Miletsky, who identifies as half-Jewish and half-black, hosted a lecture called “Interracialism: Biracials Learning About African American Culture” to tackle the storied history of what it means to be African American and biracial, Wednesday evening in the Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library’s Central Reading Room.

“Democracy is not simply a political system in which elections take place and majorities rule,” Gitlin said. “Democracy is not a spectator sport, it requires alert, thoughtful and engaged citizens, and they are scarce.”