The Marching Toward Justice exhibit was created by the Damon J. Keith Law Collection of African American Legal History to inform the public about the fundamental importance of the 14th Amendment and our nation's ongoing quest to realize the high ideals of the Declaration of Independence. It tells the story of our government's promotion of justice and equality for some, while condoning the enslavement of others.
"The question of how the precepts of the 14th Amendment fit into the democratic ideals of the Constitution remains a critical issue of historical and contemporary significance given recent challenges to the Amendment's continued relevance," said I. India Geronimo, director of the Keith Collection and former law clerk to the Hon. Damon J. Keith.
The exhibit coincides with a panel discussion that will be held on Sept. 17, in room 145B of the Washington Convention Center. Part of the CBC conference, the panel discussion will focus on the historical significance of the fight for equality and the continued importance of preserving the 14th Amendment. It will be co-hosted by Congressman John Conyers Jr., '58, and the Keith Collection to commemorate the exhibit's display. Distinguished panelists include Brown v. Board of Education attorney and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation William T. Coleman, former chairwoman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Mary Frances Berry, Howard University Law School Dean Kurt L. Schmoke, Harvard University Professors Charles Ogletree and Kenneth W. Mack, Ohio State University Professor Michelle Alexander, and Laura Murphy of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. Political commentator Juan Williams of NPR and Fox News will serve as the moderator.
Since the inaugural exhibition at the Thurgood Marshall Law Center in Washington, D.C., Marching Toward Justice has traveled to more than 30 sites including destinations in San Francisco, Chicago, Topeka, Boston, Dallas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Please contact I. India Geronimo, director of the Damon J. Keith Law Collection of African American Legal History, at (313) 334-3919 or india.geronimo@gmail.com for more information or to schedule the Marching Toward Justice exhibit in your community.
The Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights
The Hon. Damon J. Keith's life has been dedicated to fighting for justice and opportunity. The Keith Center, made possible through generous gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations, will allow that work to continue at Wayne Law. The Keith Center will help the Law School attract and retain outstanding students, support and strengthen its faculty, enhance programming, and promote civil rights in one of the most culturally rich and diverse cities in the United States. Ground was broken for the building on May 17, 2010, and it is set to open in fall 2011. The Damon J. Keith Law Collection of African American Legal History is integral to the work of the Keith Center and was created to meet the need for a central repository for African American legal history.
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