Woodard, a social activist and an Emmy award-winning actress, came to the University to give the eighth annual Sonja H. Stone Memorial Lecture. The lecture is in honor of Stone, who spent 17 years at the University before her death in 1991 and after whom the Black Cultural Center is named.
Woodard's speech, entitled "An Evening of the People's Poetry and the State of the Union," focused predominantly on the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and their aftermath, including Americans' initial reactions.
"Last September a furious blow was dealt to the body of the American people -- a blow that should have taken us to our knees," Woodard said. "I didn't see the manufactured America of Hollywood. ... I saw the real America -- she was textured and alive."
Following the attacks, Woodard said, American flags began appearing everywhere. "As a show of mourning and respect and resolve, we held on to our flag to say we are still here."
But Woodard said this began to indicate what she called a false sense of patriotism.
"It started out as a beautiful and spontaneous show of solidarity, but eventually it took on another dimension," Woodard said. "The flag represented a rising sense of us against them."
Woodard also said she disagrees with the American military attacks on Afghanistan. "We have unlimited resources compared to the rest of the world, and we have always claimed the higher ground -- let us step up on it.
"If we fear that terrorism will strike again, it would be wise to make a concerted effort to diffuse its causes" rather than simply direct military force at an unclear enemy, she said.
The attempts to limit criticism of President Bush and his administration are a blatant violation of civil rights, Woodard said. "Where does (Senate Minority Leader) Trent Lott think we live? Americanistan?" she said.
