In a speech on Father’s Day last June, then presidential candidate Barack Obama admonished, “We’ve got to demand more responsibility from Washington … and we’ve got to demand more responsibility from Wall Street, but you know what? We also have to demand more from ourselves.”
Please join us at 2:00pm for an afternoon of conversation about the notions of collective and individual responsibility. Panelists will address questions such as: What is the responsibility of bankers and investors whose quest for short-term gains wiped out the savings of millions of American citizens? What of the mortgage brokers and companies who cynically awarded loans to those who could not afford them? How do we strike the balance between the government’s responsibility to alleviate suffering and inequality, and the individual’s responsibility to face up to and address his or her own circumstances?
Moderated by Professor Charles J. Ogletree, Jr.
Musical Performances by Lawrence Watson
Afternoon Panel 1:
- The Honorable Joyce London Alexander, Ret. Judge
- Russlynn Ali, U.S. Department of Education
- Warren Ballentine, Attorney and Radio Host
- Professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Harvard Business School
- Debra Lee, Chairman & CEO of BET
- Eric Liu, The True Patriot Network
- Howard Manly, Executive Editor, Bay State Banner
- Professor Orlando Patterson, Harvard University
- Reverend Eugene Rivers, Azusa Christian Community
- The Honorable Reggie Walton, U.S. District Court for D.C.
- Armstrong Williams, Radio Host
Afternoon Panel 2:
- Ward Connerly, American Civil Rights Institute
- Congressman Barney Frank, D-MA
- Dr. Robert Franklin, President of Morehouse College
- Ann Fudge, Ret. Chairman & CEO, Young & Rubicam Brands
- The Honorable Nancy Gertner, U.S. District Court for MA
- Louis Gossett, Jr., Actor
- Judge Glenda Hatchett, Jurist/Author
- Roland Martin, Host/Journalist
- Sonja Sohn, Actress, “The Wire”
- Joe Watkins, MSNBC Analyst
- Professor Patricia Williams, Columbia Law School
We hope that you will also join us earlier in the day for a very special memorial in honor of John Hope Franklin, the legendary historian, renowned scholar and humanitarian. The tribute to his life and legacy will begin at 11:00am and will include a sampling of the many lives he touched, either as mentor, friend or colleague.
Participants Include:
- Professor James Coleman, Duke Law School
- Professor Alan Dershowitz, Harvard Law School
- The Honorable Allyson K. Duncan, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit
- Professor Henry Louis Gates, Harvard University
- Professor Evelyn Higginbotham, Harvard University
- Professor Genna Rae McNeil, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Professor Patricia Sullivan, University of South Carolina
For Your Information:
- There is no formal RSVP process for this event.
- Seating and parking are limited, so please arrive early. Doors will open promptly at 9:00am.