By Pete Rosenbery
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Noted jazz musician, educator and Southern Illinois University Carbondale alumnus Eric Frazier — the first graduate from the school’s then-Black American Studies program — returns to his alma mater to inspire current Salukis by sharing his own career journey.
Frazier will discuss his SIU experience and its impact on his life during a free, public discussion from 4:30-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30, in Morris Library’s John C. Guyon Auditorium. The talk is hosted by the Southern Illinois African American Heritage Center (SIAAHC), located on the library’s sixth floor. The center’s mission is to preserve and promote education about Black heritage in the region, including the Metro East.
A 1971 graduate, Frazier has attended all the university’s Black Alumni reunions but one. This visit, he said, is special because it gives him an opportunity to express his gratitude to the university. SIU’s Africana Studies program was one of the very few of its kind at the time he attended.