Constitution Day: Who Belongs?

Constitution Day: Who Belongs?

Citizenship, Equality, and Voting Rights after the Civil War

Wednesday, September 16

10:50 am-12:05 pm | MLK Jr. Room, Ellison Campus Center, North Campus

Join us to celebrate Constitution Day with Sophia Hall, Deputy Litigation Director at Lawyers for Civil Rights.

In the aftermath of the Civil War, the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments transformed the Constitution by redefining citizenship, guaranteeing equal protection, and prohibiting racial discrimination in voting. This lecture explores the promises and limits of these amendments and considers how the struggles of Reconstruction continue to shape debates over equality, citizenship, and democratic participation in the United States today.

Hosted by: Berry Institute of Politics, Bates Center for Public and Global Affairs, and Department of Politics, Policy, and International Relations

About Sophia Hall

Sophia Hall is the Deputy Litigation Director at Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR), a non-profit legal organization founded at the request of President John F. Kennedy in the 1960s at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. As an experienced litigator, Sophia handles a broad range of civil rights matters, with a particular focus on employment and police misconduct litigation. Sophia’s legal work is regularly featured in media such as the New York Times, the Boston Globe, and NPR. Sophia has been recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and a “Top Lawyer” by the Boston Magazine. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Community Servings, a non-profit organization that provides medically-tailored meals to low-income people living with disabilities. Sophia is a graduate of Boston College Law School, and holds a bachelor’s degree from Emory University. She is also a recent graduate of Harvard Business School’s Executive Leadership Program for Women of Color. Sophia lives in Boston with her fiancé, Jemel Robinson, and their daughter, Rosaria Robinson.