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JACKSON, Tenn. — Sept. 22, 2020 — The basic definition of equality has not changed much in America’s history — the idea is the uniform treatment of individuals — but the country has not always treated its citizens equally, said Sean Evans, professor of political science at 51����.

In light of recent national issues of racial justice, Evans examined the role of race in the development of constitutional law in his Constitution Day lecture entitled, “Equal Justice Under Law: A History of Race and the Constitution” in the Carl Grant Events Center Sept. 17.

Today’s prominent issue of racial justice has been raised by the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and others. On a regular basis, people are saying “Black Lives Matter,” and many protests are taking place around the country, Evans noted.

“We’re seeing in some places where protests last months and sometimes they devolve into riots, but mostly they have been peaceful,” he said. “Even on a campus like Union, which probably is not all that politically active, we have had a walk and rally for racial justice in the past few months.”

Historically, the United States has justified the different treatment of groups on the basis of “real differences,” Evans said. Sometimes, the differences are based on incorrect views of women or minority groups, but there are some real differences that lead to unequal treatment, such as voting age requirements.

Evans outlined what equality looked like historically and how the idea has changed over time through the pre-Civil War period, the Constitutional Convention, the Civil War, the Reconstruction era, Jim Crow laws, Brown v. Board of Education, the Great Society and more.

“I think we all have to admit that it is a painful history to look at how whites have used the law to subordinate our fellow citizens,” Evans said. “For African Americans specifically, they have endured 350 years of intentional discrimination, and to think that the last 50 years have overcome these disadvantages is incorrect. Yet at the same time, I think we should be hopeful because we have come a long way since 1619 and have come even further since the 1960s.”

He noted advances such as the election of the first African American president, strides in economic gains and the fact that both parties reject the idea of status inequality on the basis of race.

Evans said the debate between the two parties today centers on issues such as whether minorities and women have achieved equality, what social policies best rectify past inequalities and when the differences between different classes of people justify laws.

He suggested several things that need to happen to move forward. First, presidential leadership is needed because presidents are able to focus the nation on what they consider to be important. Second, public pressure will continue to be important for changes to occur. Third, bipartisan support for these changes is important. Finally, Evans said supporters of racial justice are going to have to adapt their language so they can appeal to more groups.

“I think at times that too much of the language that is being used basically reflects the liberal position,” he said. “They’re going to have to take these ideas and communicate them in ways that I think can appeal to moderates and conservatives.”

The idea that many spoke of after Barack Obama’s election — that this is a post-racial America — has been proven wrong in light of things that have occurred in the last few years, Evans said.

“There is still work to do, and we need to ensure that in the words of the apostle Paul to the Galatians, that we not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we reap a harvest if we do not give up,” he continued. “And that is something that we need to make that sure we do — that we do not give up in the push for racial justice.”