Advancing social equity through research, programming, and policy

Advancing social equity through research, programming, and policy

The Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University is a scholarly collaborative that studies the causes and consequences of inequality and develops remedies for these disparities and their adverse effects.

The Black Reparations Project wins 2024 American Book Fest Award

The Black Reparations Project wins 2024 American Book Fest Award

The Black Reparations Project: A Handbook for Racial Justice, edited by William A. (“Sandy”) Darity Jr., A. Kirsten Mullen, and Lucas Hubbard, received the award for 2024 Best Book in Social Change.     LEARN MORE

Adam Hollowell named one of 12 finalists for Judith Deckers Prize at Duke

Adam Hollowell named one of 12 finalists for Judith Deckers Prize at Duke

The Cook Center is proud to announce that Core Faculty and Director of the Inequality Studies Minor Adam Hollowell has been named one of 12 finalists for Judith Deckers Prize at Duke!

Founding Director William A. Darity awarded the Inaugural William Spriggs Memorial Award

Founding Director William A. Darity awarded the Inaugural William Spriggs Memorial Award

The William Spriggs Award was created to recognize other trailblazing academics and practitioners who have helped develop our understanding of racial discrimination in public policy, education, labor markets, academic disciplines, or society at-large.

Professional headshot of Dr. William Darity

A Message from Our Director, Dr. William A. Darity Jr. ("Sandy")

The Cook Center stands as a beacon of scholarly collaboration, delving into the multifaceted causes and consequences of inequities across economic, political, social, and cultural dimensions. Our mission is clear—not only understand the roots of inequality but, more importantly, to assess existing and develop new tangible remedies that directly address the adverse effects of unfair disparities. We seek to unite Duke’s intellectual strengths as we build an outstanding research center devoted to the study of human disparity, especially group-based disparities. 

Events & Important Dates

Duke Event Calendar

Deadlines & External Opportunities

Hank and Billye Suber Young Scholars Spring 2024 Writing Workshop

Add/Drop Period Ends for Spring 2024 Cook Center courses at Duke University

Howard University’s AEA Summer 2024 Training Program for Economics Undergraduates Application Deadline

Inaugural Jerome M. Culp, Jr. Critical Theory Lecture with Duke Law

Let’s Talk Racism Conference at North Carolina Central University, 3/15-3/16

Proposals Due for Advancing Black Intellectualism Conference (Virtual), Open to Undergraduates, Graduate Students, Faculty and Practitioners

Out of Many, One: Reflections on Race and Language (Conversation in Rubenstein Library, 3:30pm)

Young Scholars Application for Summer 2024 Program Open Now Through 3/31

Register for Fall ’24 Cook Center courses now through 4/11

Webinar, 4/25 at 12pm EST – Doing Latinx Studies as a Stratification Economist: A Case Study of the Mariel Boatlift, presented by Dr. Stephan Lefebvre

Advancing Black Intellectualism Conference (Virtual Opportunity), 5/16-5/17

NGIN Cityscapes Summit on economic development in Durham, NC featuring speaker William Darity, 5/15-5/17

Building Inclusion into Research: Language Matters (Virtual Duke Research Town Hall)

Proposals Due for 2024 Color of Education Summit

Sixth World Conference on Remedies to Racial and Social Inequality, 9/3-9/5

Enroll in Fall ’24 Cook Center courses now through 9/6 (Drop/Add period)

Deadline to Apply for Duke Immerse: Caste, Class, and Race Inequality and Reparations in the US and India, Spring 2025

“Behind the Data: Quantitative Approaches in Interdisciplinary Racism Research” Conference in Bayreuth, Germany featuring speaker William Darity, 10/23-10/25

Registration Begins for Spring 2025 Duke Courses; Spring Cook Center Courses Available

Spring 2025 Semester Begins at Duke University