Randall Kennedy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Randall L. Kennedy
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Kennedy in 2016
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| Born |
Randall LeRoy Kennedy
September 10, 1954 Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
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| Education | Princeton University (BA) Balliol College, Oxford Yale University (JD) |
| Occupation | Law professor |
| Spouse(s) |
Yvedt Matory
(m. 1986; died 2005) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Harvard University |
Randall LeRoy Kennedy (born September 10, 1954) is an American legal expert. He is a professor at Harvard University where he teaches law. His work mainly looks at how conflicts about race and the legal system connect in America. He focuses on topics like contracts, freedom of expression, laws about race relations, and the Supreme Court.
Kennedy has written several important books. These include Race, Crime, and the Law, Sellout: The Politics of Racial Betrayal, and Say It Loud!: On Race, Law, History, and Culture. He has also published many shorter articles and essays.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Randall LeRoy Kennedy was born on September 10, 1954, in Columbia, South Carolina. His father, Henry Kennedy Sr., worked for the postal service, and his mother, Rachel Kennedy, was an elementary school teacher. He has two siblings: Henry H. Kennedy, Jr., who became a judge, and Angela Kennedy, a lawyer.
Kennedy shared that his family often talked about stories of racial unfairness and how people fought against it. His father would speak about watching Thurgood Marshall in a famous court case. This case helped end the rule that only white people could vote in South Carolina's Democratic primary election. Later, his parents moved to Washington, D.C. to escape the unfair Jim Crow laws.
Kennedy went to St. Albans School in Washington, D.C. He then graduated from Princeton University in 1977 with a degree in history. After Princeton, he studied at Balliol College, Oxford in England as a Rhodes Scholar. He also earned a law degree from Yale Law School in 1982.
After law school, Kennedy worked for a judge and then for Justice Thurgood Marshall at the Supreme Court of the United States.
Randall Kennedy's Career
Teaching and Writing About Law
In 1984, Randall Kennedy became a professor at Harvard Law School. He teaches classes about race, law, and freedom of speech. He became well-known for his work on affirmative action, which is about making sure everyone has equal opportunities.
In 1997, Kennedy published his book Race, Crime, and the Law. This book won an award in 1998. In the book, Kennedy explains how African Americans have faced unfair treatment in the criminal justice system. He also discusses the need to protect Black communities from crime.
His Views on Race and Society
Kennedy is known for discussing difficult social topics, especially racism. He writes for both academic journals and popular magazines. He has also served on the editorial boards of magazines like American Prospect.
Kennedy has written a lot about interracial marriages and adoptions. He also explores the connection between race and crime. His ideas have received both praise and debate. He believes it's important to ask tough questions and challenge his own ideas.
In 2021, Kennedy took part in a debate about reparations for slavery. He explained that while he isn't against the idea, he has concerns. He worried that focusing too much on reparations might waste time and energy. He also thought it would be hard to manage and might not help those who need it most.
Current Work and Activities
Randall Kennedy often gives speeches to encourage discussions about important racial issues. He believes that if people are socially isolated, they are more likely to believe stereotypes. He thinks it's important for people from different backgrounds to talk to each other.
Kennedy believes that America has made progress toward fair justice for all races. However, he also says there is still a long way to go. He notes that the relationship between white and Black America is still one of the country's most challenging problems.
Kennedy has also served on the board of trustees for Princeton University. He is also on the Board of Directors at The National Coalition Against Censorship. In 2023, he had a long interview on the Lex Fridman podcast where he discussed the history of race, law, and power.
Personal Life
In 1986, Randall Kennedy married Yvedt Matory, who was a cancer surgeon. They had three children together. Sadly, Yvedt Matory passed away on April 15, 2005.
Books by Randall Kennedy
- 1997. Race, Crime, and the Law.
- 2008. Sellout: The Politics of Racial Betrayal.
- 2011. The Persistence of the Color Line: Racial Politics and the Obama Presidency.
- 2013. For Discrimination: Race, Affirmative Action, and the Law.
- 2021. Say It Loud! On Race, Law, History, and Culture.
Awards and Honors
- National Achievement scholarship, 1973–77
- Rhodes scholarship, 1977–79
- Earl Warren Legal Training scholarship, 1979–82
- Honorary Doctorate, University of Chicago, 2024
See also
- List of law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States (Seat 10)
