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Johnson: Acceptance should be way of life

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Charles Johnson addresses a full room of students and professors on Wednesday night at the Memorial Union. He shared several of his viewpoints on art and spoke of his concept of community.

Well-known author Charles Johnson addressed community issues as part of ASU's annual Centennial Lecture Wednesday at the Memorial Union.

More than 300 students and ASU community members attended the speech titled "Mindfulness and the Beloved Community" in which Johnson discussed the importance of awareness and appreciation of diversity.

A term coined by Martin Luther King Jr., Johnson described a "beloved community" as one based on unconditional love and acceptance.

"These ideals should be a way of life," he said. "The question before us now in 2003 is how we shall achieve such a community."

Johnson's proposed solution emphasized the importance of being mindful of others and the value of spiritual integrity and art.

"Good art sharpens our perception," he said. "Great art changes it."

Computer information systems senior Matt Brill, who has attended the lecture series in the past, said the topic was of particular interest to him.

"I've done research on mindfulness," he said. "I wanted to hear [Johnson's] perspective on it."

An author of short stories, essays and novels, Johnson won the National Book Award in 1990 for "Middle Passage." Having started his career as a cartoonist, he also is known for his satirical humor.

Johnson was selected to present the lecture because of his prominence and the subject matter of his work, said Jennifer Adkins, event coordinator for the Barrett Honors College.

"We bring in someone who's accomplished in his or her chosen field of study, has attained the praise of peers and whose thoughtful and scholarly observations on society and the human condition help us to reflect on the way we live our lives," she said.

Computer information systems senior Andy Blount said he attended the event because of the reputation of the lecturer and the series.

"[The Honors College] always brings such great people," he said. "I try to come to as many of the lectures as I can."

Reach the reporter at katherine.j.krzys@asu.edu.


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