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

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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.  Sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs. 

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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. 

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Monday, May 3

"Black/White & Brown: Brown versus the Board of Education of Topeka (60 minutes)." This 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.
 

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

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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.
 

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.

 

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"
» "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.
» "Reading, Writing and Resistance"
» "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).
 

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"

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Thursday, May 13

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"
» "With All Deliberate Speed: The Legacy of Brown v. Topeka Board of Education (60 minutes)." A half century 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.
 

Friday, May 14 and Saturday, May 15

NAACP National Brown v. Board of Education Equity Commission Meeting

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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"

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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.
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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"
 

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 desegregate the schools.
 

Citizens of Topeka Celebrating Brown v. Board of Education
Open house 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.
 

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.
 

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"

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Monday, May 17

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

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"Now Let Me Fly"
World premier of Brown v. Board commemorative play.
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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"
"Black/White & Brown: Brown versus the Board of Education of Topeka (60 minutes)."

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Tuesday, May 18

"Black/White & Brown: Brown versus the Board of Education of Topeka (60 minutes)." 

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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.

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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.