2007-2008 Topic:

Race-based Hate Speech

Griot race, Law & Justice oraL competition

center For tHe stuDY oF race anD race reLations

Note from the DirectorWe weren’t sure what to expect when we sent out notices last fall about the Griot Race, Law and Justice Oral Competition. Would students jump on board or shy away from an invitation to talk about race in a public forum? We were pleased to learn that students were eager, in fact hungry, to participate in the competition.

The Griot Justice contest highlights race as a legitimate focal point for socio-legal inquiry. We have designed the competition to support the development of legal oratory and research skills, with the goal of promoting racial justice. One of our central aims is to have students work together to address thorny issues of race. With this in mind, the Griot Justice contest is a team, rather than an individual competition. We view the work of race as a joint enterprise—one that requires commitment, audacity, and teamwork.

The Griot, Race, Law and Justice Oral Competition fits squarely within the Race Center’s mission to foster communities of dialogue, destigmatize race and support race-related curriculum development.

Please join us in our work.

Note from the DeanIssues related to race and race relations are important to everyone, but they are especially relevant to those in the legal profession. The University of Florida Levin College of Law is home to one of the few centers in the country devoted to the study of these issues, and we are proud of what the Center for the Study of Race and Race Relations has accomplished through its lecture series, publications, research, and support of programming and scholarship, both on and off campus. The CSRRR’s latest offering, the Griot Race, Law, and Justice Oral Competition, provides a unique opportunity for law students to engage the difficult subject of race in a forum that hones their oral presentation, research and advocacy skills.

Welcome to the 2008 GrioT CompeTiTioN

Katheryn Russell-BrownProfessor of Law & CSRRR Director

Robert Jerry, IIDean & Levin, Mabie & Levin Professor of Law

February 23, 20089:00–9:15.........WELCOME.AND.INTRODUCTIONS

. Katheryn.Russell-Brown.

. Dean.Robert.Jerry

9:20–9:40.........Team.#1.–.Presentation.and.Q&A

9:45–10:05.......Team.#2.–.Presentation.and.Q&A

10:10–10:30.....Team.#3.–.Presentation.and.Q&A

10:35–10:55.....Team.#4.–.Presentation.and.Q&A

11:00–11:20.....Team.#5.--Presentation.and.Q&A

11:25–11:.45....Team.#6—Presentation.and.Q&A

11:45–12:30.....LUNCH

12:30–12:50.....Team.#7.–.Presentation.and.Q&A

12:55–1:15.......Team.#8.–.Presentation.and.Q&A

1:20–1:40.........Team.#9.–.Presentation.and.Q&A

1:45–2:05.........Team.#10.–.Presentation.and.Q&A

2:05–2:25......... JUDGES.DELIBERATIONS

2:30–3:00.........AWARDS.CEREMONY.AND.CLOSING.COMMENTS

3:00.................RECEPTION.

Judges. Catherine.Emihovich.. Dean and Professor, College of Education . Angelique.Nixon.. Ph.D. Student, English . Juan.Perea. Professor of Law Cone, Wagner, Nugent, Johnson, Hazouri & Roth Professor of Law

Griot Competition SCHeDULe

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2007-2008 GrioT CompeTiTioNTopic: race-based Hate SpeechIn.West.Africa,.the.griot.is.a.respected.traveling.historian.who.keeps.the.history.and.genealogy.of.a.community.alive.through.skilled.oral.presentations.and.storytelling..In.the.U.S..the.griot.takes.on.a.more.urgent.role.–.part.town-crier,.part.prognosticator..In.the.face.of.continuing.racial.inequality,.disparity.and.insensitivity,.the.griot.enters.the.public.sphere.–.through.the.courtroom,.the.boardroom.and.legislative.convention–.equipped.with.the.best.data,.keen.analyses,.and.polished.presentation.skills.in.order.to.shed.light.and.understanding.on.the.most.pressing.issues.of.the.day..

The.Griot.Race,.Law,.and.Justice.Oral.Competition.is.designed.to.support.the.development.of.legal.oratory.and.research.skills.in.defense.of.racial.equality.and.justice..

