(VALLEJO, California – February 12, 2015) – Who was 18th century African American
mariner Captain Paul Cuffee? That subject will be the topic of the 2015 Joseph P.
Rizza lecture at Cal Maritime on Tuesday, March 10 at 11:00 a.m.
During his talk Oceans of Education, Dr. Robert Keith Collins, associate professor
of American Indian Studies at San Francisco State University will explore African
American and Native American economic development, especially among individuals of
blended racial and/or cultural ancestry who were involved in seafaring and whaling.
The talk will focus on the seafaring career of Captain Paul Cuffee based on his memoir
and life history, which was also used to create the Smithsonian Institution's traveling
exhibit IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas.
The Rizza Lecture Series, organized by the Cal Maritime Academic Senate, is underwritten
by a generous endowment grant from Joseph Rizza, former president of the Academy.
The lecture will be followed by a panel discussion sponsored by Cal Maritime's Department
of Culture and Communication featuring:
Sarah Crabtree, San Francisco State University, History
Sarah Jessica Johnson, University of California, Berkeley, English
Amy Parsons, Cal Maritime, Culture and Communication
The event is free and open to the public. Parking is limited. Visit www.csum.edu/map for directions, parking and public transit information.
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ABOUT CAL MARITIME
Established in 1929, California State University Maritime Academy is the only degree-granting
maritime academy on the West Coast. Located in Vallejo, California, the campus offers
undergraduate degrees that prepare students for careers in engineering, transportation,
international relations, business, and global logistics. Cal Maritime also offers
a master’s degree in Transportation and Engineering Management, as well as a number
of extended learning programs and courses.