The annual B.C. Franklin Lecture at The University of Tulsa’s College of Law honors the legacy of Buck Colbert Franklin – attorney, community advocate and defender of Greenwood residents following the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre – and the continuing work of the B.C. Franklin Legal Clinic, where UTulsa Law students carry forward his commitment to justice.
The 2025 lecture, held in December, featured Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley, who presided over the Georgia state trial in the death of Ahmaud Arbery, along with a panel of distinguished guests whose work intersects with racial justice, public memory and community advocacy.
Walmsley opened the program with a detailed account of the Arbery case, describing the legal complexities, procedural developments and public pressures surrounding a nationally watched trial. He emphasized the importance of an independent judiciary and explained how the rule of law operates amid competing narratives and heightened public scrutiny.
For students who participate in the B.C. Franklin Clinic, the lecture’s themes resonated deeply.
Chris Robinson, a second-year law student, said the program strengthened his understanding of why Franklin’s legacy remains vital to legal education.
“Seeing the care and fervor that John W. Franklin, B.C. Franklin’s grandson, has for continuing the legacy of his grandfather is inspiring,” Robinson said. “It shows that having dedication to community and doing the right thing goes a long way and has an impact that lives on (for) many generations. I get to help continue that legacy by working in the B.C. Franklin Clinic, and that is an immense honor.”
The panel following Walmsley’s keynote expanded the conversation beyond the courtroom.
John Whittington Franklin, a former Smithsonian historian, current UTulsa trustee and grandson of B.C. Franklin, reflected on his family’s long connection to Oklahoma and the national significance of the Greenwood story. He spoke about the enduring importance of documenting accurate historical narratives and how renewed public awareness of events in Tulsa has shaped conversations about racial violence and recovery across the country.
Tiffany Crutcher, founder of the Terence Crutcher Foundation, discussed her advocacy following the death of her twin brother, Terence Crutcher, and emphasized how community organizing, policy work and civic participation can influence systemic change. Her remarks highlighted the role individuals and coalitions play in reshaping public safety and addressing structural inequities.
Maurice Carlos Ruffin, an attorney and award-winning author, turned to the power of narrative. He examined how stories – whether told in literature, public discourse or the legal system – shape collective understanding and can either reinforce or challenge assumptions.
For Robinson, hearing from speakers whose work spans law, history, literature and community advocacy underscored how justice work extends beyond the courtroom.
“The lecture reminded me that the work of B.C. Franklin, and so many other people dedicated to healing the divisions in our society, must be carried on in each generation,” he said. “It involves holding power to account, as each of the lecture speakers has done within their respective professions – be that through the judicial system, teaching the true history of America, community organizing or storytelling.”