Last Tuesday, Charles J. Ogletree, Jesse Climenko Professor of Law for the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice Professor, spoke to students and faculty on the subject of race and class in America at the Faculty Club. He has written books on the subject of race and class, including his most recent, The Presumption of Guilt: The Arrest of Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Race, Class and Crime in America, which was the subject of Tuesday's lecture.In his sixth visit to campus, Ogletree told the story of his friend and fellow professor at Harvard University Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s arrest in July 2009. His goal, both in his book and in the lecture, was to tell the true story of Gates' arrest and from there explain the implications for American society, said Ogletree.

Ogletree said that on Thursday, July 16, 2009, Gates had just returned from a research trip to China. Upon returning to his house with his chauffeur, he found his door was jammed. With the help of his driver, he forced his way into the house. Minutes later, Sgt. James Crowley of the Cambridge Police arrived asking Gates to show identification. After presenting two forms of ID, Crowley asked Gates to step outside onto the porch. In what Ogletree said was a "testosterone filled" discussion, Gates followed Crowley outside where he was arrested for disorderly conduct, a crime usually reserved for prostitutes and malcontents, according to Ogletree. This led to the title of his book, The Presumption of Guilt. Ogletree said that the story of Gates is not uncommon in America, and the assumptions of guilt made by police due to a person's race proves that we are not in what Ogletree called "a post-racial society." Following the lecture and a few questions from students, a reception catered by the Faculty Club took place, where students were able to mingle with faculty.

Ogletree founded the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice in 2005. It was named after the famous lawyer and teacher. Houston dedicated himself to the civil rights movement until his death in 1950 and is considered "the man who killed Jim Crow" by the United States State Department for his efforts in early civil rights law.

Ogletree also taught both President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama while they were students at Harvard Law School. Obama and Ogletree have remained friends over the years, said Ogletree.

The Louis D. Brandeis Legacy Fund for Social Justice was the primary sponsor for the event The Brandeis Legacy Fund was established in 2006 with funding from anonymous donors and has dedicated itself to sponsoring initiatives to help students and the Brandeis community address social justice concerns on and off campus, according to the Fund's website.

President of Brandeis Democrats Amber Kornreich '12, who attended the event said in an interview with the Justice that the event was "extraordinarily thought-provoking and challenged me to contemplate difficult racial issues.