UK Happenings

Kentucky Law Journal to Host Symposium ‘The Racial Wealth Gap’

'The Racial Wealth Gap' symposium digital flyer
Flyer courtesy of Kentucky Law Journal students.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 21, 2021) — The Kentucky Law Journal will hold its annual symposium from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, in the G. Chad Perry III Grand Courtroom at the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law. This year’s event is titled “The Racial Wealth Gap” and will explore the legal and historical factors that have contributed to the current state of wealth disparity in the United States that falls largely along racial lines.

The symposium will be held in person and online and is open to the public. Register here to attend virtually.

The Kentucky Law Journal’s annual symposium convenes students, faculty and staff from UK as well as scholars and policymakers from across the United States.

This year, panelists will examine the history of the racial wealth gap in the United States, and how legal rules have contributed to its growth; the tax laws that have exacerbated existing wealth inequalities, and what the government can do to improve its application and enforcement of the law; and how consumer law could address existing inequalities in access to credit to support the economic growth of disadvantaged communities.

For more information, visit www.kentuckylawjournal.org/symposium.

SCHEDULE

8:30 a.m.

Opening Remarks Dean Mary J. Davis Associate Dean Jennifer Bird-Pollan

9 a.m.

Panel 1: Real Estate, Housing, and Blockbusting

Professor Richard Winchester, in-person

Senior Assistant Dean Daniel Murphy Jr., in-person

Moderated by Dillon Curtis, Kentucky Law Journal Staff Editor

10 a.m.

Panel 2: Implications of Tax Code Bias

Professor Steven Dean, participating virtually

Professor Phyllis Taite, participating virtually

Moderated by Abby Schueler, Kentucky Law Journal Staff Editor

11 a.m. 

Panel 3: Wage Enslavement and Prison Entrapment

Professor Stephanie Hunter McMahon, participating virtually

Professor David Gamage, participating virtually

Professor Goldburn Maynard Jr., in-person

Moderated by David Emerson, Kentucky Law Journal Staff Editor

Noon

Lunch (Box lunches will be provided to in-person attendees.)

1 p.m.

Panel 4: The Problem with Colorblindness

Professor Malik Edwards, in-person

Professor William Darity, participating virtually

Professor Jeremy Bearer-Friend, participating virtually

Moderated by Georgiana Sook, Kentucky Law Journal Staff Editor

2 p.m.

Panel 5: The Racial Wealth Gap, Government Health Benefits, and Economic Inequality

Professor Bridget Crawford, participating virtually

Professor Palma Joy Strand, participating virtually

Professor Nicholas Mirkay, participating virtually

Aurora Grutman, participating virtually

Moderated by Holly Couch, Kentucky Law Journal staff editor

3 p.m.

Panel 6: State-Focused Policy Solutions

Cortney Sanders, in-person

Jason Bailey, in-person

Professor Rajeev Darolia, in-person

Regina Lewis, in-person

Moderated by Jackson Sanders, Kentucky Law Journal staff editor

4 p.m.

Closing Remarks

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.