Last week, I attended the naming ceremony of Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice at Brown University. During her tenure as president of Brown and the rst Black person to lead an Ivy League institution, President Simmons launched a fact- nding inquiry into Brown’s historical ties to slavery. That would lead to a comprehensive report in 2006 and, in 2012, the creation of the center that now bears her name. I was an undergraduate at Brown while Ruth was the president, and Ruth’s trailblazing vision still informs my work today.
Indeed, at the ceremony, Ruth shared wisdom that I now want to share with you: “One of the best things we do as human beings is continue the work of justice. I can’t think of anything that is more humanizing than applying ourselves to that in every generation.” Nothing could be more true, more timely, or more central to the work we do at AFJ. As we continue to strategize after the devastating losses from the last Supreme Court term and prepare for the new term to start in October, I am inspired by the passion of the progressive movement and our dedication to securing equal rights for all. The road ahead is long, but we walk it together. Ruth's investigation into historical injustice, persistent inequities, and our moral obligations to respond were controversial at the time. But she showed unique courage and an unwavering commitment to the truth. Today, Brown’s work represents the gold-standard for confronting our past to build a better future. May we embrace her example and live to see the world embrace ours.