David Roediger turns the racial lens around.

Instead of focusing on African-Americans, he looks at the white power that creates racial problems.

As part of African-American Heritage Month, David Roediger, history professor at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will present “Hope and History: The Obama Presidency and the Fate of Racism.”

The public lecture will begin at 5 p.m. today in 1255 Coleman Hall.

Klevor Abo, professor in African-American Studies, suggested bringing Roediger to campus because of his work in Critical Whiteness Studies.

Critical Whiteness Studies addresses how white is a race as well.

“His argument has been that one needs to understand how white power structure works in order to make any racial progress,” Abo said.

He said when Roediger speaks of the white power structure he is not referring to the extremes like the Ku Klux Klan.

“That’s not really what he’s talking about,” Abo said. “He talks more about fundamental structures of the U.S. that have historically been dominated by white males.”

He said through Roediger’s presentation, people would begin to have an understanding of structures that have led to racial inequality and injustice.

“It’s only by understanding that we can move forward,” Abo said.

Tim Engles, a professor of English, has been involved in the field related to Roediger’s.

“He’s the most often cited and well know figure in the field,” Engles said.

Roediger has written five books. His lecture will be based on his newest book, “How Race Survived US History: From Settlement and Slavery to the Obama Phenomenon.”

Engles, who has read his latest book, said in each chapter Roediger talks about moments in American history where racism was threatened and seemed like it might die out. Roediger then shows how racism perpetually survives in our history.

Engles said many think Obama’s rise shows that racism is over. Like many of the events Roediger illustrates in his book, the moment Obama came in to power was an event where it appeared racism was on the decline.

However, Engles said, Roediger says racism will thrive. He said it is a common white tendency to see Obama as president as an end to racism.

“It will survive yet again,” Engles said.

He said Roediger is especially relatable to students because he connects historical continuity to contemporary realities.

He said Roediger shows the idea that racism is not just a thing of the past.

“Race and racism are still very much pervasive factors in American life,” Engles said.

He said Roediger brings whites into the discussion of race, which is important on Eastern’s predominately white campus.

More African-American Heritage Month events: