Upcoming Events

Known as "Juneteenth," June 19th commemorates the day that enslaved persons in Galveston, Texas, were notified about the Emancipation Proclamation--almost two and a half years after it was issued. They walked away from bondage in what is known as the "Second Independence Day." This day has been celebrated for years since, and is recognized as a holiday in 47 of the 50 states.

While free in name, formerly enslaved Black people would be impacted by sharecropping and other systems and policies that sought to keep them in bondage and indebted. Many were terrorized when they attempted to leave plantations, including during and after Reconstruction.

Today, we see vestiges of slavery in the criminalization of Black people, in domestic terrorism, and in the deprivation of civil rights of Black people.

This webinar will feature speakers who will discuss Juneteenth, including its historical significance and its connection to racial inequities that we are witnessing in society today. They will discuss the potential of law and public policy to help Black people realize true freedom in this society.

CART services will be available.

Speakers include:
- James O. Goodwin – Attorney, Goodwin & Goodwin; Publisher, The Oklahoma Eagle
- Dr. Karlos Hill – Department Chair and Associate Professor, African and African-American Studies, University of Oklahoma
- Dr. Martha S. Jones – Society of Black Alumni Presidential Professor and Professor of History, Johns Hopkins University
- Calvin Schermerhorn – Professor of History, Arizona State University
- Paulette Brown (Moderator) – Past President, American Bar Association; Senior Partner and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Locke Lord LLP

Co-Sponsors:
ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice
ABA Diversity and Inclusion Center
ABA Center for Public Interest Law