Critical Race Studies

On April 22nd, the CRS program co-sponsored Sisters-in-Law, a discussion featuring Kimberlé Crenshaw and Dorothy Roberts, moderated by Robin D.G. Kelley. The two scholars reflected on their memoirs, discussing how personal narrative intersects with critical race scholarship and what it means to build knowledge from lived experience, especially amid ongoing debates around race, gender, and history.

UCLA Law Review in collaboration with CRS had the privilege of hosting Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw in conversation with Professor Cheryl Harris to discuss her memoir, “Backtalker: An American Memoir”. Crenshaw is the pioneering scholar behind two of the most important frameworks in contemporary civil rights discourse — intersectionality and critical race theory.

“Backtalker” is the story of how her own life experiences led her to see what others overlooked, and why talking back, even when it was unwelcome, became central to both her identity and her career.

Books go on sale May 5th.

“When they enter, we all enter.” — Kimberlé Crenshaw

Congratulations to our CRS class of 2026. The work starts now. ✊🎓

Join Maya Salameh CRS ‘27 on her book tour for her newest collection, Mermaid Theory. There will be two stops in LA, including a book launch party on April 10. Check out for more info!

Join CRS and PILP this Wednesday, 3/18 at 12:15pm in room 1357 for a panel discussion on Lawyering During Times of Authoritarianism with:

✨Vince Warren, Executive Director, Center for Constitutional Rights
✨Kimberlé Crenshaw, Distinguished Professor of Law
✨Lindsay Toczylowski, Executive Director, Immigrant Defenders Law Center
✨Stacy Tolchin, Leading Immigrant Rights Advocate
✨Moderated by Sunita Patel, Faculty Director of the David J. Epstein Program

Proud to share two timely pieces featuring CRS 2018 alum and former Bernard A. and Lenore S. Greenberg Teaching Fellow (sponsored by CRS and the Williams Institute), Emmanuel Mauleón, now Associate Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota Law School.

In “A Letter from Minneapolis,” Emmanuel writes from inside an intensifying ICE enforcement campaign and names the gap between constitutional debate and constitutional life.
https://verfassungsblog.de/a-letter-from-minneapolis/

On NPR Fresh Air with Terry Gross, he breaks down what’s at stake for First and Fourth Amendment rights, protest, and democratic accountability.
https://www.npr.org/2026/01/21/nx-s1-5683915/are-ice-agents-in-minneapolis-breaking-the-law

Please read / listen / share.

UCLA Law welcomes Jamelia Morgan, a leader in disability rights scholarship Jamelia Morgan, an acclaimed scholar and teacher who focuses on issues at the intersections of race, gender, disability, and criminal law and punishment, has joined the UCLA School of Law faculty as a professor of law.

25 years strong: Critical Race Studies program marks a milestone with an all-star symposium Leaders from across the generations of the UCLA School of Law community gathered for a three-day summit to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Critical Race Studies program.

New from CRS Faculty ✨
Can DEI Workers Strike Back? CRS core faculty members Noah Zatz and Jerry Kang explore how DEI work itself can serve as a form of protected opposition under Title VII—offering a potential legal path to push back against the growing attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Read their piece on the Law & Political Economy Project blog:
🔗 https://lpeproject.org/blog/can-dei-workers-strike-back/

🎉 25 Years of Critical Race Studies 🎉

Last week, UCLA Law’s Critical Race Studies Program marked its 25th Anniversary with Think. Teach. Transform., a landmark symposium bringing together 300+ attendees, 140 panelists, 27 sessions, and 4 plenaries across three powerful days.

At a time when racial justice work, critical scholarship, and even honest teaching about inequality are under attack, this gathering reminded us why Critical Race Studies matters—and why it endures.

Grateful to everyone who made it possible and to all who continue to think bravely, teach boldly, and transform the world around us.

📸 Recordings + photos coming soon.
📖 Read the recap: https://law.ucla.edu/news/25-years-strong-critical-race-studies-program-marks-milestone-all-star-symposium