50th Anniversary Commemoration - Other Events

Brown v. Board Related Events
in Topeka, Kansas, April 28-May 24, 2004

Wednesday, April 28

"The Road to Brown," a 1990 documentary, examines Jim Crow segregation laws and the legal battles waged by civil rights leaders such as Charles Houston, the dean of Howard University Law School. The film explores the cases that led to the landmark decision in the 1954 case of Brown v. Board of Education.
7:00 p.m., Washburn University, Memorial Union, Vogel Room
Sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs. For more information, call 231-1010, ext. 1622.

Saturday, May 1-Sunday, May 30

» "Equal Education: The Fight, The Right" is a panel exhibit tracing the history of social concepts such as race and rights, Constitutional freedoms, our justice system, and changes in education.
» "Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka: The Case of the Century" by the Kansas Bar Association is a 70-minute video featuring a reenactment of the 1952 and 1953 oral arguments presented to the U.S. Supreme Court. The video will run continuously during the exhibit.
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.
Kansas Museum of History (located at the Kansas History Center, 6425 SW 6th Ave.)

Monday, May 3

"Black/White & Brown: Brown versus the Board of Education of Topeka (60 minutes)." This new program produced by KTWU offers exclusive insights and interviews from many of the participants who have traditionally shunned the public spotlight. The documentary presents the stories of the individuals, events and circumstances that converged as the wheels of the legal system were set in motion. Narrated by Bill Kurtis and features readings by Walter Cronkite, Jim Lehrer, Gwen Ifill, and Bill Moyers.
8:00 p.m., KTWU-TV (channel 11 in Topeka; channel 30 in Iola, Kansas)
Re-broadcast on Monday, May 17th at 9:00 p.m. and Tuesday, May 18th at 2:00 a.m.; expanded version broadcast Sunday, May 16th at 1:00 p.m.

Friday, May 7 through Wednesday, May 26

High School Art Exhibition, "Separate But Not Equal: Exploring the Ramifications of Brown v. Board"
Washburn University, Garvey Fine Arts Center, Andrew J. and Georgia Neese Gray Theatre

Sunday, May 9

Reaction in Kansas to Brown v. Board
Presentation by Professor Bob Beattie focuses on the reaction to Brown v. Board by looking at newspaper coverage of the case in the months before and after the decision.
3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library (1515 SW 10th Ave.)

Tuesday, May 11

"Forensics as a Way of Knowing: Exploring Brown v. Board of Education 50 Years Later." Issues relevant to the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education will be explored by members of Washburn University's nationally ranked speech and debate team. Students will use their skills in the interpretation of literature, the Lincoln-Douglas debate, as well as informative and persuasive speaking, to render a better understanding of the impact of the case. The audience will have an opportunity to join in the dialogue at the end of the event.
Noon, Washburn University, Memorial Union, Washburn Room B.

Wednesday, May 12 and Thursday, May 13

Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Film Festival, Sponsored by Brown v. Board 50th Anniversary Coalition:
» "What We've Overcome: Films of an Era"
Films will be shown each night beginning at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by facilitated discussion.
Wednesday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. -- Room 101A of Marvin Auditorium
» "Reading, Writing and Resistance," a video prepared by the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site.
» "The Road to Brown," a documentary describing the struggle to overturn Plessy v. Ferguson, the Supreme Court case that made "separate but equal" the law of the land.
Thursday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. -- Room 101B and 101C of Marvin Auditorium
» "Reading, Writing and Resistance" (repeat).
» "Farmville: An American Story" chronicles the Virginia case where high school students walked out to protest substandard educational facilities.
» "The Shadow of Hate: A History of Intolerance in America" shows the disturbing cold facts of hate in this history of America's darker side (this program may not be appropriate for younger people).
Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library (1515 SW 10th Ave.)

