Death Penalty: What Is It? What Do We Think About It?

Abstract:: In late September 2011, the death penalty dominated news headlines. The stories mostly revolved around the case of Troy Davis, a 42-year old African American man who was convicted of killing a white off-duty police officer in Savannah, Georgia, over 20 years ago. Protests against the death penalty were held across the US and the debate over his guilt captured the attention of thousands internationally as well. Over the years Troy Davis's case has helped fuel the global movement to end the death penalty. After three earlier stays of execution, Troy Davis lost a clemency vote taken by the Georgia Parole Board on September 20, 2011. The following day, he was put to death by lethal injection.

Reading Seminar in Social Science: Race, Crime, and Citizenship in American Law, Spring 2007

Abstract:: This course surveys the relationship between race and crime in the United States, with a special emphasis on the role this relationship has played in the development of American ideas about citizenship and nationhood.

Read the Fine Print

Abstract:: End to experimental school project in Boston. Program, in a news-broadcast format, reviews the events of April, 1975 with anchors James Rowe and Carmen Fields, news reporter 'at large' Leah Fletcher, in-studio interviewer Russell Tillman, arts reviewer Tanya Hart, special reporter June Cross, and commentator Dighton Spooner. Program features a special reports on State Senator Bill Owens's press conference in April (in which he discussed capital punishment legislation pending in the Senate), the 'American Woman' festival held at Jordan Marsh department store in Boston, decisions made by Housing Court Judge Paul Garrity (on renovating the housing projects under the Boston Housing Authority), Julian Bond's recent traveling of the political circuit in Massachusetts to 'drum up' support for a presidential campaign, the Alliance for Economic Justice's meeting to protest the governor's cutback in welfare benefits, an interview with Winston Kendall of the Roxbury Defenders (about the upcoming conference organized by the National Conference on Black Lawyers called 'Resist to Exist'), the picketing of the president's office at Boston University by students (over the current dean and his poor management of the Black Talent Program), the United States Bicentennial events on Patriots' Day at John Elliot Square, and an interview with jazz musician Ronnie Gill. Produced by Marita Rivero. Directed by Conrad White.