The ABA Civil Rights and Social Justice Section and the Reconstructionism Project of the ABA Center for Human Rights are co-hosting a non-CLE webinar series exploring the significance of the Reconstruction era (1865–1877) in shaping civil rights, justice, and equality in the United States. The series will examine attempts to undermine the progress of this pivotal period and highlight the lessons and inspiration it offers for addressing contemporary challenges. Structured around the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, the program aims to equip lawyers with fresh perspectives on the U.S. Constitution and its potential to drive societal transformation.
March 06, 2025
The Reconstructionism Project
Considering the Reconstruction Amendments in interpreting the US Constitution
The Rise, Fall, and Renewal of Reconstruction: Lessons for Today and Tomorrow
December 17, 2024
The first webinar, “An Introduction to Reconstruction and Its Potential,” discusses Reconstructionism generally – its origins, evolution, and ongoing (if underutilized) influence.
Speakers:
Barrett Holmes Pitner – Philosopher, Journalist, Educator; Author, The Crime Without a Name: Ethnocide and the Erasure of Culture in America
James R. May – Dignity Rights Scholar;
Richard S. Righter Distinguished Professor of Law, Washburn University School of Law
Moderator:
Etienne Toussaint – Associate Professor of Law, University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law
Reconstructing and Deconstructing the Constitution: A Conversation with Scholar and Author Aziz Rana
February 5, 2025
The second webinar, “Reconstructing and Deconstructing the Constitution,” discusses structural tensions with the U.S. Constitution, our cultural relationship with this document, and the importance of including diverse voices for interpreting and improving it.
Speakers:
Barrett Holmes Pitner – Philosopher, Journalist, Educator; Author, The Crime Without a Name: Ethnocide and the Erasure of Culture in America
Aziz Rana – J. Donald Monan, S.J., University Professor of Law and Government at Boston College Law School; Author, The Constitutional Bind: How Americans Came to Idolize a Document That Fails Them
Moderator:
Etienne Toussaint – Associate Professor of Law, University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law
The Importance of Teaching Reconstruction and the Law Today
March 5, 2025
The third webinar, “The Importance of Teaching Reconstruction and the Law Today,” discusses how learning about and teaching Reconstruction provides Americans with a new and necessary perspective of the U.S. Constitution, and the social and structural tensions that arise when working to create a more equitable and just American society.
Panelists:
Sheryll Cashin – Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Law, Civil Rights and Social Justice, Georgetown Law
Etienne Toussaint – Associate Professor of Law, University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law
Lucien Ferguson – Drinan Visiting Assistant Professor, Boston College Law School
Moderator:
Barrett Holmes Pitner – Philosopher, Journalist, Educator; Author, The Crime Without a Name: Ethnocide and the Erasure of Culture in America