Charles Ogletree facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Ogletree
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Ogletree in 2014
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| Born |
Charles James Ogletree Jr.
December 31, 1952 Merced, California, U.S.
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| Died | August 4, 2023 (aged 70) |
| Education | Stanford University (BA, MA) Harvard University (JD) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) |
Pamela Barnes
(m. 1975) |
| Children | 2 |
Charles James Ogletree Jr. (born December 31, 1952 – died August 4, 2023) was an American lawyer and a well-known law professor at Harvard Law School. He started the school's Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice, which works on important issues related to race and fairness. He also wrote several books about legal topics.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Charles Ogletree was born on December 31, 1952, in Merced, California. His parents worked as farm workers.
College and Law School
He was a very bright student. He earned two degrees from Stanford University: a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1974 and a Master of Arts (MA) in 1975, both in political science. After that, he went to Harvard Law School and earned his law degree (Juris Doctor or JD) in 1978. While he was in law school, he became the president of the Black American Law Students Association, a group that supports Black law students.
A Career in Law and Teaching
After finishing law school, Ogletree worked as a public defender in Washington, D.C. A public defender is a lawyer who helps people who cannot afford a lawyer. He worked there until 1985, holding different important roles.
Becoming a Professor
In 1985, Charles Ogletree became a professor at Harvard Law School. He was a very respected teacher and later became the Jesse Climenko Professor of Law. He also served as the vice dean for clinical programs, which are hands-on learning experiences for law students.
Helping Famous People
As a lawyer, he represented some well-known people, including Tupac Shakur and Anita Hill. He used his legal skills to help them with their cases.
Media and Public Speaking
Charles Ogletree was often seen and heard in the media. He hosted and appeared on many television programs, where he discussed important topics like ethics, justice, and race. He was a guest on shows like Nightline and Meet the Press. He also shared his legal opinions on NBC news radio, especially during big news events.
He wrote articles for different magazines and law reviews, sharing his thoughts on legal and social issues. In 2011, he gave a series of lectures at Harvard Law School called "Understanding Obama," where he talked about President Barack Obama's journey to the White House. He also appeared in documentaries, giving his expert opinion on historical events like the Tulsa Race Riots.
Standing Up for Civil Rights
Charles Ogletree was a strong supporter of civil rights and fairness for everyone.
Mentoring Future Leaders
He taught both Barack and Michelle Obama when they were students at Harvard Law School. He remained good friends with Barack Obama throughout his political career.
Community Involvement
Ogletree was a member of the board of trustees at Stanford University. He also started scholarship programs in his hometown of Merced to help students go to college. He was the chairman of the board of trustees for the University of the District of Columbia. He also led the Black Law Students Association as its national president.
He wrote articles for major newspapers and magazines about issues of race in the United States. He also helped lead discussions on civil rights in sports, like baseball.
In 2009, he spoke out in support of his Harvard colleague, Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., whose arrest at his own home became a big news story about fairness and race. Professor Ogletree later wrote a book about these events, called The Presumption of Guilt: The Arrest of Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Race, Class and Crime in America.
He also helped start the Benjamin Banneker Charter Public School, and the school's library is named in his honor.
Awards and Recognition
Charles Ogletree received many awards for his important work. These include:
- The National Conference on Black Lawyers People's Lawyer of the Year Award.
- The Man of Vision Award from the Museum of Afro-American History in Boston.
- The Albert Sacks-Paul A. Freund Award for Teaching Excellence from Harvard Law School in 1993.
- The Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 1995.
- The Ruffin-Fenwick Trailblazer Award.
- The 21st Century Achievement Award from the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts.
In 2017, Harvard Law School created the Charles J. Ogletree Jr. Chair in Race and Criminal Justice in his honor. This is a special teaching position that continues his work on race and justice.
Health and Passing
In 2014, Charles Ogletree's wife noticed some health changes. In May 2015, when he was 62, he was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease, a condition that affects memory and thinking. He passed away on August 4, 2023, at the age of 70.
Works
Charles Ogletree wrote several important books about law and justice:
Books
- Beyond the Rodney King Story: An Investigation of Police Conduct in Minority Communities (1995)
- Brown at 50: The Unfinished Legacy (2004)
- All Deliberate Speed: Reflections on the First Half-Century of Brown v. Board of Education (2004)
- The Presumption of Guilt: The Arrest of Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Race, Class and Crime in America (2010)
