This Chair Chat - hosted in collaboration with the ABA CRSJ Perfecting Democracy Initiative - features a discussion with Hip Hop Caucus President and CEO Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. in conversation with ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice Secretary and Hip Hop Caucus Education Fund Chief Administrative Officer Dr. Cynthia Swann about the power of culture - advancing voting rights and strengthening democracy. Watch the full chat below!
This session will explore the powerful connection between cultural expression and the fight for voting rights. The Hip Hop Caucus Education Fund’s (‘the Caucus’) award-winning Respect My Vote! Campaign was established in 2008, and has mobilized hundreds of thousands of young BIPOC voters for over 16 years and across seven election cycles. This session will call upon young lawyers, and law students to answer the call to be informed and engaged.
Popular culture has consistently played a central role in social justice movements, inspiring action and fostering democratic participation. The discussion will focus on culture’s unique ability to mobilize and engage historically marginalized and disenfranchised communities—not only in the ongoing struggle for equitable voting rights, but also in combating voter suppression, advocating for environmental justice, pushing for reform in the criminal justice system, and highlighting the economic inequalities that disproportionately affect these communities. By examining how culture can drive momentum for systemic change, this session will underscore the critical role of cultural expression in advancing justice across these interconnected issues, ultimately contributing to the strengthening of democracy and a more equitable society.
During the 2024-25 Bar year, Section Chair Lacy L. Durham is continuing CRSJ's Chair Chat and hosting esteemed guests and colleagues for a bi-weekly (every other week) Chair Chat. This platform is designed to bring together legal scholars, advocates, thought leaders, and activists committed to fighting for social justice, protecting our democracy, and upholding the rule of law, and to share strategies for tackling the existing and emerging civil rights issues facing our country.