One of Preacher Moss‘ best experiences was as the only writer for George Lopez.

Moss said people often wondered how Moss, as an African-American Muslim, could write for the Hispanic Lopez.

But Moss said it was possible because he looks at life from a universal perspective.

“I build ideas of what our core values are,” he said.

Which is how he addresses the issues he speaks of in his “End of Racism” comedy and lecture tour, which he performs at 7 p.m. today in Lumpkin Auditorium as part of University Boards Lecture series.

Moss said he does not look at the issues of race and diversity as an African-American or even as an American but from a universal perspective.

Moss will focus on how society needs to structure and restructure in terms of diversity and racism.

Part of the problem, he said, is when people are not 100 percent informed. This “creates a much bigger monster,” Moss said.

Moss’s lecture is what he called “hybrid.”

It combines comedy with good information.

“One can’t coexist without the other,” he said.

Moss said comedy is a powerful tool when combined with issues.

Moss said he opens people’s minds with the humor and then he can begin to deconstruct and reconstruct people’s ideas.

People make judgments of what other races and people are like, he said.

“A lot of times, the fun is deconstructing myths,” Moss said.

Addressing these myths of different races and people allows the audience to look at their individual thoughts and change them.

“You have to be able to deconstruct that,” Moss said.

The problem with deconstructing ideas, Moss said, is that people are scared – just scared enough to not figure out why they’re scared.

Moss said he takes complicated issues and by adding humor, he makes the issues accessible for everyone.

Ryan Kerch, UB lectures coordinator, was blown away by Moss’ performance at the NACA convention and booked him to perform his “End of Racism” comedy and lecture tour.

“He’ll tell jokes and then rather than leave it as a joke he’ll step back and really make you think about the issues he’s talking about – mostly race and diversity,” said Kerch, a junior biology major.

Moss presents the material in a lightened mood that does not make you depressed but makes you think about it later, Kerch said.

“He makes such a serious complicated issue a lot more comfortable for people to talk about,” he said.

Amy Baumgart, grad assistant in student life office, saw Moss perform at her undergraduate university and said he is really entertaining.

“He touches on an important subject but besides that he was a writer for Saturday Night Live, so he has a comedic twist to what he’s talking about,” said Baumgart.

Heather Zike, acting assistant director for the student life office, said it’s good to show a lot of variation and different views on campus because it helps create open-mindedness amongst others.

“I hope that anyone that comes to campus, someone can take something away from it and learn something about themselves or about what the person is actually lecturing on, she said.

Fact box:

Preacher Moss’ background

– native of Washington D.C

– went to Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconson

– started doing stand-up comedy at 17 years old

– has been a schoolteacher

– was a consultant for professional athletes – mostly NBA players

– started touring w/ his racism comedy and lecture tour in 97

Emily Zulz can be reached at 581-7942 or at eazulz@eiu.edu.