Sherrilyn Ifill, the former president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, delivered the 2024 Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture Thursday at the Salomon Center. Hosted by the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity, the annual lecture celebrates the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., who visited Brown multiple times in the 1960s, according to the office鈥檚 .
Ifill, who is a leading voice in advocacy for racial equality and justice, spent much of her speech reflecting on the history, legacy and nuances of the 鈥渓ittle understood鈥� 14th Amendment. She considers the post-Civil War Reconstruction era in which the amendment was created 鈥渢he second founding (of America),鈥� but it is rarely taught as such, she said 鈥� even though the period informs much of the modern Constitution.
That pedagogical gap partly inspired her to found the 14th Amendment Center at Howard University, through which Ifill hoped to 鈥済round conversations of equality and justice in the Constitution鈥� while framing citizenship rights as important for all races, not just Black communities.
Her work on racial justice formed a consistent backbone throughout the lecture. In the opening moments of her speech, titled 鈥淩eimagining a New American Democracy,鈥� Ifill beckoned to the audience, asking: 鈥淲hat kind of citizenship does this moment demand?鈥�
For Ifill, citizenship means full civic participation. 鈥淟eave no power on the table,鈥� she said. She implored the audience to meaningfully research and engage with politics at all levels of government. This entails 鈥渦nderstanding how uneducated many of us have been 鈥� there鈥檚 so much history that exists in plain sight, but we lack the tools to see it,鈥� she said, referring to persisting racial and geographic disparities in the United States.
Reflecting on political polarization in the country, Ifill noted her uncertainty regarding the future of democracy. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a difficult time鈥� for institutions like governments, courts and campuses, she said 鈥� especially in an election year.
Despite her doubts, Ifill expressed optimism for the future. 鈥淲e can lament, wring our hands and be deeply concerned,鈥� she said. But 鈥渨e have to be willing to take hold of power.鈥�
鈥淗ow we think about our democracy, who we think we are, is a question of our imagination,鈥� she explained, adding that the pain caused by ideological contentions is essential to progress, and institutions like universities remain important spaces for 鈥渄ynamic fights.鈥�
Some audience members said they were inspired after listening to Ifill鈥檚 speech. 鈥淭here is hope even in times that seem hopeless,鈥� Professor of Engineering Chris Rose said. Paul Butler, another audience member, echoed this sentiment in a conversation with The Herald: 鈥淚t was an incentive 鈥� to do more studying, to be more diligent 鈥� we have to look for the new paradigm.鈥�
Members of Shades of Brown, an a cappella group that performed three musical numbers at the lecture, shared similar compliments. Music Director Makayla Mcpherson 鈥�24 said she was 鈥渄eeply moved.鈥� Tyrone Killebrew 鈥�24, who also spoke to The Herald, described the lecture as 鈥渁 tasteful and respectful way to honor Dr. King鈥檚 legacy.鈥�
Alongside her intermittent nine-year tenure at NAACP, Ifill also authored 鈥淥n the Courthouse Lawn: Confronting the Legacy of Lynching in the 21st Century.鈥� She currently leads the development of the 14th Amendment Center for Law & Democracy at Howard University. In 2021, Time Magazine named Ifill one of the of the year.
鈥淟ove without power is sentimental and anemic,鈥� Ifill said, quoting Martin Luther King Jr. towards the end of her speech. 鈥淎nd power without love can be dangerous and aggressive. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. And justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.鈥�
Megan is a Senior Staff Writer covering community and activism in Providence. Born and raised in Hong Kong, she spends her free time drinking coffee and wishing she was Meg Ryan in a Nora Ephron movie.
