I, Too, Sing America: The Black Affirmation of American Independence

The Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse is pleased to present “I, Too, Sing America: The Black Affirmation of American Independence”, a special event in recognition of 2026 Constitution Day featuring Professor Lucas Morel from Washington & Lee University.

This event will explore how the principles of the American founding have been understood, interpreted, and affirmed within the African American intellectual and political tradition with a focus on the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the civil rights movement. This event will deepen students’ understanding of the enduring significance of America’s founding ideals and will encourage them to engage thoughtfully with how core constitutional principles, such as equality, liberty, and natural rights, have evolved over time. The lecture is part of the Center’s yearlong speaker series, “America 250 and Its Promises: The American Founding and the Abiding Pursuit of its Ideals,” which commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence by examining the enduring principles of the American founding and their relevance today.

The event will be the campus’s flagship Constitution Day event and will consist of a 60-minute lecture by Professor Morel followed by a 30-minute moderated question-and-answer session. To enhance the educational impact of the event and promote civic literacy and engagement, attendees will receive free copies of the Center’s pocket Constitution, which contains the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the other constitutional amendments, Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

This event is sponsored by The Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse, the Department of Political Science, the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, the Joseph F. Rice School of law and the Jack Miller Center.

Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. The program will begin promptly at 6 p.m. This event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is suggested.