Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture
The School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership hosts an annual lecture in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr., which provides an indispensable forum for the school to include historical and contemporary conversations about race in American society within the framework of civic discourse that inspires all of our public programs.
"The Virtue of Color-Blindness and the American Project" with Andre Archie
Though the term “color-blindness” has come under attack in recent years, the color-blind approach to race relations is superior to anti-racism and identity politics in every way. Color-blindness is grounded in the understanding that an individual’s or a group’s racial membership should be irrelevant when choices are made, or attitudes formed. Instead, character should be understood as the root of individual choices and attitudes. As Martin Luther King Jr. famously says in his “I Have a Dream Speech,” he wants his children to live in a nation where they would be judged by the content of their character, not by the color of their skin. This color-blind dream is deeply rooted in Western philosophy and should be restored as the American ideal.
The speaker will be participating in a book signing and selling following the end of the lecture for his book, The Virtue of Color Blindness (Regenery).
About the Speaker
Andre Archie, associate professor of ancient Greek philosophy at Colorado State University, received his PhD from Duquesne University. He specializes in the History of Ancient Greek Philosophy and Ancient Greek Political Philosophy. His latest research focuses on methodological issues in Plato and Aristotle. Andre has published in various academic journals such as the Journal of Philosophical Research, Ancient Philosophy, History of Political Thought, and Scholia. In 2016 he published a monograph with Springer titled "Politics in Socrates' Alcibiades: A Philosophical Account of Plato's Dialogue Alcibiades Major."
Andre's scholarship also highlights the value of Classical Studies and how it can provide a much-needed perspective on topical issues that often get discussed glibly by today's educators. Such issues are identity politics, race, family, and culture. Andre's engagement with classical antiquity wholeheartedly affirms its positive and civilizing values. His writings in these areas have appeared in National Review, The American Conservative, Modern Age, and PragerU.
When not teaching and writing, Andre enjoys traveling, the occasional ski weekend with his family, long walks with his wife, and reading good books.
Date: Thursday, January 16, 2025
Time: 5-7 p.m.
Location: Carson Ballroom, Old Main, 400 E Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ, 85281
Watch previous lectures
In the news
Annual Martin Luther King Day lecture at Arizona State University considers range of perspectives on activism
Scholars discuss intellectual, ideological diversity of civil rights movement at ASU.
Two of the nation’s most respected scholars of race and politics visited Arizona State University’s Tempe campus Wednesday to participate in the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership’s third annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day lecture, “Citizenship and the African American Experience.”