The Black Student Union invited Maulana Karenga to speak Wednesday to the student body to encourage students to strive for excellence in academic studies despite racial intentions on campus.

BSU President Pam Bozeman said, “The BSU invited him (Karenga) to act as a positive motivating force for the student community.

“And, (Karenga) will encourage students on campus to strive for excellence in their academic endeavors despite obvious racial intentions that have been expressed by members of the student body.”

His lecture will begin at 8:30 p.m. in the Holmes Student Center’s Capitol Room.

Karenga is the executive director of the Institute for Pan-African Studies in California and is an activist scholar who has gained worldwide recognition, Bozeman said.

NIU is among one of the many institutions Karenga has lectured at in the past, including Stanford, Yale and the University of Southern California, Bozeman said.

Bozeman said Karenga toured Africa and several other countries and speaks on the historical link between Africa and the United States.

Several of Karenga’s literary works attempt to bring a new perception about black life and struggle from an African-American view.

is works include “Kawaida Theory: An Introductory Outline”; “Essays on Struggle: Position and Analysis”; “Introduction to Black Studies” and “Afro-American Nationalism: An Alternative Analysis.”

In addition, Karenga created Kwanza in 1966, a holiday celebrated within the black community similar to Christmas, Bozeman said. The African-American holiday reflects the dual character of the identity and the experience of African-American people, she said.