1. University of Washington Professor Christopher S. Parker is reading from his book Fighting for Democracy: Black Veterans and the Struggle Against White Supremacy in the Postwar South tonight in the U. District.

Parker's book digs into how the experience of black soldiers in WWII and the Korean War inspired them to fight for their civil rights back home—serving essentially as a catalyst for the American Civil Rights Movement.

7 pm at the University of Washington Bookstore.

2. Did you know that the City of Seattle has a Women's Commission? The commission's job is to discuss issues affecting women in the city—and to make policy recommendations to the Mayor's office and City Council.

If you have any concerns about income inequality, or you just want to ask what the Seattle Women's Commission is all about, the twenty-member commission will be at City Hall tonight to hear you out.

5:30 at City Hall, Room L280.

3. Soul man Raphael Saadiq is in town tonight. Saadiq's songs are catchy as hell, and his rootsy, Questlove (that's ?uestlove )-style thump will definitely inspire drunken booty shaking.

Bonus: Openers— Melanie Fiona and Anjulie —do R&B along the same lines. And they're both really pretty. Actually, I'd say it's the best-looking tour out right now.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udPZwivhERY&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

8 p.m. at the Showbox Market.