Reviving the Spirit of San Francisco: Global and Local Lessons from the UN and Human Rights at 80

The United Nations Charter was signed at the Veterans’ War Memorial Building in San Francisco 80 years ago (June 26, 1945), establishing not only a global organization, but also a culture “to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small.” This seminar examines the rise of human rights culture through readings of memoirs by leaders from Human Rights Watch (Kenneth Roth) and Amnesty International (William F. Schulz) as well as writings on or by human rights thinkers connected to the San Francisco Bay Area such as Thelton Henderson, Ella Baker, and Cleve Jones. 

U.N. Secretary General António Guterres calls the United Nations "a living miracle" ; a multimedia exhibit titled, "Reviving the Spirit of San Francisco" is currently on display at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. After 80 years, should there be another meeting in San Francisco to revise the Charter to reflect the human rights needs of a 21st century world? What lessons can be learned and innovations made from the reflections of global and local human rights thinkers? These readings and dialogues on global human rights, the United Nations, and the United Nations charter come as the United States prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. It is an opportune moment to assess the United States’ relationship to global human rights culture. 

Facilitated by Dr. Nigel Hatton, this online seminar is limited to 20 participants to ensure an intimate setting for discussion and close reading.

Selected Readings

Blain, Keisha. Without Fear: Black Women and the Making of Human Rights. New York: Norton, 2025.

Jones, Cleve. When we Rise. Hachette Books, New York, 2016.

Kuhns, Richard B. Judge Thelton Henderson: Breaking New Ground. Carolina Academic Press, Durham, NC., 2017.

Ransby, Barbara, and Robin D. G. Kelley. Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement: A Radical Democratic Vision. The University of North Carolina Press, 2024.

Roth, Kenneth. Righting Wrongs. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, New York, 2025.

Schulz, William F. Reversing the Rivers : A Memoir of History, Hope, and Human Rights. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2023.

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About the Instructor

Dr. Nigel Hatton, Associate Professor at UC Merced, specializes in literature, philosophy, and human rights. His research and teaching span the areas of literature and philosophy, human rights and literature, critical refugee studies, and narrative medicine. Dr. Hatton received the dual Ph.D. in Modern Thought & Literature and The Humanities with a PhD minor in Political Theory from Stanford University, and master’s degrees from Stanford University, the University of California, Berkeley, and the Jesuit University of San Francisco. He has volunteered as an instructor, tutor, and consultant in California prisons since 2003 and occasionally lectures in the Narrative Medicine program at Columbia University. Dr. Hatton teaches undergraduate courses such as "Human Rights & Literature," "Toni Morrison & James Baldwin," and "Literature & Philosophy."

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Class Information

Flexible Options: Choose your preferred approach - choose to enroll in Module I or II (3 sessions each: $100 for members, $125 for non-members/public) or enroll in the FULL SEMINAR (Modules I-II [6 sessions], $200 for members, $250 for non-members/public). Registration for Module II will open up after the first session of Module I (subject to availability).

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Seminar Schedule (FULL SEMINAR spans 6 Tuesday evening sessions, 6:00 to 7:30 pm PT, September 30 to November 4, 2025)

Module I (3 sessions)

September 30

October 6

October 13

Module II (3 sessions - registration opens on October 1, subject to availability)

October 20

October 27

November 4

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About Membership Pricing

Mechanics' Institute offers both member and non-member/public registration options for this three-module seminar. To join as a Mechanics' Institute member to access the member pricing for this seminar, please join here.

For questions about registration, contact programs@milibrary.org or 415-393-0103.