Dr. Melvin Rogers is Professor of Political Science and Associate Director of the Center for Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Brown University. He is an award-winning writer and speaker on race and democracy in American culture and politics.

In this talk, Dr. Rogers discusses writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin and his continuing legacy in America. Dive deep into the transformative ideas of James Baldwin and his profound effect on the black Freedom struggle of the early 1960s, as explored in this insightful lecture. Baldwin's work, celebrated for both capturing the public's imagination and challenging the political establishment, serves as a beacon of critical responsiveness to history's scars, especially those inflicted by white supremacy. This presentation navigates through Baldwin's interrogation of identity, history, and the ethical pillars of responsibility, forgiveness, redemption, and atonement, drawing a sharp contrast to the attitudes of evasion present in the era's discourse.

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The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the University of Notre Dame, the College of Arts and Letters, or the Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government.

Recorded January 19, 2024 at the University of Notre Dame