This episode reflects on the 60th anniversary of pivotal Civil Rights Acts, including the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which reshaped America's racial and immigration landscape. We examine the profound intersection of race, immigration, and the American legal system, exploring how these laws opened new opportunities and perpetuated systemic inequalities. From the passage of landmark legislation in the 1960s to the ongoing struggle for racial equity today, we ask: How did we get to this point? How have the legacies of these laws continued to affect marginalized communities, especially immigrants of color? And can the framework of Critical Race Theory—challenging structural racism and advocating for policy change—offer a path forward in the fight for justice and equality? Join us as we navigate the complex history and evolving discourse on race and immigration in America.
With tens of thousands of Americans dying every year from gun-related violence, firearm regulation is at the center of American political debate. Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court weighed in on this conversation by expanding an individual's right to bear arms under the Second Amendment in New York Rife & Pistol Ass'n v. Bruen (2022). In this episode, we use critical race theory as a tool to explore the history of the Second Amendment, firearm ownership, and gun control policies in the United States. How are firearm regulations bound up in the legal and ideological infrastructure of white supremacy? What does the history of the Second Amendment tell us about race and racism in this country?
With the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, great change was promised. 60 years on, that promise remains an empty one for millions of americans. While Voting rights and the integrity of American elections have been a constant and exhausting part of the national dialogue in recent years, few of these debates have…
Following one of the largest mass public demonstrations in U.S. history, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, ending legalized segregation and marking a significant step toward racial equality. While the movement triumphed, its leaders were keenly aware of its imperfections and the challenges that lay ahead, yet believed the door had opened to…
The civil rights era was not only a period of political revolution but of profound cultural revolution. Led by Black artists radicalized by the political and social realities of the time – the segregation, disenfranchisement and racial violence that was Jim Crow – the cultural revolution both represented the Black experience and imagined a future freed. Black artists did this, despite facing censorship and threats of violence for the political nature of their work. In this episode, we use critical race theory to situate three pieces of art in the civil rights tradition: Sam Cooke’s 1963 song, A Change is Gonna Come; Faith Ringgold’s 1971 painting, For the Women’s House; and, William Eric Water’s 2000 poem, “Even a Black Poet is Considered Armed and Extremely Dangerous”. We ask what are the civil rights legacies of these pieces and the artists that created them and what kinds of resistance did they meet and why?
What does a society which celebrates, rather than one that alienates, incarcerates and pathologizes disability look like? How do we break free from the chains of ableism and racism, and centre our politics around the idea that all bodies are special, and all bodies have their own specific needs that must be met? What does…
In this episode, we navigate the complex landscape of digital literacy and the systematic surveillance of people of color. We unravel the layers of bias ingrained in our technological systems. Focusing on the #NoTechForICE campaign as a poignant example, we engage with a panel of experts who bring their insights into the realms of data,…
“It takes people knowing about what happened and galvanizing communities and bringing people together to fight for policy change that would allow for land to be returned.” – Kavon Ward This episode of CRT2 takes a look at eminent domain under the Fifth Amendment “Takings Clause,” and the way it has been used to disproportionately…
In 2016, students at five schools in Detroit sued the state government for failing to provide them with even the most basic public education. Their teachers were overworked, their school buildings were falling apart, and students frequently lacked the resources to achieve reading and writing proficiency. Their complaint asserted that they were being denied a basic right: the right to literacy. In this episode, we examine the concept of a right to literacy. Why is it important to democracy, and why is it indispensable for success in the American economy? How does it intersect with race and incarceration? And in the aftermath of the students’ lawsuit, where does the right to literacy go from here? Our guests – including the lead plaintiff on the lawsuit, an attorney on the lawsuit, and educators who have worked both inside and outside of prison – will help us find the answers.
What has the response to Critical Race Theory (CRT) been in France? What are the commonalities between France and the U.S. with respect to the reception and backlash to CRT? See more information at https://crt2.podcasts.library.columbia.edu/ .
Josephine Baker became the latest recipient of one of France’s highest honors—induction into the Pantheon. What was the symbolic significance of Baker’s induction into the Pantheon and Macron’s subsequent remarks, and what does it mean that France chose to honor an American-born woman with one of their highest honors? In this episode, we talk to Professor Maboula Soumahoro to uncover some of these answers. See more information at https://crt2.podcasts.library.columbia.edu .
The histories of slavery and segregation have not only left distinctions between the economic and social realities of people of different races in the United States, but have literally shaped the geography and environments we live in. Racial identities of different communities and geographies are as obvious as any other physical attributes of the community. Not only to they shape the character and culture of communities, but continued geographic segregation has resulted in health crises and facilitated mass incarceration, particularly in Black communities. See more information at https://crt2.podcasts.library.columbia.edu .
This episode of CRT2 spotlights the struggles and fights of marginalized women of color against the backdrop of political and social movements in the US and across the globe. The episode spotlights recent actions taken by women in Mexico to push for protection against all kinds of violence, the long saga of R. Kelly’s sexual assault allegations from Black girls and women, and the #SayHerName movement formed to address the lack of attention given to Black women victims of police violence. We analyze these three stories using the Critical Race Theory concept of “intersectionality”. See more information at https://crt2.podcasts.library.columbia.edu .
Reproductive rights in the United States are being threatened more than ever. The enactment of state legislation curtailing the right to abortion – by imposing time limits, dictating mandatory waiting times, obligatory sonograms, and ever-stringent requirements for abortion clinics – is at an all-time high. Hear from our experts on this developing issue. See more information at https://crt2.podcasts.library.columbia.edu .
Join us as we journey through Columbia Law School's legacy of slavery and the remnants of that legacy on and off campus today with a particular focus on the experiences of Black men. With the assistance of esteemed panelists, we apply and analyze various critical race theories to navigate the various systemic challenges faced by Black men today while acknowledging and addressing the past. See more information at https://crt2.podcasts.library.columbia.edu .
In this episode of CRT2, how movement lawyering can be incorporated in legal education. Movement lawyering, or community lawyering, is a non-traditional approach to social justice lawyering that recognizes the limitations of relying on the law to bring about social change. See more information at https://crt2.podcasts.library.columbia.edu .
In this episode of Columbia Race Talks / Critical Race Theory, guest Professor Anna Arons from NYU Law School speaks on her experiences as a public defender working in the family regulation system. We chat with her not only about the need for abolition, but also on how we can work toward a society that actually keeps children and families safe without relying on systematic violence. See more information at https://crt2.podcasts.library.columbia.edu .
Mini Feature guests continue the conversation on re-entry into community and family reunification, and help us learn how CRT can play out in our everyday relationships, between lawyers and clients and especially between mom and daughter. We speak with Shameeka and her 11 year-old daughter, Empress, two powerful voices for resilience, healing and racial justice. See more information at https://crt2.podcasts.library.columbia.edu/ .
Over 1.9 million individuals leave women’s prisons and jails every year in the US. This process of returning to the community is labeled “re-entry”. In this episode of CRT2, we ask - What does the re-entry experience actually look like for Black women? The stories shared with us by four formerly incarcerated women and a justice impacted girl illuminate the sometimes gut wrenching journey one must go through after incarceration and en route to freedom. Extra feature included. See more information at https://crt2.podcasts.library.columbia.edu .