Howard University Launches 14th Amendment Center Aimed at Enhancing Constitutional Understanding
Howard University, a renowned historically Black institution, has inaugurated a center focused on the 14th Amendment. This amendment, added post-Civil War, guarantees that anyone born or naturalized in the U.S. is a citizen, ensuring equal protection and due process. Sherrilyn Ifill, who holds the Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., Esquire chair in civil rights at Howard’s Law School and is the former president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, will lead this initiative.
Michel Martin from NPR engaged with Ifill to uncover the center’s primary objectives. Ifill explained that while the center won’t engage in litigation, its purpose is to foster research, scholarship, curriculum development, and interdisciplinary discussions on the 14th Amendment’s values. “We are, after all, at a law school and try to be supportive of litigation brought by others, but we will not be bringing litigation ourselves,” stated Ifill.
The 14th Amendment is widely recognized for establishing birthright citizenship, a topic brought to the forefront when former President Trump attempted to challenge it with an executive order. Ifill highlighted its significance, stating, “The 14th Amendment touches the life of every single person in this country, and they don’t realize it.” She emphasized its role in overturning the Dred Scott decision, which denied Black people citizenship, and its impact on immigrants who come to America with aspirations of citizenship.
Beyond its legal implications, the center aims to educate the broader public on the amendment’s significance. Ifill pointed out the disparity in public awareness, noting, “There are people all over this country who will proudly and passionately tell you about their Second Amendment rights. But when was the last time you heard somebody, an ordinary American, tell you about their 14th Amendment rights?” The center’s goal is to develop both formal and informal curricula that will help Americans better understand and engage with their constitutional rights.
Additionally, the 14th Amendment includes a clause prohibiting those involved in insurrection from holding high office. Ifill confirmed that this aspect, along with others like voter suppression provisions, will be explored by the center. “It is the longest amendment to the Constitution. So the part you read at the very beginning is the part that all law students learn. But even most law students didn’t learn about Section 3, the insurrection clause,” she noted.
With this center, Howard University seeks to illuminate the comprehensive nature of the 14th Amendment, encouraging a deeper understanding of its relevance to contemporary issues.
Sherrilyn Ifill concluded the discussion by expressing hope that the center will play a pivotal role in familiarizing Americans with the amendment’s rich and multifaceted legacy.
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