In 2014, the nation marked the fiftieth anniversary of the March on Washington, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Freedom Summer. In 2015, we recognized the fiftieth anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. As we move forward in the 21st century, however, America finds itself at the beginning of a new era defined by its own set of civil rights struggles. The battles of 2015 are in some ways markedly different from those of the 1950s and 1960s, as “whites only” signs and overt displays of societally condoned racism are mostly relegated to history. However, what remains is a country full of disparately impacted populations, with people of color facing disadvantages at home, at work, at school, and in the justice system, all in the context of a society that prides itself on its imagined march towards post-racial colorblindness.
A shifting landscape, however, simply means that the civil rights movements of the 21st century must also shift in line with modern realities. “The Present and Future of Civil Rights Movements: Race and Reform in 21st Century America” presents an opportunity for scholars, teachers, practitioners, and activists to engage with each other as they discuss their unique perspectives on inequalities throughout different facets of modern America. In exploring today’s civil rights struggles, including the disproportionate imprisonment of populations of color, decreased access to housing, and persistent roadblocks to basic civic freedoms such as voting, this conference will provide an opportunity for those who recognize the persistent impact of systematic racism to reflect on the past and present in order to better inform the future.
Duke Law’s Center on Law, Race and Politics hosted a conference on November 20-21, 2015, bringing together scholars and experts to discuss civil rights. In 2014, the nation marked the fiftieth anniversary of the March on Washington, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Freedom Summer. In 2015, we recognized the fiftieth anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Moving into the 21st century, America finds itself at the beginning of a new era defined by its own set of civil rights struggles. A shifting landscape requires the civil rights movements of the 21st century to shift in line with modern realities. “The Present and Future of Civil Rights Movements: Race and Reform in 21st Century America” presented an opportunity for scholars, teachers, practitioners, and activists to engage with each other as they discuss their unique perspectives on inequalities throughout different facets of modern America.
Kimberlé W. Crenshaw is an American scholar in the field of Critical race theory, and a professor at UCLA School of Law and Columbia Law School where she specializes in race and gender issues.
Civil Rights | Trends in Immigration Law & Policy
Welcome:
Dean David F. Levi (Duke Law School) Moderator: Cristina Rodriguez (Yale Law School)
Panel:
Civil Rights | Reflections on the Present & Future of Civil Rights Movements
Introduction:
Trina Jones (Duke Law School) & Ana Apostoleris ’16 (Duke Law School – Student)
Plenary:
Reflections on the Present and Future of Civil Rights Movements
Moderator:
Angela Onwuachi-Willig (University of Iowa College of Law)
Panel:
Civil Rights | Discrimination in Dating and the Consumer Markets
Concurrent Panel (1 of 5):
Civil Rights | Developments & Ongoing Challenges for LGBTQ Communities
Plenary:
Developments and Ongoing Challenges for LGTB Communities
Moderator:
Holning Lau (University of North Carolina School of Law)
Panel:
Civil Rights | Race, Culture and Media
Plenary:
Race, Culture and Media
Moderator:
Mark Anthony Neal (Duke University, Department of African & African American Studies)
Panel:
Civil Rights | Closing Remarks, Guy-Uriel Charles
Remarks:
Christine Kim ’16, Guy-Uriel Charles (Duke Law School)
Civil Rights | Race, Political Participation, & the Roberts Court
Plenary:
Race, Political Participation, and the Roberts Court
Moderator:
Kerry Haynie (Duke University, Department of Political Science)
Panel:
Civil Rights | Criminal Justice Reform & Mass Incarceration
Plenary:
Criminal Justice Reform and Mass Incarceration
Moderator:
Mario Barnes (University California, Irvine, School of Law)
Panel:
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