Introduction
Amy Wax is an American legal scholar who has been a professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School since 2001. She is known for her controversial views on race, immigration, and other social issues. Wax has been a frequent commentator in the media and has published many articles and books on various legal topics.
Early Life and Education
Amy Wax was born in 1953 and grew up in a Jewish family in Michigan. She received her undergraduate degree from Yale University and her law degree from Columbia Law School. Wax later earned a Ph.D. in psychology from Harvard University.
Academic Career
After completing her education, Wax began her academic career as a law clerk for Judge Abner Mikva of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. She later worked as an associate at the law firm Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering in Washington, D.C. In 1991, Wax joined the faculty of the University of Virginia School of Law, where she taught for 10 years before moving to the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Controversial Views
Wax’s views on race and immigration have been the subject of much controversy. In a 2017 op-ed for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Wax argued that the decline of “bourgeois values” among low-income Americans of all races was a major factor in the country’s social and economic problems. She also suggested that some cultures were superior to others and that some groups were inherently more intelligent than others.
Response to Controversy
Wax’s views have been widely criticized by many in the academic community and beyond. In response, Wax has defended her positions, arguing that she is simply expressing her right to free speech and academic freedom. She has also said that her critics are trying to silence her and that they are promoting a culture of political correctness that is harmful to intellectual debate.
Publications
Wax has published numerous articles and books on various legal topics, including tort law, defamation, and social welfare policy. She has also written on more controversial topics, such as affirmative action and immigration. Some of her most well-known works include “Race, Wrongs, and Remedies: Group Justice in the 21st Century” and “The Poverty of the Affirmative Action Debate.”
Awards and Honors
Wax has received numerous awards and honors throughout her career, including the Order of the Coif and the American Law Institute’s Young Scholars Medal. She has also been a visiting scholar at several prestigious institutions, including the University of Chicago Law School and the University of Virginia School of Law.
Conclusion
Amy Wax is a controversial figure in the academic world, known for her provocative views on race, immigration, and other social issues. Despite facing criticism and backlash for her opinions, Wax has continued to speak out and defend her right to free speech and academic freedom. Her work and ideas will undoubtedly continue to be the subject of debate and discussion for years to come.