ChildWatch - Charles Ogletree

So said Tomiko Brown-Nagin, dean of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard, and professor of constitutional law at Harvard Law School, and one of Harvard Law School Professor Charles Ogletree’s many colleagues, admirers, and friends.

- Marian Wright Edelman

“Tree had everyone’s backs; he saw the potential in everyone and sought to nurture it.”

Charles Ogletree, who died August 4, was one of our nation’s preeminent legal scholars and a lifelong champion for racial and social justice. Many of his friends have noted “Tree” was an appropriate nickname for a man who felt like a giant, standing tall and steadfast and protecting and nurturing others around him. This always included his students, especially the Black students who attended the beloved “Saturday School” enrichment sessions he led at Harvard Law School. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were both among his brilliant mentees.

As President Obama remembered: “Eventually, Saturday School became so popular that students of every background began showing up to hear Charles explain things in a way they could understand. It was an example of the kind of person Charles has always been: unfailingly helpful and driven by a genuine concern for others.” This concern extended far beyond his own circles. I am especially grateful for his legacy as a steadfast champion of nurturing all children’s potential and embracing proven child development strategies before children, especially poor children of color, ended up in the criminal justice system.