St. Thomas Law Celebrates Black History Month

Professor Michele Bratcher Goodwin

February is nationally recognized as Black History Month and, as a law school nationally recognized as having one the Top 5 Environments for Minority Students (Princeton Review 2015), we were honored to welcome two notables in their fields to speak with our students and faculty about issues of national relevance and importance.

First, on February 12, we welcomed Professor Michele Bratcher-Goodwin, a renowned Professor of Law from the University of California – Irvine. She is the founder and director of The Center for Biotechnology and Global Health Policy at UC Irvine School of Law. Professor Goodwin’s lecture was a part of St. Thomas Law’s Distinguished Lecture Series and was entitled “The New Jane Crow – Mass Incarceration and Then Impact on Women and Children.”

Judge Sherlyon McWhorter

The lecture focused on the powerful legacy of Jim Crow in the United States and offered insights on the impact for women and discrimination. She shared anecdotes about notable states’ practices that have included: shackling pregnant women, regulating pregnant women from subordinated groups, and prosecuting women for acts that are considered criminal solely because they are pregnant as constituting status-based punishments. During her hour-long lecture, Professor Goodwin also offered insights about what these status-based punishments that uniquely impact incarcerated “Jane Crow” women mean for law and society. It was a very popular and well-received lecture, which saw the discussion continue well beyond its official end.

On February 17, the St. Thomas University School of Law, Black Law Student Association and St. Thomas School of Law, Caribbean Law Student Association welcomed Judge Shirlyon McWhorter, former County Court Judge and currently the Executive Director of the Office of Civil Rights Compliance for Miami Dade County Public Schools who shared a lively and enlightening lecture entitled Civil Rights, Looking Back and Forward. Judge McWhorter shared her experiences with racial bias as a County Court Judge, how she worked through the race and gender-based barriers, the positive changes that she has seen, and the challenges that still lie ahead.

St. Thomas Law will continue to welcome and celebrate internationally-renowned, diverse speakers and luminaries beyond Black History Month.