By C.M. Anderson
canderson@sacbee.com
Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. has rescheduled his Monday appearance at the Mondavi Center in Davis, following the death of his close friend and Harvard University colleague, Reverend Peter J. Gomes, leaders of the Mondavi Center announced today.
Gates is a respected literary critic, educator, scholar, writer and editor. He is also director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research.
His friend Gomes was a leading expert on early American religion who surprised many when, in 1991, he publicly revealed he was gay. A Baptist minister and a Republican, Gomes then advocated widely for acceptance of homosexuality in American society.
Gates gained wide notoriety in 2009 when a police officer mistakenly thought Gates was breaking into a home. The home belonged to Gates, but the confrontation ended with the scholar being arrested for disorderly conduct. Next came the "beer summit" with the arresting officer, Sgt. James Crowley, and President Obama.
Gates' speech, which was scheduled for Monday, will now occur at 8 p.m. May 9 in the Mondavi Center's Jackson Hall.
Patrons have several choices: Hold onto existing tickets, which will be honored at the May 9 lecture. Request a refund from the Mondavi Center ticket office at (530) 754-2787 or toll-free at (866) 754-2787 before May 8 . Exchange the ticket for another event.
Mondavi's ticket office is open from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
The event was canceled after printing of this week's Ticket section, which ranked Gates' appearance as a highlight of the week's entertainment offerings.
Call The Bee's C.M. Anderson, (916) 321-1193.
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