The Hon. George Martinez, award winning artist, activist, and educator will speak at Hastings College, Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 8 p.m., in French Memorial Chapel. The presentation, one of several Black History Month events scheduled, is free and open to the public.

Martinez, also known as Rithm, is the first Hip Hop artist to be elected to political office in the United States. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Martinez started out as a junior member of the 1980s Breakin Crew "Breakers in Action," and quickly made the transition to rhyming. In the early 1990s, he created, co-produced and performed as a member of the classic underground group Ground Zero, which featured female rapper Jean Grae (formerly know as What? What?).

In 1997, Martinez co-founded Blackout Arts Collective, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering communities of color through arts activism and education. In 2002, he and Blackout received the Union Square Award for Grass Roots Activism.

Winner of numerous awards, in 2002, Martinez was identified as one of the "Hip Hop Activists to Look Out For" by Ave Magazine, along with Chuck D, Rosa Clemente and others. In 2003, he was identified as an emerging Latino leader by IMDiversity.com's Hispanic American Village, and was recognized in 2004 as a "Business Visionary" by the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Martinez also served as assistant director of intergovernmental relations for Eliot Spitzer, attorney general of New York.

A faculty member at Pace University, Martinez has appeared in more than 150 newspapers, magazines and journals throughout the world on topics ranging from Hip Hop and education to social movements and new technology. He guest lectures at universities and forums throughout the world, and has production credits in both radio and television. He recently authored "Hip Hop Politics" in the Journal of Socialism and Democracy.

For more information regarding Martinez, contact Lou Pratters, Hastings College adjunct instructor of teacher education, at (402) 461-7747.