WashU Law Public Interest Law and Policy Speaker Series recently hosted Critical Race Theory at the Bottom of the Well: Derrick Bell’s ‘Grandchildren’ Reflect on the Future of CRT, a roundtable featuring WashU Law William M. Van Cleve Professor of Law Professor Adrienne Davis, UC Irvine School of Law Professor of Law and Sylvia Mendez Presidential Chair for Civil Rights Robert Chang, and Albany Law School James Campbell Matthews Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence Anthony Farley.
The discussion explored the ongoing evolution of Critical Race Theory and its role in understanding the intersections of Blackness, race, law, and American democracy. Drawing inspiration from Derrick Bell’s foundational work, the panelists examined how CRT continues to shape conversations about justice and equity in the United States.
Often regarded as the founding father of Critical Race Theory, Derrick Bell was a pioneering legal scholar and racial justice advocate whose work challenged traditional notions of racial progress and equality in the American legal system. His influential book Faces at the Bottom of the Well: The Permanence of Racism remains central to CRT scholarship and continues to inspire generations of legal thinkers committed to understanding and dismantling systemic racism.
Together, the panelists offered a thoughtful dialogue on Bell’s enduring legacy and the future directions of Critical Race Theory in law and society.
