Past Events

As part of our William C. Powers Jr. Speaker Series, the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy (CSRD) proudly presents "Long Time Coming: Reckoning with Race in America with Michael Eric Dyson," Wednesday, April 7. Dyson is a celebrated professor, writer, preacher, lecturer and media personality. He earned his Ph.D. in religion from Princeton and has taught at many universities, including Brown, UNC Chapel Hill, Columbia, DePaul, the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown. His latest book, Long Time Coming: Reckoning with Race in America, was heralded as Amazon's Bestselling Book for 2020.

On April 7, the Clements Center for National Security and the UT-Austin Office of the President will host Karl Rove, former deputy chief of staff and senior advisor to President George W. Bush, for a virtual talk on "America's Broken Politics: How We Got Here, How We'll Get Out of It." University of Texas President Jay Hartzell will introduce Rove.

COVID-19 has upended life as we knew it, with Texas and its cities facing unyielding disruption and change. What will the future bring for Texas cities — more of the same or a new normal? More and more companies shift to work from home permanently or indefinitely; hospitality, restaurants and bars struggle under the weight of the pandemic; health care inequities have been exposed; and public safety concerns have been highlighted. On this panel, hosted by the LBJ Future Forum and the LBJ School of Public Affairs, we'll explore how cities in Texas have adapted, what they've learned and the challenges they're facing, as well as the opportunities that have presented themselves due to the pandemic.

On Tuesday, March 30, the Strauss Center will host Tess Owen, senior reporter at VICE News who covers extremism, hate crimes and gun control, to talk about her reporting on domestic extremist movements.

This keynote panel of the 24th annual Barbara Jordan National Forum provokes a conversation about how we can create an America that lives up to its promise of the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to everyone regardless of race, status or religion. Leading the conversation will be Rodney Ellis (MPAff '77), Harris County Commissioner; Ranjana Natarajan, director, Civil Rights Clinic at the University of Texas School of Law; and Mercedes Fulbright, organizing director, Texas Working Families Party. Watch the discussion.

Join the LBJ School for a three-part series on the Latino landscape, unpacking what happened in 2020; demography and what so many people get wrong about destiny; what lies ahead; and the ongoing transformation of what it means to be Latino/a. Session 3: Is Demography Destiny? Latinos, The Census, & What Lies Ahead, with Mark Hugo Lopez, moderated by Dr. Victoria DeFrancesco Soto, assistant dean for civic engagement and lecturer at the LBJ School.

While a new administration inspires optimism, it remains important to not fall into complacency. As host of "The Next Four Years" podcast, the Washington Post's Eugene Scott spoke on "An America as Good as Promised," how that looks in the context of a new administration, and what work still needs to be done. WATCH this conversation — part of the 24th annual Barbara Jordan National Forum.

Steve Ballmer, former Microsoft CEO and founder of USAFacts, discussed the 2021 State of the Union in Numbers report, a digital resource to give Americans a data-driven overview of the nation across many different barometers.

Beto O'Rourke, former member of Congress and LBJ adjunct assistant professor, and Will Guzman, author of "Civil Rights in the Texas Borderlands," reflect on the life and legacy of physician Lawrence Nixon, a community and civil rights leader in El Paso. In 1923, Nixon challenged the law that banned Black Americans from voting in the Democratic primary. His victory in two subsequent Supreme Court decisions paved the way for dismantling all-white primaries across the South.

Despite America's most sacred ideal of egalitarianism, racial inequality has been a fact of American life throughout our history. Despite historic civil rights advancements, systemic inequity continues to be ingrained in our society—including in our own communities—holding us back from our promise. How can we all make a difference? "The Path to Racial Equity," a series of six free virtual programs beginning on Thursday, Jan. 14 at 5:30 p.m. CT, will draw on experts who will examine the issues surrounding racial inequity in Austin and offer simple, practical steps each of us can take to be part of the solution.