Rodriguez, author of Brown: The Last Discovery of America and essayist on PBS’ The News Hour with Jim Lehrer for the past 10 years, will lecture at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 16, in the auditorium of University Place Conference Center, 850 W. Michigan St., Indianapolis.

Rodriguez is considered one of America ‘s most important essayists and a master of the personal essay. His writings, which include an autobiography, Hunger of Memory: The Education of Richard Rodriquez and Days of Obligation: An Argument with my Mexican Father discuss the intersection of his personal life with some of the great vexing issues of America.

“Few people get to the heart of the matter as well as Rodriguez,” said Philip Goff, director of the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture. “The fact that he can speak so eloquently to issues related to religion, politics, race and sexuality—and most especially to the ways they intersect one another—makes him a natural choice for this series.”

Rodriguez’s televised essays received a George Peabody Award in 1997. He also won the Frankel Medal, now known as the National Humanities Medal, in 1993.

For additional information, call 317- 274-8409.

To read essays authored by Rodriguez:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/essays/richard_rodriguez.html