On April 4, 1967, at New York City’s Riverside Church, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the speech “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence.” In it, he condemned the harm done by the war to poor people here and in Vietnam. And he called for its immediate end by nonviolent means. As the current heartbreaking [...]

Joan Maya Mazelis, Associate Professor of Sociology Rutgers University-Camden   Like most Americans, people in poverty cling tightly to the belief that they should manage their struggles independently. For that reason, they frequently avoid social ties. Yet when these people do seek assistance, they may learn that personal failings alone do not cause poverty. Mazelis [...]

W. E. B. DuBois famously declared that "the problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the colour-line." This line cut deeply into DuBois, cleaving his body, mind, and soul in two, creating a painful “double-consciousness.” Fredrick Douglass, however, spoke of the color line primarily as outside of himself, a boundary drawn between races which divides [...]

Timothy Welbeck, Director of Anti-Racism Research at Temple University Civil-rights attorney and scholar Timothy Welbeck will explore the history of racial classifications and the law in the United States. How have various faith communities challenged these legal standards and accompanying social conventions as they strive to create a more equitable society? Welbeck is Assistant Professor [...]

Hugh Taft-Morales, leader of the Philadelphia Ethical Society Many consider Plato’s parable of the cave a foundation of western philosophy. It offers insight into human ignorance, the potential for transcendence, and the cruel fate that can befall anyone challenging conventional thinking. What did Hugh Taft-Morales find two decades ago after crawling into an actual cave [...]

Christopher R. Rogers Founder of We Win from Within Christopher Rogers will discuss how Friends of the Tanner House and project partners are leading an arts-rich participatory planning and preservation visioning process that invites community voices to have a say in the rehabilitation and proposed re-use of the Henry Ossawa Tanner House. This project centers [...]

Ethical Humanists strive to make the world a better place by minimizing suffering and enhancing the dignity and autonomy of all people. Regarding reproductive justice, Ethical Culture has long defended the right of women to control their bodies. We oppose draconian religious and sexist assaults on this principle. How can we most effectively defend women’s [...]

Anthony Grasso Assistant Professor of Political Science, Rutgers University, Camden What is the Supreme Court’s standing as an institution; and how will that affect the future of democracy? Anthony Grasso will discuss recent controversial Court decisions, major cases on its docket, and the sorts of cases we should expect to see in this election year. [...]

Ethical Culture urges us to be good morally by honoring the worth of others, nurturing ethical relationships, and building social justice. Ethical Culture also celebrates lives filled with meaning and joy. How are these related? Are we to balance ethical living with personal fulfillment, separating our day into “ethical time” and “me time”? Or should [...]

Shauna Shames Associate Professor of Political Science, Rutgers University, Camden What can political science tell us about the role of gendered public policy and women as candidates in the upcoming elections? Shauna Shames will share research and insights about some key gendered issues—including reproductive rights, gun control, and child care—that may motivate turnout and choice [...]