Distinguished Professor of English John Matteson published an op-ed on Time.com, “Slavery Matters More than Ever,” in which he asserts that, 150 years after the Civil War, the “fire bells” of racial violence and inequality still ring in the United States, compelling Americans to ask “why?”

Matteson maintains that although American law has changed dramatically, some attitudes continue to resist reforming, contributing to situations like the recent killings of black teenagers Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown. A Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer, Matteson will teach the free online course “Literature and Law of American Slavery” beginning on Sept. 30.

Click here  to read Matteson’s entire commentary.