DATE: 2 p.m. Jan. 19, 2009.

EVENT: Comedian Larry Wilmore of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” will add his own comic perspective to the University’s Martin Luther King Day celebration with his talk, “Don’t Take Diversity Seriously: Just Kidding!”

Wilmore, who has won both Emmy and Peabody awards, will share his provocative, timely and hilarious views on race, diversity and politics in America on the day before Barack Obama’s historic inauguration.

“President-elect Obama has ushered in an era of change and in that spirit I think it’s time for African Americans to confront an overdue task?a name change,” Wilmore said. “First of all, African American is so last century and, secondly, we’re really not that crazy about Africa.”

Wilmore’s first book, “I’d Rather We Got Casinos (and Other Black Thoughts),” will be released this month. In it, he uses a variety of literary forms?op-eds, letters, graduation speeches?to explore the current state of race relations in America.

Wilmore began his career as an actor and stand-up comic before moving into television writing and producing in the early 1990s. He’s written for shows such as “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “In Living Color” and “The Jamie Foxx Show.” He co-created the animated show “The PJs” with Eddie Murphy and a few years later created “The Bernie Mac Show.” He also has written, produced and appeared on “The Office,” and is currently developing a sitcom on HBO.

The event is free and open to the public.

PLACE: Michigan Union Ballroom.

SPONSORS: University of Michigan Library, Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives, Bentley Historical Library, Information Technology Central Services, Kresge Business Administration Library at the Ross School of Business, Law Library, School of Information and University Housing

MORE INFORMATION: Contact Helen Look, (734) 936-7663 or [email protected], or visit www.lib.umich.edu/mlk