Mari Matsuda

Mari Matsuda is an American lawyer and scholar who is best known for her work in critical race theory and anti-discrimination law. She was born on June 5, 1956.

Matsuda attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned her bachelor's degree in English and anthropology. She went on to attend law school at Yale University, where she was one of only a few women of color in her class. After graduating, Matsuda worked for a time as a public defender in Chicago before turning to academia.

Matsuda began her academic career at the University of Hawaii's law school, where she became the first female and first person of color to be granted tenure. She later moved on to the University of Michigan Law School, where she held the Fred M. Butzel Professor of Law chair. During her time at Michigan, Matsuda helped to establish the field of critical race theory, which challenges traditional notions of race and racism in legal theory.

Matsuda is perhaps best known for her 1993 book "Words That Wound: Critical Race Theory, Assaultive Speech, and the First Amendment," which argues that hate speech can and should be regulated in the interest of protecting minorities from harm. The book has become a seminal work in the field of critical race theory and has had a significant impact on debates over free speech and hate speech in the United States.

Matsuda has also worked on a range of other issues related to social justice and civil rights, including affirmative action, reproductive rights, and environmental justice. She has received numerous awards for her work, including the Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award from the American Bar Association.

Today, Matsuda continues to be a leading voice in the field of critical race theory and is widely respected for her contributions to legal scholarship and social justice advocacy.