Kansas University’s Hall Center for the Humanities announced the speakers for its “Difficult Dialogues: Race, Education and American Politics” series this fall.

David Roediger, professor of history and African-American studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will present “Will Race Survive in the U.S.? The Possibilities and Impossibilities of the Obama Phenomenon.” Roediger’s lecture will be from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 15 at The Commons on the main floor of Spooner Hall.

The Commons also will be the site of a noncompetitive debate between KU and Texas Southern University debate teams. Texas Southern is one of the largest historically black colleges in the nation. The debate will be from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 10.

Charles Johnson, a professor in English at the University of Washington in Seattle, will discuss “The Obsolescence of the Concept of Race.” Johnson’s lecture will be at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Spencer Museum of Art auditorium.

The final lecture will feature Julia Wright, daughter of “Native Son” author Richard Wright. Wright will present “Uncle Tom’s Grandchildren: How My Father Taught Me About Race.” Her lecture will be at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at The Commons.

All events are free and open to the public.