Bringing together researchers, students, and invited guests in the fields of civil rights and historical injustices, the workshop series is designed to discuss new research projects in an informal setting. A short presentation will focus on methodological, design or theoretical problems the researcher is facing and invite interdisciplinary thinking and discussion.
Venue:
360 Dockser Hall, Northeastern University School of Law
Wednesdays 4:00 – 5:30 pm:
- March 27, 2019
- May 1
- June 26
- July 24
March 27
Breaking the silence: Art as a tool for addressing legacies of injustice
Virginie Ladisch, Director, International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) Program on Children and Youth. Virginie Ladisch will explore the intersection between art and youth activism in addressing legacies of injustice drawing on her work in Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, and the Gambia. When there is a lack of political will to genuinely address past violations, working with youth through a process of co-creation can yield innovative approaches to overcome political obstacles and open up public dialogue around past violations and the need for public reckoning. Ms. Ladisch is exploring ways to apply these approaches to deal with legacies of racial injustice in the United States.
May 1
State Legislative Initiatives Addressing Civil Rights-Era Crimes
Jim Emison, Founder, Tennesseans for Historical Justice. In 2017, Tennessee by statute created a joint legislative committee to study the investigation of cold civil rights crimes and recommend legislation. The result was a statute mandating a statewide survey of civil rights crimes and a program of racial reconciliation. Attorney Emison has been active at all stages of the legislative process and now in implementing the law. He is interested in using the Tennessee statute as a model for national action.
June 26
Interpretive Limitations of Genetic Ancestry Testing and the Case for Reparations
Jada Benn Torres, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Genetic Anthropology and Biocultural Studies Laboratory, Vanderbilt University. Professor Benn Torres explores the intersection between genetic ancestry testing and calls for reparatory justice. She argues that the application of genomic data complicates notions about biological continuity and belonging but is nevertheless compatible with conceptions of how people imagine themselves and histories in relation to geographic origins.
July 24
Where Restorative Justice and Human Rights Meet
Jennifer Llewellyn, Yogis and Keddy Chair in Human Rights Law and Professor of Law, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University. Professor Llewellyn will discuss her current work as commissioner of the Restorative Inquiry for the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children. She previously advised the Assembly of First Nations and Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission on the response to Residential School abuse.