Do you know what a b-boy is? Who is Clive Campbell? And, how did Russell Simmons get his start? Find out during a special presentation, "Hip Hop: A Youth Culture," as part of Del Mar College's observance of Juneteenth. This lecture will expose participants to the struggles of African Americans and the influence these struggles had on the development of Hip Hop, which many consider an extension of the greater African-American movement toward self-determination.

Guest speakers Lasana Hotep and Dexter Gabriel will take you back to the South Bronx park jams and introduce you to rappers from places like Japan, Lebanon and South Africa with a lecture presentation that embodies the concept of "edutainment" (educational and entertaining) with a scholarly approach that includes a youthful delivery.

The free presentation begins at noon in the Retama Room, second floor of the Harvin Student Center, Del Mar College East Campus, Ayers at Kosar. This engaging slide presentation and lecture focuses on four areas of Hip Hop, including origins, elements, controversies and influences, and is filled with audio and video clips as supplements to create a very interactive lecture. The event is sponsored by the DMC chapter of the Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education (TABPHE) and the Del Mar College Ethnic/Diversity Awareness Committee. For further information, call TABPHE member Tina Butler at 698-1394.

Founder, principal owner and lead consultant of Lasana O. Hotep Consultants, Hotep has studied and taught African history and culture for over 10 years. He has spent the greater part of his life inspiring African people on the collegiate, community and professional levels through his research, lectures and consultations on African-American culture.

In addition to working as a consultant and lecturer, Hotep is a columnist for the online magazine MOCHA Urban Hang Suite (mochasuite.com). Unlike a typical magazine, the online publication provides a unique forum for communication and entertainment using the Internet and community involvement.

Hotep earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in speech communications and history from Texas State University-San Marcos. He has continued his education outside the classroom and embarked on a 15-day educational tour of Egypt in 1999.

A graduate of Texas State University, Gabriel is a student, grassroots lecturer and aspiring writer. While attending college, he focused on studies in history, political science and anthropology and now combines these academic themes to create a unique brand of analysis, writing and social criticism. Gabriel has lectured at numerous universities, workshops and other events on selected topics.

Gabriel has worked as an editorial columnist for several publications, writing articles on political and social issues. In 2001, the Texas Publishing Association named him one of the top three editorial columnists. Recently, Gabriel completed his master's degree in history and plans to pursue a doctorate degree in African Diaspora Studies.

We will also have the TASTE of SOUL immediately following presentation while food lasts. A TASTE.