© 2026 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Black History Month: Journalist Capehart heads to MSU for lecture

Jonathan Capehart photo
Courtesy photo
Jonathan Capehart speaks in East Lansing on Thursday.

Speakers at Black History Month lectures are usually historians or historical figures. On Thursday, MSU’s “Slavery to Freedom” lecture series turns instead to a modern-day journalist.

Jonathan Capehart writes for the Washington Post, hosts a podcast called "Cape Up," and is often seen as a contributor on MSNBC.

Capehart says that as someone who writes frequently on race and politics, he was intrigued by the notion of bringing a modern-day perspective to this lecture series.

"Given the presidency that we just left behind and the current one that we are in," Capehart explains, "and what we've been through over the last five years, if you go back all the way to the killing of Trayvon Martin in Florida, issues of race...are at the forefront in a way that I think is vital to the country's discourse on race."

Capehart's "Slavery to Freedom" lecture is at 5 p.m. Thursday in MSU's Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center.

Scott Pohl has maintained an on-call schedule reporting for WKAR following his retirement after 36 years on the air at the station.
Related Content
WKAR has closed the gap left by the loss of federal funding. Because of you, trusted journalism, inspiring stories, and classical music remain freely available to everyone in mid-Michigan.
Now the work continues — your monthly gift helps maintain this success and keeps public media free for all.