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.
"Two Models of Patriotism: Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King Jr." with Lucas Morel
"Two Models of Patriotism: Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King, Jr." will contrast the civil rights activism of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Frederick Douglass. Both saw themselves as American patriots: King described his dream as "deeply rooted in the America dream," while Douglass thought the American founders "seized upon eternal principles." Both saw a strong federal government as necessary for progress in civil rights for black Americans. However, whereas Douglass always preached the development of personal character as the most important element of securing freedom, King came to believe that color bigotry posed such an obstacle for black Americans that he emphasized federal assistance over character development as the main priority for the latter phase of the modern Civil Rights Movement. This lecture will contrast each man's political thought, highlighting important agreements between them, as well as disagreements, drawing lessons for 21st century America.
About the Speaker
Lucas Morel is the John K. Boardman, Jr. Professor of Politics and Head of the Politics Department at Washington and Lee University. He holds a Ph.D. in political science from Claremont Graduate University. He has written or edited several books on Lincoln, his most recent being Lincoln and the American Founding. Dr. Morel conducts high school teacher workshops for the Ashbrook Center, Jack Miller Center, Gilder-Lehrman Institute, Bill of Rights Institute, and Liberty Fund. He is a former president of the Abraham Lincoln Institute; a founding member of the Academic Freedom Alliance; a consultant for the Library of Congress and National Archives; and currently serves on the U.S. Semi quincentennial Commission, which will plan activities to commemorate the founding of the United States of America.
Date: Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Time: 5:00-7:00 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.”