Highline Community College will hold its ninth annual Unity Through Diversity Week on the main campus at 2400 S. 240th St. in Des Moines April 24-28.

This year’s theme is “Interrogating American Popular Culture: What’s Real in the ‘Reel’ World?”

Through lectures, performances and discussions, the week of events will examine American popular culture and its wide-ranging influence.

All events are free and open to the public. The week-long program is sponsored by the college’s Student Programs office, Multicultural Services office and Team Highline.

For more information, call Yoshiko Harden-Abe at 206-878-3710, ext. 3041.

Scheduled events include:

Monday, April 24 -- lecture by Dr. Jared Ball: “Hip-Hop as Mass Media: The Politics of Popularity and the Colonizing Image;” 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., Building 8, Mount Constance Room.

Film, The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of Latino Images in Hollywood, and discussion led by Highline’s Arline Garcia; 12:10 p.m, Building 7.

Tuesday, April 25 -- lecture by former Staff Sgt. Terrell Carrington: “A Soldier’s Story;” 9 a.m., Building 8, Mount Constance Room.

Inter-Cultural Center grand opening reception; 1:30-3 p.m., Building 6, Room 164.

Wednesday, April 26 -- International and immigrant student panel discussion: “American Popular Culture;” 11 a.m., Building 7.

Lecture and discussion: “Hip-Hop and Blackface:” 12:10 p.m., Building 8, Mount Constance Room.

Thursday, April 27 -- Student panel discussion: “MySpace;” 11 a.m., Building 8, Mount Olympus Room.

Performance by Christa Bell, the third-ranked performance poet in the United States; 12:10 p.m., Building 7.

Open Mic talent showcase; 1:13 p.m., Building 7.

Friday, April 28 -- lecture by David Skover: “LesBiGay Identity as Commodity;” 10 a.m., Building 8, Mount Olympus Room.

Film by Spike Lee and discussion: Bamboozled; 12:30 p.m., Building 7.