Michael Awkward talked about his book Burying Don Imus: Anatomy of a Scapegoat (University of Minnesota Press; August 20, 2009). An African-American university professor and self-declared feminist, he said that the controversy over comments by Don Imus about the Rutgers University women's basketball team was overblown and unfair to the talk radio host in light of the nature of his show. He talked about popular culture and the reaction to the show that ignored the complexities of racial relations. Topics included how Don Imus reacted to the criticism an other similar incidents. Professor Awkward also read passages of this book and responded to questions from members of the audience. This event was held at Nicola's Books in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Monday, October 5, 2009, at 7:00 p.m.


Michael Awkward is the Gayl A. Jones Collegiate Professor of Afro-American Literature and Culture at the University of Michigan. He is the author of several books including Negotiating Difference: Race, Gender, and the Politics of Positionality; Scenes of Instruction: A Memoir; and Soul Covers.