Actress Tessa Thompson will lead a talk about race, diversity and inclusion in the arts at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, in Braden Auditorium. The evening presentation, “A Talk About Race Through the Arts,” is free and open to the public.

Thompson stars in the new, critically acclaimed movie Dear White People. The movie is a comedy-drama that follows the lives of four black students and their experiences at a predominantly white Ivy League college. For her role in Dear White People, Thompson earned a Gotham Award for breakthrough actor, as well as a nomination for outstanding actress in a motion picture from the NAACP Image Awards. Thompson was also featured in the films Selma and For Colored Girls. She is perhaps best known for her role as Jackie Cook on the hit CW show Veronica Mars.

The talk is sponsored by the Dean of Students Office and the American Democracy Project. For additional information, contact the office at (309) 438-2008.