Speaker Series 2025-2026
ALL TALKS FRIDAYS, 4:00-5:30 pm.
October 10: Meena Krishnamurthy, Queens University
"The Emotions of Nonviolence: Revisiting Martin Luther King Jr's 'Letter from Birmingham Jail'" - Book Discussion
There is perhaps no piece by Martin Luther King, Jr. that is more widely read or more beloved than the “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Countless articles and books have been written about its generation and meaning. Despite this, its broader philosophical significance has for the large part been missed. The Emotions of Nonviolence offers a novel interpretation of the Letter: it is not merely a discussion of civil disobedience – as is usually thought – but is also and perhaps even primarily an essay on political motivation. On this reading, the Letter seeks to answer a central question in democratic theory: namely, how can and ought we motivate the racially oppressed to engage in civil disobedience – in what King called nonviolent direct action? King’s answer is that we must appeal to and encourage the political emotions, both positive and negative. Fear, courage, faith, dignity, indignation, and love can together motivate nonviolent action and nonviolent action can reciprocally motivate, channel, and sustain these same emotions. It is through this continuous loop that nonviolence has the potential to transform society and its structures.
November 7: Jules Wong, Pennsylvania State University
November 21: Arianna Falbo, Toronto Metropolitan University
January 23: Rachel Barney, University of Toronto
January 30: Şerife Tekin, SUNY Upstate Medical University
March 6: Lisa Guenther, Queens University