By Larry S. Temkin (NHC Fellow, 1984–85) Equality has long been among the most potent of human ideals and it continues to play a prominent role in political argument. Views about equality inform much of the debate about wide-ranging issues such as racism, sexism, obligations to the poor or handicapped, relations between developed and developing … Continued
Edited by John Agresto (NHC Fellow, 1978–79; 1979–80)
By Paula Blank (NHC Fellow, 2001–02; 2012–13) Shakespeare's poems and plays are rich in reference to "measure, number, and weight," which were the key terms of an early modern empirical and quantitative imagination. Shakespeare's investigation of Renaissance measures of reality centers on the consequences of applying principles of measurement to the appraisal of human value. … Continued
By John Carson (NHC Fellow, 2003–04) How have modern democracies squared their commitment to equality with their fear that disparities in talent and intelligence might be natural, persistent, and consequential? In this wide-ranging account of American and French understandings of merit, talent, and intelligence over the past two centuries, John Carson tells the fascinating story … Continued
Marcus Garvey and his organization, the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), represent the largest mass movement in African-American history. Proclaiming a black nationalist “Back to Africa” message, Garvey and the UNIA established 700 branches in thirty-eight states by the early 1920s. Considering the strong political and economic black nationalism of Garvey’s movement, it may seem … Continued
Even amidst celebrations of their diverse contributions to American society and culture, immigrants have long confronted suspicion, prejudice, and xenophobia. As a result, they also have a long history of fighting for equality. This webinar will examine the contradictory impulses of American history towards immigration and the ways immigrants and their allies have fought to … Continued