1st place–$2,5002nd place–$1,5003rd place–$1,000

These t-shirts provide a visual representation of the facts detailed in the Griot Justice hypothetical.

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Griot Justice Award HYpoTHeTiCALOver.the.last.year.there.have.been.several.high-profile.racial-ethnic.speech.incidents.in.the.U.S..These.include.Mel.Gibson’s.anti-Semitic,.drunken.tirade,.Michael.Richards’s.“N.word”.rant,.Rosie.O’Donnell’s.“comedic”.caricature.of.Asians,.and.Don.Imus’s.racially-derogatory.reference.to.the.Rutgers.women’s.basketball.team.

Racial.incivility.has.not.escaped.the.sleepy.little.town.of.Calusa,.a.small.community.in.Alachua.County.Florida..The.town,.which.is.majority.White,.has.a.substantial.mix.of.African.American,.Latino,.Asian.American.and.Native.American.residents..In.recent.months,.Calusa.High.has.experienced.several.racially-charged.incidents..Tensions.mounted.following.the.placement.of.the.confederate.flag.inside.a.school.display.case.that.highlighted.the.achievements.of.the.school’s.championship.soccer.team,.the.Calusa.Rebels..

A.number.of.minority.students.and.a.few.White.students.at.the.high.school.have.organized.a.group.opposing.the.confederate.flag.display..Minority.students.say.that.the.confederate.flag.is.both.racially.insensitive.and.offensive.and.belongs.in.a.museum,.not.on.public.school.property..Most.of.Calusa.High’s.White.students.disagree.

In.response.to.the.flag.display,.a.group.of.African.American.students.at.Calusa.have.started.wearing.T-shirts.with.a.picture.of.the.confederate.flag.done.up.in.red,.black.and.green.–.the.colors.of.African.liberation..Latino.students.are.wearing..T-shirts.with.the.confederate.flag.depicted.in.green,.white.and.red.–.the.colors.of.the.Mexican.flag..Not.to.be.outdone,.White.students.have.responded.to.the.minority.students’.protests.by.wearing.T-shirts.with.a.picture.of.the.confederate.flag.with.the.statement,.“100%.cotton,.and.you.picked.it.”.

You.are.an.attorney.at.a.large.Florida.firm.that.has.developed.a.reputation.for.its.expert.handling.of.race-based.hate.speech.cases..In.fact.your.firm.has.been.consulted.on.several.well-known.cases..The.firm.has.made.its.mark.by.combining.sound.legal.research.and.analysis.with.insights.from.social.science.–.sociology,.political.science.and.history.–.and.public.policy.experts..Increasingly.judges.are.using.social.science.research.to.support.their.legal.findings..

To.date,.school.officials.have.not.responded.to.the.students’.actions..You.have.been.invited.by.the.Calusa.School.Board.to.a.meeting.to.address.the.incidents.at.the.high.school..Parents,.students,.concerned.citizens,.teachers.and.administrators—some.sympathetic.to.the.display.of.the.confederate.flag,.others.not,.and.still.others.who.are.unsure.what.to.think—will.attend.the.meeting..This.audience.is.interested.in.what.the.law.has.to.say.about.these.matters.but,.just.as.important,.they.want.to.understand.whether.these.incidents.raise.larger.issues.that.the.school.board.should.be.concerned.about..In.other.words,.the.school.board.would.like.you.to.put.the.racial.events.at.Calusa.High.into.a.broader.social.context.so.that.people.might.develop.a.better.understanding.of.the.issues.involved.in.race-based.hate.speech..

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Photos and Biographies TeAm pArTiCipANTSBlocker & CobbJonathan M. Blocker.(2L)..Morehouse.College,.B.S.,.Psychology..Honors/Activities:.2007-2008.National.Black.Law.Students.Association.Trial.Team;.Entertainment.Law.Review;.President,.Black.Law.Students.Association;.member,.International.Law.Society;.volunteer,.ACLU.Restoration.of.Civil.Rights.Project.

Lorna M. Cobb.(2L)..Oberlin.College,.B.A.,.Music.(French.Horn)..Honors/Activities:.Book.Award,.Immigration.Law;.Pi.Kappa.Lamda.Academic.Music.Honor.Society;.Justice.Campbell.Thornal.Moot.Court.Team;.University.of.Florida.Journal.of.Law.and.Public.Policy.

