ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell University alumna and legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw, professor of law, Columbia University and the University of California-Los Angeles, returns to campus to deliver the keynote address for the Africana Studies and Research Center's conference "Brown vs. Board of Education: Race and Education 50 Years Later," which begins Friday, April 29, at 9 a.m.

The conference marks the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the Africana Studies and Research Center and the formal dedication of its new building, which will be held following the conference. All events will take place in the Multipurpose Room in the Africana Center at 310 Triphammer Road and are free and open to the public.

In addition to Crenshaw '81, the conference features prominent guest scholars Derrick A. Bell Jr., visiting professor of law, New York University School of Law; and Charles J. Ogletree, the Jesse Climenko Professor of Law at Harvard Law School.

Opening remarks will be provided by Salah M. Hassan, the Africana Center's acting director, and Cornell Provost Biddy Martin. Robert Harris Jr., professor of Africana studies and vice provost for diversity and faculty development, will provide a historic overview of the legendary civil rights case. Bell's talk, "Fantasizing Reality: Why Brown Failed, Why Bush Won and the Necessity of Distinguishing Dangers and Opportunities," will be given at 9:30 a.m.; at 11 a.m., Ogletree will speak on "All Deliberate Speed: Reflections on the First Half-Century of Brown vs. Board of Education." Crenshaw will deliver the keynote address, "Africana Studies Meets the Law: A Genealogy of Critical Race Theory," at 1:30 p.m.

All talks will be followed by discussions led by members of the Africana faculty. The conference will conclude at 3 p.m. to be followed by a formal dedication ceremony with remarks from President Jeffrey Lehman, among others. For complete information and a full schedule of events, visit the Africana Web site or contact Judy Holley at the Africana center at (607) 255-4291.