UCLA School of Law distinguished professor Kimberlé Crenshaw has been named the winner of the 2016–17 Joseph B. and Toby Gittler Prize, awarded by Brandeis University to those who have made lasting contributions to racial and social justice.
Crenshaw is internationally known for her work on civil rights, race, feminism and the law. A founder of the field of critical race theory, in 1989 Crenshaw coined the term “intersectionality” to describe the web of structural obstacles and inequalities faced by women, minorities and others, and the concept has since become a widely used approach to social justice advocacy and theory.
The Gittler Prize, hosted by Brandeis University’s International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life, is the first and one of the largest academic prizes awarded to a U.S. or international scholar for outstanding and lasting scholarly contributions to racial, ethnic and religious relations. Previous Gittler Prize winners include former Harvard Law School Dean Martha Minow, for her work enhancing rights for the disabled and disenfranchised; Peruvian liberation theologian Gustavo Gutiérrez; and New York University Professor of Philosophy and Law Kwame Anthony Appiah, a renowned philosopher and leader in African-American studies.
“Kimberlé Crenshaw is a transformative voice in critical race studies and gender equity, and her work has inspired significant social change as well as generations of scholars,” said Jennifer Mnookin, dean of UCLA Law. “She has encouraged us all to #sayhername, and in so doing has helped to address injustices affecting millions of people.”
The Gittler Prize comes with a $25,000 award and invitation to deliver a public lecture during a three-day residency at Brandeis.
