Akosua Twum '21 Wins the Rintels Prize

The Department of Government is thrilled to announce that Akosua Twum '21 honors thesis Let's Talk about it: Exploring a Proactive Process to Protect Voting Rights and Promote Racial Justice has won the Jonathan B. Rintels 1927 Prize. The Rintels Prize recognizes an outstanding thesis in the Arts and Humanities & Social Sciences.. About Akosua's thesis, her advisor writes:

"When we discuss racial justice and the law, we routinely look to courts as the institution to advance equality under the law, what this thesis calls a "reactive process."  This thesis breaks new ground by positing a process where state legislators are required to discuss the racial impact of a law as part of their deliberations, what this thesis calls a "proactive process."  Drawing on voting rights in particular, this thesis enlarges how we conceptualize racial justice and equality under the law by introducing this legislative-centered process, a process that would work in tandem with the more familiar court-centered process."