Bortnick & WaughJariel Bortnick.(3L)..University.of.Pennsylvania,.B.A.,.Urban.Studies.and.Real.Estate..Honors/Activities:.concentration.in.land.use.law;.research.assistant,.Professor.Michael.Allan.Wolf;.business.reporter.for.the.Gainesville.Sun.

Christian Waugh.(3L)..Honors/Activities:.member.Law.School.Republicans,.Federalist.Society.and.Law.College.Council..Gold.medal.water.polo,.Sunshine.State.Games;.scholarship,.United.States-Indonesia.Society.

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Bowens & SmithGloria Bowens.(3L)..University.of.Florida,.B.A.,.Political.Science..Honors/Activities:.Rotary.Cultural.Ambassadorial.Scholar,.2005-2007;.2007.National.Director.of.Education.&.Career.Development.for.NBLSA;.2005-2007.NAACP.Earl.Warren.Legal.Civil.Rights.Scholar;.Owner.of.GRB.Enterprises,.a.Diversity.Consulting.Company.

Johann Josef Smith.(2L)..University.of.South.Florida,.B.A.,.Advertising..Honors/Activities:.Recipient.of.the.Chester.Ferguson.Scholarship.for.Academics.and.Leadership;.First.Prize,.Zimmerman.Partners/USF.Student.Advertising.Competition;.Mentorship.Coordinator.and.Mentor.elementary.school.program;.Founder.and.President,.Mediators.Beyond.Borders.at.UF.Law;.Research.Editor,.Entertainment.Law.Review.

Byrd, mcCrae & TricheAgnes Byrd.(2L)..University.of.Florida,.B.A.,.English..

Caroline McCrae.(2L)..University.of.Florida,.B.A..and.M.A.,.Accounting..Honors/Activities:.Team.leader,.Americorps.NCCC.Class.of.XII;.Community.Service.Coordinator,.UF.Association.for.Public.Interest.Law;.candidate,.Florida.Law.Review.

Marie Triche.(2L)..Florida.A&M.University,.B.A.,.Criminal.Justice,.minor.in.English..Honors/Activities:.Vice.President,.Black.Law.Students.Association;.Treasurer,.Caribbean.Law.Students.Association.

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Gordon & Lee Megone E. Gordon.(3L)..University.of.Florida,.B.S..Honors/Activities:.Trial.Team;.Vice-President,.Caribbean.Law.Students.Association;.University.of.Florida.Chapter.of.the.American.Bar.Association;.Guardian.Ad.Litem,.Fifth.Judicial.Circuit.

DeMone W. Lee.(3L)..University.of.Florida,.B.A.,.Political.Science..Honors/

Activities:.Dean’s.List;.Trial.Team.

Guerra, may & SarradetNatalie F. Guerra.(3L)..University.of.Miami,.B.S.,.Journalism.and.Criminology..Honors/Activities:.Chester.Ferguson.Scholarship;.Trial.Team;.Corporate.and.Securities.Litigation.Group;.member,.Spanish.American.Law.Student’s.Association.

Kelly Ann L. May.(3L)..State.University.of.New.York,.Brockport,.B.S.,.Criminal.Justice..Honors/Activities:.Summa.cum.laude;.C-Step.Student.of.the.Year,.2005;.McWherter.Academic.Scholar.in.the.field.of.law;.member,.Trial.Team.Executive.Board;.Entertainment.Law.Review;.past.Executive.Board.member,.Spanish.American.Law.Student’s.Association.

Sahily Serradet.(2L)..University.of.Miami,.B.A.,.Sociology..Honors/Activities:.Florida.Academic.Scholar;.Dean’s.List.Honoree;.International.and.Comparative.Law.Certificate.Candidate;.Chair.of.Professional.Liaison.Committee;.International.Law.Society;.participant,.London.Law.Consortium.study.abroad.program..

Photos and Biographies TeAm pArTiCipANTS, continued

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Jean-Baptiste & padronDaniel Jean-Baptiste.(2L)..University.of.Chicago,.Sociology.and.University.of.Central.Florida,.Liberal.Arts..Honors/Activities:.Prison.Ministries.and.Juvenile.Jail.Ministries;.trumpet;.running.

