Law Commons^™

Clarence X?: The Black Nationalist Behind Justice Thomas's Constitutionalism, Stephen F. Smith

Journal Articles

The opinions of Justice Thomas reflect a jurisprudence that is uniquely his own. His well-known commitment to textualism and originalism combines with a weak commitment to stare decisis on constitutional questions. This often puts Thomas at odds with Justice Scalia and other Justices who are far more willing to defer to precedents with which they disagree. The most distinctive aspect of Thomas's jurisprudence, however, involves cases of particular concern to black Americans. In these cases, his originalism and textualism are powerfully supplemented by another -ism—namely, "black nationalism."

Throughout his tenure, Justice Thomas has repeatedly explored the implications of controversial rulings …

Desegregation Law And Jurisprudence, Wendy B. Scott

Journal Articles

My Essay provides context for the articles that query the contemporary relevance of integration. Part I addresses the challenge of understanding desegregation and its relationship to integration. Part II explores the equality rationales offered by courts and scholars to support or reject integration as the most viable method for achieving desegregation. The Essay concludes that we should move beyond substantive equality to anti-subordination strategies targeted at the deeply entrenched structural inequalities that marginalize children in poor or racially-isolated schools.

The State As Batterer: Learning From Family Law To Address American's Family-Like Racial Dysfunction, Angela Mae Kupenda

Journal Articles

The women's movement for equality bootstrapped to the movement for equality for Blacks. Now the reverse can happen. This Article uses family law and the plight of some battered women, as a lens to address analogous racial conflicts in the broader American family.