Willard Library and Kellogg Community College will cohost Akhil Reed Amar, author of the forthcoming book “Born Equal: Remaking America’s Constitution, 1860-1920” on Saturday, September 13, 2 p.m. at Kellogg Community College’s Binda Auditorium.
“Born Equal” is described as a definitive history of how the ideal of birth equality reshaped the American Constitution, from antebellum debates over slavery and secession, to the Civil War and emancipation, to women’s suffrage. In the book, Amar recounts dramatic constitutional debates spanning the eight decades in which slavery was abolished, Black and female citizenship was secured, and suffrage was extended regardless of race or gender.
Michael McCullough, Willard Library’s local collections librarian and archivist, described the author and scholar as “among the nation’s most respected constitutional law scholars, so we’re very excited to have an expert of his stature…What is most appealing is his ability to engage with people, making complex legal concepts accessible to a broader audience.”
Professor Amar will join Willard Library and Kellogg Community College for a discussion of how Abraham Lincoln and his allies saved the Constitution in the 1860s, and even managed to improve it, in a time of intense polarization. Professor Amar will explore how we might try and follow their lead today.
Of the program, McCullough said, “We’ve always observed Constitution Week, an annual event that commemorates the signing of the US Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787. What’s different this year is political rhetoric and debate about what the Constitution says, even whether all of it should stand.” He continued, “As we approach the 225th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence next July 4, it seems more important than ever that we facilitate a conversation about our democracy.”
McCullough is confident that Professor Amar is up to the challenge of speaking on this topic. “I think he’s the perfect speaker for this moment,” he said. “Amar is a constitutional scholar whose views often defy conventional norms.” He has testified in high-profile hearings, is a member of leading legal organizations, and is the host of the podcast America’s Constitution. These varied perspectives and experiences make him particularly well-suited to address questions about the polarization we find ourselves in today.
Akhil Reed Amar is Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale University, where he teaches constitutional law. His work has won awards from both the American Bar Association and the Federalist Society, and he has been cited by Supreme Court justices across the spectrum in more than 50 cases – tops among scholars under age 70. His work has been featured in several publications, and his ongoing trilogy on America’s constitutional history from the founding to the present has been very well received.
This is first in a year-long Willard Library program series exploring the Constitution and our nation’s founding documents.
Kellogg Community College has created a digital Constitution Day exhibit, featuring much of Amar’s work including books, videos, podcasts, and articles. It is accessible here: https://guides.kellogg.edu/exhibits/Akhil-Reed-Amar