Wednesday, May 12

Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Special Programming
Topeka Public Schools-TV (Cable Channel 14 (Cox Cablevision, Topeka))
» "Reading Writing and Resistance"
» "The Road to Brown"
7:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 13

"With All Deliberate Speed: The Legacy of Brown v. Topeka Board of Education (60 minutes)." A half centrury after the Brown Supreme Court decision on desegregation in public education, scholars and community leaders are still debate the effectiveness of the implementation of the decision, and struggle to ensure equal educational opportunities are offered to all citizens.
9:00 p.m., KTWU-TV (channel 11 in Topeka; channel 30 in Iola, Kansas)

Friday, May 14 and Saturday, May 15

NAACP National Brown v. Board of Education Equity Commission Meeting

Friday, May 14

Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Special Programming
Topeka Public Schools-TV (Cable Channel 14 (Cox Cablevision, Topeka))
» "Starting Small"
» "A Place at the Table"
7:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 15

Brown v. Board Heritage Bike Tour
The Kaw Valley Bicycle Club sponsored an approximately 10 mile bike tour through downtown and north Topeka. Stops were made at various sites, which have a historical significance to the Brown v. Board decision.
Tour is open to start from 11 a.m. to 1p.m.

Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Special Programming
Topeka Public Schools-TV (Cable Channel 14 (Cox Cablevision, Topeka))
» "Mighty Times - The Legacy of Rosa Parks"
» "A Time for Justice"
7:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 16

"Black/White & Brown: Brown versus the Board of Education of Topeka (90 minutes)." An expanded 90-minute version, with extra commentary from local Topekans who were associated with the momentous Supreme Court decision in 1954 to desegrate the schools.
1:00 p.m., KTWU-TV (channel 11 in Topeka; channel 30 in Iola, Kansas)

Citizens of Topeka Celebrating Brown v. Board of Education
Openhouse at the downtown Topeka post office, site of a federal courtroom where arguments in the case were first heard. Displays and music will be featured.
1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Free and open to the public.

An Ecumenical Service:
» "Faith Was Their Cornerstone of Courage"
Messages from: Reverend William Lawson (Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, Houston, Texas), Rabbi Lawrence Karol (Temple Beth Shalom), Muslim Cleric Omar Hazim.
Music by: Chosen Voices of Topeka (directed by Charles Davis), The Thurgood Marshall Academy Choir of New York, Instrumentalist Harvey Brooks.
Service begins at 4:00 p.m. and is expected to last until approximately 5:30 p.m.
First United Methodist Church (6th and Topeka Blvd.)

Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Special Programming
Topeka Public Schools-TV (Cable Channel 14 (Cox Cablevision, Topeka))
» "Simple Justice"
» "In Pursuit of Freedom and Equality"
7:00 p.m.

Monday, May 17

Grand Opening Dedication Ceremony
Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site (1515 SE Monroe St.)

"Now Let Me Fly"
World premier of Brown v. Board commemorative play.
7:00 p.m., Topeka Performing Arts Center (214 Southeast 8th Ave.)

"Black/White & Brown: Brown versus the Board of Education of Topeka (60 minutes)." See May 3 for description.
9:00 p.m., KTWU-TV (channel 11 in Topeka; channel 30 in Iola, Kansas)

Tuesday, May 18

"Black/White & Brown: Brown versus the Board of Education of Topeka (60 minutes)." See May 3 for description.
2:00 a.m., KTWU-TV (channel 11 in Topeka; channel 30 in Iola, Kansas)

Tuesday, May 18 and Wednesday, May 19

» "Telling the Tale: Narrating Brown v. Board": An Interdisciplinary Conference.
Dr. James Boyer, Kansas State University, is the keynote speaker. He will discuss the future of education and where we are 50 years after the Brown decision. The plenary speaker is Dr. Carol Ascher, New York University Institute of Education and Social Policy, who researches integration and segregation of schools.
Washburn University, Memorial Union, Kansas Room

Monday, May 24

"Beyond Brown: Pursuing the Promise (60 minutes)." Examines the legal battle that ended the nation's system of sanctioned apartheid, and the impact and influence of that decision. It also explores contemporary debates on student tracking, high-stakes testing, school financing and busing.
9:00 p.m., KTWU-TV (channel 11 in Topeka; channel 30 in Iola, Kansas)

50th Anniversary Commemoration - Other Events

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