Randall Robinson, a renowned advocate for justice in underdeveloped countries, told an audience of more than 500 people last night that Americans are ignorant, and encouraged them to become more responsible citizens.
Robinson said it is the duty of American citizens to be informed and not accept everything at face value.
"Democracies have to be rooted in enlightened citizens. Democracies become empty rituals when the citizens decline to think, decline to dedicate themselves to the business of knowing the business of the world," Robinson said.
When he spoke about the necessity of being informed citizens in order to promote democracy, people in the crowd nodded their heads.
"We seem to be in some kind of hypnotic trance as a people," he said.
Robinson then talked about his most recent book, "Quitting America," and explained his reasons for leaving the United States.
"I left because materialism had worn me out," he said. "I left because the American mall has become the American church."
The crowd interrupted his explanation, cheering and applauding.
"I left because we all have become strangers to each another, alienated inside our small communities," he said.
Robinson then spoke of how he believes the United States has shied away from fulfilling its responsibilities to other nations, and asked the audience why.
He also said it would be long before Iraq recovers from the war.
"We will walk away," he said. "I sympathize with the Iraqi people."
He asked people in the crowd to reflect and see themselves in the eyes of the Iraqis.
Robinson also touched on the struggle in Haiti and the removal of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
After his speech, Robinson took questions from the audience.
One person asked him how Americans could be more informed as citizens, and another requested he give a word of encouragement to the young people who showed up to hear him speak.
"Live your life with your values and your standards from the inside out," Robinson said.
Robinson told the youths in the audience to run and hold onto the baton that he and others like him will pass on.
"You're running for the future of the world" he said.
Miroslava Hernandez, a political science senior, said she thought his lecture was profound and appreciated his advice.
"I found it very powerful and inspiring," she said.
Hernandez said Americans don't know the injustices and struggles other countries endure and that the United States does nothing to help fix the problems.
Robinson, born in the South, is a Harvard-educated lawyer.
He founded TransAfrica, an organization committed to promoting positive U.S. policies toward Africa and the Caribbean.
Robinson was invited by the UA Africana studies program to talk about his latest book and his perspectives on the injustices committed in underdeveloped countries, said Julian Kunnie, director of Africana studies.