MAKING HISTORY: Race, Gender and the Media in the 2008 Elections

September 26, 2008 - September 27, 2008
School of Law

The Ronald H. Brown Center for Civil Rights and Economic Development at St. John’s University School of Law and the Journal of Legal Commentary are pleased to announce a symposium, Making History: Race, Gender and the Media in the 2008 Elections.

History has already been made in the 2008 U.S. presidential primary elections and the outcome of the general elections may set new precedent. Senator Barack Obama, the presumptive presidential nominee for a major party, is the first African American ever to achieve that standing. Likewise, Senator Hillary Clinton broke records as the first woman to run competitively in the presidential primary elections of major party in pursuit of its nomination. Governor Bill Richardson, a Latino, similarly sought the nomination of a major party, although he withdrew his candidacy soon after the primaries began. Finally, former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney heads an all-female, all-minority ticket for the Green Party.

This interdisciplinary symposium is comprised of a series of engaging and expert panel discussions, featured dialogues, and addresses, including a keynote address by:
  
DONNA BRAZILE
Founder and Managing Director
Brazile and Associates, LLC

Ms. Brazile is the first African American to lead a major presidential campaign, a frequent CNN contributor, and Chair of the Democratic National Committee's Voting Rights Institute (VRI).  Other speakers include renowned scholars, practitioners, activists, government officials and political commentators.

In addition, New York Times editor, Marcus Mabry, author of the biography “Twice As Good: Condoleezza Rice and Her Path To Power”, former chief correspondent at Newsweek, and winner of several journalism awards, will participate in a dialogue with noted critical race and election law scholar, Sherillyn Ifill, on the impact of elections on American politics. This discussion will be moderated by New York Daily News Columnist Errol Louis.

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