Conversations on Wisdom: UnCut Interview with john a. powell

As an internationally recognized expert in the areas of civil rights and civil liberties, john a. powell is known for his work in a wide range of issues including race, ethnicity, poverty, and democracy. He is the Executive Director of the Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society, a Professor of Law, African American Studies, and Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. He was recently the Executive Director of the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at Ohio State University. Under his direction, the Kirwan Institute has emerged as a national leader on research and scholarship related to race, structural racism, racialized space and opportunity. The following is an excerpt from the documentary film The Science of Wisdom. The interview takes place at the International Symposium for Contemplative Studies in Boston hosted by the Mind and Life Institute. In this interview, powell discusses wisdom in race relations, education, and law. Question Index: 0:15 In past talks and interviews, you have discussed how race is not skin color, but rather a socially constructed concept. Please explain that a bit. 5:21 How do you define wisdom? 7:51 How does wisdom play into being a professor of law?