In celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and in reflection of its 2025 theme: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy, the Center for Social Justice welcomes author David Washington ’01 on Thursday, January 16, at 7 p.m. ET.
Washington, author of “Black Defender: The Awakening” delves into how graphic novels can further conversations surrounding social justice. His talk, Protecting Social Justice with the Use of Graphic Novels: A Case Study of “Black Defender: The Awakening,” focuses on his award-winning graphic novel as an example of using graphic novels in social justice, cultural enhancement, and media representation.
Black Defender: The Awakening” was named best graphic novel of 2024 by BookLife, a subsidiary of Publishers Weekly dedicated to indie authors.
About David Washington
David Washington ’01, author of “Black Defender: The Awakening,” is a veteran of the U.S. Army and an organizational behavior consultant. As an author, Washington’s accolades include winning the International Book Awards, New York Book Festival, Los Angeles Book Festival, and San Francisco Book Festival.
Washington is a former faculty member and assistant dean at North Carolina State University, where he received the Outstanding Teacher and the SGA Distinguished Professor Awards. In addition to his bachelor’s degree from Excelsior, he earned an MBA from Webster University, an MSA from Central Michigan University, and a PhD from North Carolina State University. He is also a licensed attorney with a law degree from California Southern University.
Driven by a passion for representation, Washington ventured into the world of graphic novels to address the glaring lack of diverse superheroes. He was inspired by his desire to provide his children with heroes they can see themselves in.
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