Leonard Pitts writes about social issues — lending a voice to those who feel they are voiceless. He brought those to light during his “Calling Me Out My Name” lecture in the University of Memphis Rose Theatre on March 3.
The columnist is a man who does many things: a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and hard-hitting author of many books. He’s a columnist for the Miami Harold, and his columns are syndicated in newspapers across the country, including The Commercial Appeal. “He’s an ambassador of journalism,” said Omer Yusuf, a journalism student at the University who introduced Pitts.
Pitts is a staunch advocate of first amendment rights. Even when he doesn’t morally agree, he supports the right that all Americans should be able to speak as they please with no repercussions. “You can insult my wife and daughter,” Pitts said. “You can call me the n-word. You may say nasty things, and you can call me out my name until your heart is content. But you are still using your first amendment rights in doing so.”
When the Westboro Baptist Church protests funerals, they are doing so within their first amendment rights, according to Pitts. “I defend them all,” he said. “Only then do I have first amendment rights.”
Among his many talking points surrounding the first amendment, there were two major takeaways during the lecture. He discussed the aftermath of the killing of an unarmed black teenager named Michael Brown by a white police officer named Darren Wilson. While many people protested the shooting, Pitts said fewer people were up in arms over “the beating the first amendment took” as tear gas was launched at citizens, and officers blocked cameras and arrested reporters.
Lastly, Pitts called college students to action on social issues. He said that “hashtag activism” couldn’t cut it alone, and that young adults should take their movements to the streets. “Reinvigorate [the movements] with your ideas,” Pitts said.
The columnist is a man who does many things: a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and hard-hitting author of many books. He’s a columnist for the Miami Harold, and his columns are syndicated in newspapers across the country, including The Commercial Appeal. “He’s an ambassador of journalism,” said Omer Yusuf, a journalism student at the University who introduced Pitts.
Pitts is a staunch advocate of first amendment rights. Even when he doesn’t morally agree, he supports the right that all Americans should be able to speak as they please with no repercussions. “You can insult my wife and daughter,” Pitts said. “You can call me the n-word. You may say nasty things, and you can call me out my name until your heart is content. But you are still using your first amendment rights in doing so.”
When the Westboro Baptist Church protests funerals, they are doing so within their first amendment rights, according to Pitts. “I defend them all,” he said. “Only then do I have first amendment rights.”
Among his many talking points surrounding the first amendment, there were two major takeaways during the lecture. He discussed the aftermath of the killing of an unarmed black teenager named Michael Brown by a white police officer named Darren Wilson. While many people protested the shooting, Pitts said fewer people were up in arms over “the beating the first amendment took” as tear gas was launched at citizens, and officers blocked cameras and arrested reporters.
Lastly, Pitts called college students to action on social issues. He said that “hashtag activism” couldn’t cut it alone, and that young adults should take their movements to the streets. “Reinvigorate [the movements] with your ideas,” Pitts said.