Mario Jose Padron.(2L)..University.of.Florida,.B.S.,.Physics.and.Economics..Honors/Activities:.Department.of.Defense.scientist.and.legal.intern.

Lawton & WeinsteinZachary F. Lawton.(3L)..Georgia.Southern.University,.B.A.,.English..Honors/Activities:.Executive.Research.Editor,.Journal.of.Law.and.Public.Policy;.Coordinator,.Voluntary.Income.Tax.Assistance;.member,.Association.for.Public.Interest.Law.

Morgan Weinstein.(3L)..University.of.Florida,.B.A.,.Political.Science..Honors/Activities:.University.of.Florida.Debate.Team,.National.Debate.Tournament;.Joint-degree.student,.MS.Management;.UF.Instructor,.Speech.and.Communications..

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mouakar & SantiagoNicole Mouakar.(2L)..University.of.Central.Florida,.B.A.,.Legal.Studies..Honors/Activities:.Final.Four.Advocate.Trial.Team.Intramural.Competition,.Awarded.Best.Team;.President,.International.Law.Society;.member,.Trial.Team;.member,.Florida.Journal.of.International.Law;.Treasurer,.Hispanic.Latino/Latina.Student.Association..

Elvis Santiago.(2L)..University.of.Central.Florida,.B.S.,.Education..Honors/Activities:.Final.Four.Advocate.Trial.Team.Intramural.Competition;.Vice.President,.Corporate.and.Securities.Litigation.Group;.member,.Trial.Team;.member,.Florida.Journal.of.International.Law.

St. Cyr & WilliamsRejina St. Cyr.(3L)..University.of.Florida,.B.A.,.Political.Science.and.Sociology..Honors/Activities:.President,.Caribbean.Law.Students.Association;.Vice.President,.Estates.and.Trusts;.Elder.Law.Society;.Elected.representative,.Law.College.Council.

Darian Williams.(3L)..University.of.Miami,.B.A.,.Psychology;.Florida.International.University,.Public.Administration..Honors/Activities:.Journal.of.Law.and.Public.Policy;.Florida.Bar.Public.Service.Fellow;.Association.for.Public.Interest.Law.Fellow.

Photos and Biographies TeAm pArTiCipANTS, continued

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About the CeNTer For THe STUDY oF rACe AND rACe reLATioNS

mission Statement The.Center.for.the.Study.of.Race.and.Race.Relations.is.committed.to..de-stigmatizing.race.in.America..With.the.objective.of.fostering.communities.of.dialogue,.the.Center.embraces.historically.and.empirically.based.thinking,.talking,.teaching,.and.writing.on.race..To.this.end,.the.Center.creates.and.supports.programs.designed.to.enhance.race-related.curriculum.development.for.faculty,.staff.and.students.in.collegiate.and.professional.schools..Of.the.five.U.S..law.schools.with.race.centers,.the.CSRRR.is.uniquely.focused.on.curriculum.development.

VisionThe.Center.for.the.Study.of.Race.and.Race.Relations.is.an.academic.research.and.resource.center..The.Center’s.mission.will.be.met.through.the.work.of.various.groups.engaged.in.a.wide.range.of.activities..This.work.includes:.

Producing,.supporting,.and.highlighting.race-related.scholarship.within.and.beyond.the.UF.community.

Gathering,.analyzing,.and.sharing.historical.and.contemporary.knowledge.about.race.and.race.relations.

Developing.and.supporting—through.teaching,.research,.writing,.and.workshops—race-related.curricula.for.collegiate.and.professional.schools.

Fostering.non-stigmatizing.ways.of.discussing.issues.of.race.and.ethnicity,.including.African.Americans,.Latino/as,.American.Indians,.Asian.Americans,.and.Whites..

invitationPlease.join.the.Center.for.the.Study.of.Race.and.Race.Relations.in.our.efforts.to.identify.and.address.the.many.difficult.but.important.race-related.issues...We.look.forward.to.working.with.you..We.welcome.your.questions.and.comments.at.csrrr@law.ufl.edu.

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