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W E D N E S D A Y

Since the death of W.E.B. Dubois, there has yet to emerge a black intellectual of his caliber who is also an activist. We have some heavy thinkers, dudes that write whole books filled with things like the deconstructionist theory of the black underclass. This handful of scholars makes beaucoup loot touring the lecture circuit, spouting ideas that sound good but don’t mean much. Ronald Segal is from South Africa. He isn’t black, but he has been an activist. When Oliver Tambo fled to England in 1960, Segal was right there with him. Segal’s activist background hopefully provides him a better grounding in reality than these other allegedly “public” intellectuals have. But don’t take the kid’s word for it. Check out Segal’s book, The Black Diaspora. Better still, check out his discussion with James Early, “A Conversation About the African Diaspora,” at 6 p.m. at the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden’s Ring Auditorium, 8th & Independence Ave. SW. $15. For reservations call (202) 357-3030. (TC)