SPEAKING

THE WE BEND IT™ KEYNOTE

The Arc Doesn't Bend Itself: How We Bend It

"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." Most people hear a promise. It is a call-to-arms. The arc bends not from gravity but from the gravitas of our collective struggle to improve our community, our society, and our world—and my research integrating law, economics, and public policy shows why it will not bend on its own. WE bend it. Pairing that evidence with my own road from the Chicago Public Schools to Harvard and back, this talk turns awareness into action through the BEND framework—four moves for bending the arc from wherever you stand.

Ideal for: Convocations, leadership conferences, MLK Day and Black History Month programming, social justice events, diversity programming

THE VOTING RIGHTS KEYNOTE

Beyond Malice, It's Math: Voting Rights After Louisiana v. Callais

The Supreme Court dramatically narrowed Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. My research exposes shortcomings in the Court's reasoning—due in part to social network discrimination and how it impacts political opportunity. This talk explains what Callais changed, what the Voting Rights Act still protects, and what promoting equal political opportunity demands of us.

Ideal for: MLK Day and Black History Month programming, bar associations, election law symposia

Dr. Okafor teaches the Fourteenth Amendment at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.

THE RESEARCH KEYNOTE

The Limits of Colorblindness: Why 'Neutral' Policies Perpetuate Inequality

Many assume that in a world with initial equality and fully equal rules, outcomes between groups would also be equal. My research shows that is not the case. When one group is smaller, its members receive fewer opportunities even under rules that are perfectly equal. Based on my research originating the concept of social network discrimination—published in The Journal of Law & Economics and featured on NPR—this talk shows with data why colorblind approaches fail to achieve meritocracy—and what the evidence says about building systems that promote true equality of opportunity.

Ideal for: Law schools, policy programs, talent and hiring leaders, faculty and leadership development