Door time: 5:30 PM
Event time: 6:00 PM
Supported by the Betsy Hitchcock Foundation
Our First Amendment Rights: A conversation about what makes Free Speech Hate Speech
The avenues for expressing ourselves have exploded in the last decade, from the proliferation of social media, the expansive use of mobile communication devices, email, blogs, TikTok, and so much more. In this environment, we are frequently exposed to challenging speech. And when we engage in social and political dialogue, or even merely express opinions, we may encounter repercussions we never anticipated. Join us for an evening in which we try to understand both our rights and responsibilities when it comes to Free Speech.
Moderator:
Jennifer Ho
The daughter of a refugee father from China and an immigrant mother from Jamaica, whose parents themselves were immigrants from Hong Kong, Jennifer Ho is the director of the Center for Humanities & the Arts at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she specializes in Asian American literary and cultural studies and Critical Race Theory. She is past president of the Association for Asian American Studies (2020-2022), the editor of four essay collections, most recently Global Anti-Asian Racism (Columbia UP 2024), the author of three scholarly monographs, including Racial Ambiguity in Asian American Culture (Rutgers UP 2015), which won the best monograph award from the South Atlantic Modern Language Association in 2017, and a number of essays and articles, both research-oriented and public-facing (a sampling of which is also on this webpage). In addition to her academic work, Ho is active in community engagement around issues of race and intersectionality.
The Center for Humanities & the Arts (CHA) mission is to promote arts and humanities by being a dynamic hub on the CU Boulder campus and by creating connections within the Boulder community.
Our purpose is to hold dialogues on topics considered difficult, provocative, or controversial, among constituents that may have strong conflicting views.
Our objective is NOT to necessarily agree, fix anything, prove anyone right or wrong, or alter anyone’s position.
We are committed to fostering productive dialogues in the hopes that minds and hearts might expand. We ask that you
- Keep an open mind
- Be respectful of others
- Listen with the intent to understand
- Speak your own truth
We expect to experience discomfort when talking about hard things. Remain engaged and recognize that the discomfort can lead to problem-solving and authentic understanding.
This is a free event. Click “Get Tickets” to RSVP.
Located in the Rocky Mountain Climbers Club, on the lower level of the Community House.
