Celebrate the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board at these upcoming events in Topeka
Commemorating the historic 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling will lead with several events for the Topeka area.
At 7 p.m. Friday, Topekans will have the opportunity to watch "Now Let Me Fly — The Struggle Toward Brown v. Board" at the White Concert Hall on Washburn University's campus. Tickets can be purchased online.
Marcia Cebuska is the playwright. Director Darren Canady said the process has been fascinating.
"At every turn, the right person has said yes to being a part of the process. The right person has stepped up and volunteered," Canady said.
Canady said the play was created for the 50th anniversary 20 years ago. He said it's interesting to see how many things not only are still relevant but also to see how much work Topeka and other locations have done to tell the stories.
"What I really want Topekans to remember is that we are a part of one of the most important stories about human rights not only in the nation but really across the world," Canady said. "It is a story that didn't begin with Brown but certainly didn't end with it either.
"And an important chapter of that story however is right here. I think one of the reasons why it's so important to tell the story of Brown and not only to commemorate but also to encourage us to keep up the work.
"We are charged with ensuring quality and ensuring access to education and to really dignify what it means to be human. Topeka is a part of that story."
"Now Let Me Fly" will tell the stories of unsung heroes and heroines in the battle for civil rights, reflecting the power of collective action and impact the five-state class action lawsuit that resulted in Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling, according to a news release.
What other events will celebrate the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board?
Mulvane Art Museum will reopen
Mulvane Art Museum, 1700 S.W. Jewell Ave. will reopen to the public at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Two exhibitions will be open for viewing, those include the following:
"Craving Light: The Museum of Love and Reckoning" exhibit runs through July 20 in the Rita Blitt Gallery.
"I Dream a World: Portraits of Black Women Who Changed America" exhibit runs through July 18 on the main level.
More: Take a look into one of first art museums west of Mississippi River: Mulvane Art Museum
Brown v. Board 70th anniversary Homecoming Celebration
Beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, a celebration will be at the Brown v. Board National Park, 1515 S.E. Monroe St., for former students and educators of Topeka's four former African-American schools.
Attendees can expect to enjoy lunch and presentations.
Spoken Word Operetta
To coincide with the 70th anniversary, Topeka's Arts Connect will present "Love & Justice, 70 Years and Reckoning." Artist Vanessa German will perform the spoken word operetta alongside label recording artist Angel Haze and Topeka poet August Mendoza.
A public reception will begin at 6:30 p.m. while the operetta will begin at 8 p.m. May 24 at White Concert Hall. Tickets can be found on EventBrite.com.
Picture the Dream: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement through Children's Books
Picture the dream exhibit features a collection of more than 70 works from 55 different children’s books telling the story of the Civil Rights Movement at the Kansas Children's Discovery Center, 4400 S.W. 10th Ave. The exhibit opened May 3 and will be available until Aug. 11.
Artwork depicts Brown v. Board and other key historical events up to the modern era. Many of the pieces show events from the perspectives of children.
Keishera Lately is the business reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. She can be reached at klately@cjonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @Lately_KT.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Celebrate 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board at these events in Topeka
