NEWS

Slave trade’s role in economic progress to be title of UNC professor’s speech

CHAPEL HILL -- "Original Sin: The Rise of the West and the Lag of the Rest" will be the title of a talk by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor Dr. William A. "Sandy" Darity Jr. on March 24 at Charlotte.

Darity, a professor of economics and sociology and director of UNC's Institute of African-American Research, will give the free public lecture at 7 p.m at Providence Day School, 5800 Sardis Road. Reservations are required. For information or reservations, call (704) 887-7006.

Darity will discuss the role of the Atlantic slave trade and plantation slavery in the Americas, and in the economic development of Western Europe -- especially Britain and France. His talk will review the slave system as a springboard for British industrialization.

Darity has been a visiting professor or fellow at institutions including the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, the London School of Economics and Political Science and the Centro de Excelencia Empresarial (Monterey, Mexico). In 1980, he was staff economist for the National Urban League's research department. He has co-written four books, including "Macroeconomics" with James Kenneth Galbraith (1994).

The talk was arranged by Carolina Speakers at UNC, a statewide outreach program. Since 1993, the program has brought more than 90 faculty members to business, civic and community groups. The speakers share their expertise on more than 150 topics, including 46 on North Carolina and the South. To schedule a Carolina Speaker, contact Sandy Roberts at (919) 962-1993 or sandy_roberts@unc.edu, or visit the Carolina Speakers web site at www.unc.edu/depts/uncspeak.

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Contact: Sandy Roberts, (919) 962-1993, sandy_roberts@unc.edu