Students and professors from UWS came to watch the free lecture given by Ron Sundstrom about the “Post Racial Ideal” on October 7th at 4:00 p.m in Old Main.

“The reason I am interested in the post racial ideal is because it is a phrase that has popped up in the media frequently, especially when Obama won his primaries and went on to win the Presidency,” said Sundstrom.  

Sundstrom explained in his speech that the post racial ideal is a concept and why people should take it more seriously.  His speech was in an essay form, relating Jacob’s ladder, as a biblical story, back to the post racial ideal. Sundstrom relates the post racial ideal to William McNeil, a famous historian, saying he likes how he used myth history to give unity to society. At the end of his speech he answered many questions and concerns students and professors had about race, society, and the concept of the post racial ideal.

Sundstrom has published journal articles on race and philosophy and political and social philosophy. He has also written a book called The Browning of America and is in the process of writing a second book.

“I want my next book to be something that has more of a broader appeal which individuals who are interested in various topics can pick up and read and also undergraduates can pick up and access,” said Sundstrom.

Sundstrom is a professor at the University of San Francisco where he is a member of the philosophy faculty and chair of the African American studies minor. He specializes in philosophy of race and social and political philosophy. Sundstrom earned his PhD from the University of Minnesota and his bachelor’s degree at University of Minnesota Duluth.