Richard T. Ford

Richard T. Ford

Keynote Speaker: Expert on Civil Rights & Anti-Discrimination Law

Richard T. Ford Biography

Richard Thompson Ford is the George E. Osborne Professor of Law at Stanford Law School.

He writes for both scholarly and popular audiences and has published in newspapers and journals such the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, the San Francisco Chronicle, The Christian Science Monitor, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Boston Review, Esquire.com and Slate as well in such scholarly journals as the Harvard Law Review, the Stanford Law Review and the Yale Law Journal.

His latest book, "Dress Codes: how the laws of fashion made history" received highly positive reviews worldwide in journals such as The New York Times where it was selected as an editor’s choice, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Slate, The Guardian and The South China Press. It has been translated into five languages and is the inspiration for an Editor’s Choice Ted Talk for 2021.

Two of his other books were selected as Notable Books of the year by the New York Times: "The Race Card: how bluffing about bias makes race relations worse" which The New York Times Sunday Book Review selected as one of the 100 Notable Books of 2008 and "Rights Gone Wrong: how law corrupts the struggle for equality," which The New York Times selected as one of the 100 Notable Books of 2011. He has appeared on national television and radio programs including "The Colbert Report," the "Rachel Maddow Show," "The New Yorker Radio Hour" and "All Things Considered." He was the co-host with Joe Bankman of the Sirius XM Radio program "Stanford Legal" from 2020-2022.

He has been a visiting Professor at Harvard Law School, Yale Law School and Columbia Law School and has lectured in 12 countries on five continents. He has practiced law with the firm of Morrison & Foerster, served as a Commissioner of the San Francisco Housing Authority and worked as a policy consultant for the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, the City and County of San Francisco, California and the County of San Mateo, California. In 2012, ON BEING A BLACK LAWYER, selected Ford as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Lawyers in the OBABL Power 100.

He a founding member of the Academic Freedom Alliance, a member of the American Law Institute, a board member of the Author’s Guild Foundation and a 2022-2024 Fellow of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Richard T. Ford and other top speakers and celebrities.

Richard T. Ford Speaking Topics

The Race Card: The Clash of Ends

The practical goals of civil rights are contested. During the Jim Crow era, anti-racists agreed that the goal was to dismantle explicitly discriminatory practices and formally enforced segregation. But it wasn't clear whether the ultimate goal was to achieve formal legal equality, economic equality or whether there was a more substantive commitment to social integration. With blatant discrimination on the wane, it's become obvious that anti-racists don't agree on the ultimate goal: mainstream liberals favor social integration, but black nationalists and some multiculturalists reject integration in favor of racial solidarity and cultural autonomy.

When the ultimate goal is contested, it can be hard to tell what furthers racial justice and what hinders it. For instance, affirmative action is inconsistent with formal equality but it furthers economic equality and integration; separate ethnic and racial organizations and clubs promote solidarity and cultural autonomy but violate norms of equality and cut against social integration. This can produce a Catch-22 where any course of action will be "racist" according to someone. I call this problem the clash of ends. This lecture will look at conflict over the ultimate goals of the civil rights movement.

The Race Card: Racism By Analogy

The success of the civil rights movement inspired a host of other groups to frame their struggles in similar terms. Feminists, gays and lesbians, the disabled and the elderly are just a few of the groups who have successfully made explicit analogies to the cause of racial justice. Conservatives attacked affirmative action as "reverse racism."

Multiculturalism redefined racism as aversion or prejudice based, not on skin color or heredity, but on "culture." And host of interest groups, such as dog owners, the obese, and cigarette smokers have implausibly but insistently compared their causes to the struggle against racism. At best, these claims seek to extend the principles underlying civil rights to new situations. But at worst, these claims seem to define "bigotry" so broadly that the losing side of almost any social or political conflict can claim to be the victims of racism-like bias. Today almost anyone can play the race card because of the explosion of claims of racism by analogy.

The Race Card: Racism Without Racists

When people complain of racism, it's typical to assume there must be a blameworthy racist who should be made to pay. But many of today's racial injustices are not caused by simple prejudice; instead, they are the legacies of the racial caste system of our recent past, entrenched by the inertia of class hierarchy and reinforced by the unforgiving competition of capitalist markets. As a result, many people have legitimate grievances, but no racist to blame for them. The victims of the injustices will correctly blame racism, but too often they will incorrectly try to find someone to label a racist. Skeptical observers who see no racists will conclude that the complaint is unreasonable and perhaps dishonest. Today, one of the most pressing social justice issues is the problem of racism without racists.

This lecture will examine the phenomenon of racism without racists. In pursuit of this idea Professor Ford will take you to storm damaged parishes of the Big Easy, the mean streets of New York and the fashionable boutiques of Paris's Rive Droite. Was Hurricane Katrina a racial justice issue? When a Yellow Cab ignores a black man's hail, is it racism? If store clerk is surly to a black customer, can we conclude that she's a bigot?

How do I book Richard T. Ford to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Richard T. Ford for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Richard T. Ford, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Richard T. Ford or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Richard T. Ford for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Richard T. Ford, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Richard T. Ford are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Richard T. Ford, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Richard T. Ford speak about?

