Lester Spence is not your typical college professor. He is also a veteran DJ and hip-hop expert who uses music to connect with students about black politics and American society.

Spence will speak Thursday afternoon as part of the ongoing 50th anniversary celebration of desegregation of The University of Alabama. The event is being sponsored by the department of gender and race studies in conjunction with the department of political science

Utz McKnight, chair of the gender and race studies department, said he believes that in selecting Spence, the 50th anniversary planning committee has secured someone students will enjoy and can relate to.

“He’s a musician or DJ himself, so he is engaged with the music,” McKnight said.

Spence is a prominent thinker in the fields of hip-hop studies and black politics, and is an associate professor of political science and africana studies at Johns Hopkins University. He received his bachelor’s and doctoral degree from the University of Michigan and is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Most recently, Spence authored a book, “Stare In The Darkness: The Limits of Hip Hop and Black Politics,” a look at the influence of rap on black political attitudes. In the lecture, Spence will engage students in dialogue on the University’s integration, hip-hop culture’s artists and their lyrics, as well as the future of hip-hop and black politics.

Joya Reed, a UA student majoring in public relations, said she was interested in attending the event to hear Spence’s perspective on hip-hop.

“I don’t think that people realize how music, especially hip-hop, can be used to effect social change. It will be interesting to hear from someone who actually studies the music and its history,” Reed explained.

The event will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. in Gorgas Room 205. All students are invited to attend the lecture, which will be followed by a question and answer period.

Students can learn more about Spence’s work at lesterspence.com.