archival research, collective memory (social psychology), cultural studies, cultural and human geography, anthropology, social work, political science, studies of race and ethnicity, community organization and advocacy, equity, law, social justice and activism, critical thinking and social theory, and civic and community engagement to attend this presentation. If you don't know what Sociology is and what it is all about, this is a fantastic, low-stakes opportunity to learn - even before the semester begins. 

So many of our students wish that they had discovered Sociology earlier in their college careers... Get a head start through this Faculty Spotlight presentation!

What can the past teach us about the world we live in today? Professor David Cunningham explores that question by studying racism, protest, social movements, and the lasting impact of historical conflict. His research takes students inside stories of the Ku Klux Klan, the Civil Rights Era, and the FBI’s efforts to disrupt social movements, while also examining how communities today grapple with difficult histories—from Confederate monuments to political murals. Through his books, community-based projects, and work on issues like truth, reconciliation, and reparations, Professor Cunningham connects history to the challenges we face now. His work invites students to ask big questions, challenge assumptions, and think critically about how social change happens.

Location: McMillan Hall, G052

Questions prior to the event? Or, just want to get a head start in exploring the possibilities that WashU Sociology can present? Check out our website or contact our Academic Coordinator!