Richard T. Ford is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Diversity & Inclusion, Law, Civil Rights, Authors, Political, Black Heritage, College, Literary, Social Activism, Culture and Social Justice.

Where does Richard T. Ford travel from?

Richard T. Ford generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Richard T. Ford?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Richard T. Ford for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Richard T. Ford for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Richard T. Ford or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Richard T. Ford is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Diversity & Inclusion, Law and Civil Rights. The estimated speaking fee range to book Richard T. Ford for live events is $10,000 - $20,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Richard T. Ford generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Clayborne Carson, Dr. Marc Lamont Hill and Bobby Seale. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Richard T. Ford for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 29/01/2024.

Richard T. Ford Speaking Topics

  • The Race Card: The Clash of Ends

    The practical goals of civil rights are contested. During the Jim Crow era, anti-racists agreed that the goal was to dismantle explicitly discriminatory practices and formally enforced segregation. But it wasn't clear whether the ultimate goal was to achieve formal legal equality, economic equality or whether there was a more substantive commitment to social integration. With blatant discrimination on the wane, it's become obvious that anti-racists don't agree on the ultimate goal: mainstream liberals favor social integration, but black nationalists and some multiculturalists reject integration in favor of racial solidarity and cultural autonomy.

    When the ultimate goal is contested, it can be hard to tell what furthers racial justice and what hinders it. For instance, affirmative action is inconsistent with formal equality but it furthers economic equality and integration; separate ethnic and racial organizations and clubs promote solidarity and cultural autonomy but violate norms of equality and cut against social integration. This can produce a Catch-22 where any course of action will be "racist" according to someone. I call this problem the clash of ends. This lecture will look at conflict over the ultimate goals of the civil rights movement.

  • The Race Card: Racism By Analogy

    The success of the civil rights movement inspired a host of other groups to frame their struggles in similar terms. Feminists, gays and lesbians, the disabled and the elderly are just a few of the groups who have successfully made explicit analogies to the cause of racial justice. Conservatives attacked affirmative action as "reverse racism."

    Multiculturalism redefined racism as aversion or prejudice based, not on skin color or heredity, but on "culture." And host of interest groups, such as dog owners, the obese, and cigarette smokers have implausibly but insistently compared their causes to the struggle against racism. At best, these claims seek to extend the principles underlying civil rights to new situations. But at worst, these claims seem to define "bigotry" so broadly that the losing side of almost any social or political conflict can claim to be the victims of racism-like bias. Today almost anyone can play the race card because of the explosion of claims of racism by analogy.

  • The Race Card: Racism Without Racists

    When people complain of racism, it's typical to assume there must be a blameworthy racist who should be made to pay. But many of today's racial injustices are not caused by simple prejudice; instead, they are the legacies of the racial caste system of our recent past, entrenched by the inertia of class hierarchy and reinforced by the unforgiving competition of capitalist markets. As a result, many people have legitimate grievances, but no racist to blame for them. The victims of the injustices will correctly blame racism, but too often they will incorrectly try to find someone to label a racist. Skeptical observers who see no racists will conclude that the complaint is unreasonable and perhaps dishonest. Today, one of the most pressing social justice issues is the problem of racism without racists.

    This lecture will examine the phenomenon of racism without racists. In pursuit of this idea Professor Ford will take you to storm damaged parishes of the Big Easy, the mean streets of New York and the fashionable boutiques of Paris's Rive Droite. Was Hurricane Katrina a racial justice issue? When a Yellow Cab ignores a black man's hail, is it racism? If store clerk is surly to a black customer, can we conclude that she's a bigot?

Richard T. Ford Reviews

  • Richard Ford was excellent and overall feedback was very positive! At the community lunch, he gave the short version of his longer lecture (without notes) and he really connected with the audience. The longer evening lecture was good but some of his points were not as clear. Not a problem. Ford is an excellent teacher, and the other format suited his natural teaching style better. The more conversational Q&A after the lecture was also very good.
    Cornell University - Feb 22 2023

  • How do I book Richard T. Ford to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Richard T. Ford for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Richard T. Ford, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Richard T. Ford or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Richard T. Ford for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Richard T. Ford, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Richard T. Ford are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Richard T. Ford, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Richard T. Ford speak about?

    Richard T. Ford is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Diversity & Inclusion, Law, Civil Rights, Authors, Political, Black Heritage, College, Literary, Social Activism, Culture and Social Justice.
  • Where does Richard T. Ford travel from?

    Richard T. Ford generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Richard T. Ford?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Richard T. Ford for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Richard T. Ford for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Richard T. Ford or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
BOOKING INFORMATION REQUEST
RICHARD T. FORD

We are happy to assist you with your interest in booking a speaker or celebrity for your event, your organization, and the type of talent you would like to secure, and an agent will be in touch shortly.

Fill out the form below to or call us at 1-800-698-2536 if need immediate assistance.

Tell us about your event!

We respond to most inquiries within 4 hours. Under special circumstances, it may take up to 24 hours.


This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.