Abstract: Philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes and John Locke have argued that the formation of a social contract is the origin of political society. In exchange for accepting the rule of law under a sovereign, the people get peace, greater freedom, and justice. Contemporary philosophers have argued that in America's case not everyone has enjoyed these benefits and that the actual contract is a racial one. This lecture will draw lessons from hip hop to examine the social contract idea and to identify ways of responding to the racial contract hypothesis.

Bio: Derrick Darby is Henry Rutgers Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Rutgers University. He discovered his passion for philosophy growing up in NYC. For the backstory, see his TEDx talk, "Doing the Knowledge.” He writes about rights, inequality, democracy, and hip hop. He has been profiled in The Atlantic and published in The New York Times and other outlets. His books include: A Realistic Blacktopia: Why We Must Unite to Fight, The Color of Mind: Why the Origins of the Achievement Gap Matter for Justice; Rights, Race, and Recognition, and Hip Hop and Philosophy: Rhyme 2 Reason. Follow him on Instagram @hiphopandphilosophy.