Turkish Coalition of America Celebrates
African American-Turkish Connections Through the Arts

On October 5, TCA hosted a program at Georgetown University focusing on James Baldwin, one of the most influential African American writers, who spent a decade of his life in Turkey; and Ahmet Ertegün, the founder of Atlantic Records and the individual who is credited with bringing Jazz, Blues and African American music to mainstream America and the world, while standing up to racial injustice.

The speakers at the event were Dr. Magdalena Zaborowska of University of Michigan and Dr. Maurice Jackson of Georgetown University.

Congressman Steve Cohen (D, TN-9) and Congressman John Conyers (D, MI-14) attended the lecture and praised TCA’s efforts to build bridges between different communities. Similar programs are now being considered for Detroit and Memphis.