A Coastal Carolina University professor of Southern history and culture will explore the process of "Becoming American" on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 10 a.m. at the Myrtle Beach Education Center. Admission is free and open to the public with no ticket required.

Maggi Morehouse, Burroughs Distinguished Professor of Southern History and Cultures at CCU, will present the first lecture on the theme of American identity by studying the procedures and processes of becoming American. Morehouse was the first graduate of the African Diaspora Studies Program at the University of California at Berkeley and completed her Ph. D. in May of 2001. Today, she teaches Southern history, focusing on connecting the American South to global diasporas and migrations. Morehouse is the author of "Fighting in the Jim Crow Army" (2007) and editor of "Civil War America" (2012), as well as the author of numerous journal articles. She is currently working on "The Routledge Handbook of the American South," a major reference guide to Southern culture and history.

During the lecture, Morehouse will begin with the founding of this nation and will extend to today's regulations regarding U.S. citizenship. The session will explore the changes in immigration laws and investigate the "peopling" of America.

The American Studies Lecture Series is designed to provide a multidisciplinary perspective and reflective discussion on issues involving American culture, identity, history, politics and society. CCU faculty from departments ranging from history, art and communication to anthropology, theater and cultural studies will participate in the program.

The Myrtle Beach Education Center is located at 900 79th Ave. N. For more information, contact Carol Osborne, director of American Studies and Community Outreach, at osborne@coastal.edu.