Past Lectures
The Durr Family has hosted a lecture series that is free and open to the public for over 30 years. Learn about our past events and lecturers.
Danny Lyon
See his documentary SNCC here
2024
We began 2024 DLW at the Frank Johnson Jr Federal Courthouse with a panel discussion about the Supreme Court. Judge Myron Thompson inspired students from local Montgomery public schools with the powerful history of his courtroom.
Barbara Phillips led an assembly at Percy Julian High School in Montgomery with special guests and featured fantastic student performances of their own poetry.
Trencey Grant
student audience at
Percy Julian High School
Daryl Thomas
Corey Jackson
Guest Tawny Algood
with Barbara Phillips
Madison Thompson
Antonio Elliott
2023
2022
2019
Richard Gergel
2018
Cornel West
Watch the lecture at Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church here
2017
James Forman, Jr.
Watch Forman discuss his book “Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America” on Democracy Now! here
2016
2015
Paul Chappell
Watch a conversation with Chappell about Peace literacy here
2014
Steve Hahn
Hackney Symposium Speakers
Raymond Arsenault
Orville Vernon Burton
Patrician Sullivan
Declan McBride
2013
Vernon Jordan
2012
Robert S. Graetz
Andrew Grace
2011
Raymond Arsenault
Watch Arsenault speak on Democracy and the ICC desegregation order from the film "Freedom Riders"here
2010
James K. Galbraith
2009
Kathleen Hall Jamieson
2008
Bryan Stevenson
2007
Jonathan Steele
2006
Taylor Branch
2005
J. Mills Thornton
2004
Patricia Sullivan
Morris Dees
2003
Diane McWhorter
Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth
2002
Robert Ellis Smith
David Risser
2001
Blanche Weisen Cook
2000
John Lewis
1999
Geoffrey Cowan
1998
Wayne Flynt
Patricia Sullivan
1997
Studs Terkel
Charles Morgan Jr.
1996
John Kenneth Galbraith
Johnnie Rebecca Carr
1995
John Doar
Ray Jenkins
Burke Marshall
George Washington Carver Richardson Jr.
1994
Art Buchwald
1993
Hugo Black Jr.
Sheldon Hackney
1992
Lady Bird Johnson
Fred Gray
Thomas Johnson