‘Brown v. Board at 70’ conference will explore legacy of landmark decision

Aspen Grender

LAWRENCE — In celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka case, the University of Kansas and the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park, Topeka, KS will host an event series and conference exploring the legacy of the landmark decision on Thursday, April 18 and Friday, April 19, 2024.

‘Brown v. Board at 70: Looking Back and Striving Forward' will feature an Emily Taylor & Marilyn Stokstad Women's Leadership Lecture Keynote Address by renowned lawyer and the Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., Esq. Endowed Chair in Civil Rights at Howard University, Sherrilyn Ifill. The event series will include an opening dinner and address from Charise Cheney, associate professor of Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies at the University of Oregon, at the Jayhawk Welcome Center and an all-day conference at the Burge Union on KU’s Lawrence campus, concluding with transportation to and a tour and community discussion at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park in Topeka. Visit the event website for more information and the full list of speakers.

The agenda will adhere to the following schedule: 

  • April 18: Jayhawk Welcome Center
    • Opening Dinner
  • April 19: Burge Union & Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park, Topeka
    • 8:30-9:00 AM – Continental Breakfast
    • 9:00-10:00 AM – Educational Panel
    • 10:00-10:15 AM – Table Discussions with Attendees
    • 10:15-10:30 AM – Break
    • 10:30-11:30 AM – Legal Panel
    • 1:30 – 11:45 AM – Table Discussions with Attendees
    • 12:00 PM – Lunch
    • 12:30-1:30 PM – Emily Taylor and Marilyn Stokstad Women's Leadership Lecture Keynote Address
    • 1:30-2:30 PM – History Panel
    • 2:30-2:45 PM – Table Discussions with Attendees
    • 3:00 PM – Buses Leave for Topeka from Burge Union
    • 4:00-5:00 PM – Community Discussion at Brown v. Board Museum in Topeka

"We are proud to commemorate the 70th anniversary landmark U.S. Supreme Court 1954 Brown decision in collaboration with our colleagues at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park,” said Rick Ginsberg, Dean of the School of Education and Human Sciences. “The decision altered the course of American history, and the implications and goals of the decision remain significant for today’s context.”

The event is free and open to the public, but online registration is required by April 5. Interested individuals are encouraged to RSVP now and mark their calendars. All conference sessions held at the Burge Union on April 19 with be available to watch online via livestream on the event website.

‘Brown v. Board at 70: Looking Back and Striving Forward’ is sponsored by the University of Kansas and the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park in Topeka, KS, a division of the National Park Service, with support from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the School of Architecture & Design, the School of Business, the School of Education and Human Sciences, the School of Engineering, the School of Journalism & Mass Communications, the School of Law, the School of Music, the School of Pharmacy, the School of Professional Studies, the School of Social Welfare, KU Libraries, and the Hall Center for the Humanities at the University of Kansas.