Fifty years ago, the phrase “separate but equal” was deemed unconstitutional by the land’s highest court, and Iowa State plans to commemorate that historic decision.

On May 17, 1954, the United States Supreme Court ruled on Brown v. Board of Education, announcing that “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal,” overturning the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision that allowed for the separation of races. The high court claimed keeping students separated violated their 14th Amendment rights.

ISU President Gregory Geoffroy recently announced plans for a yearlong program of events to commemorate the ruling.

“This was a very historic event in the history and evolution for the United States,” Geoffroy said.

Geoffroy said now is the time to step back and look at the changes the United States has made in the last 50 years and determine what remains to be done in the area of diversity.

J. Herman Blake, director of the department of African-American studies, said he wanted Iowa State to celebrate the integration ruling and made it a point to inform Geoffroy about it.

“I made the recommendation to the president over a year ago,” Blake said.

Blake said he is supportive of all the events taking place during the year because the ruling was so important to America’s future.

“[The Brown ruling] was one of the most important legal decisions of the 20th century,” Blake said.

Geoffroy said it’s important for the ISU community to participate in a nationwide celebration in remembrance of the historic decision and to engage in discussions about the event.

The celebration will kick off with a keynote address given by Roger Wilkins at 8 p.m. Sept. 17 in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.

Wilkins, a professor at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., participated in many subsequent events supporting the landmark decision after the ruling came down, including the civil rights movement and the campaign to free Nelson Mandela.

Blake said Wilkins’ father, Roy, was one of the “architects” of the Brown case and worked with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Blake said Wilkins brings very impressive credentials, which include being published in The Washington Post, The New York Times and USA Today.

“Roger Wilkins is an excellent choice [for the keynote speaker],” Blake said.

Thomas Hill, vice president for student affairs, said the Brown commemoration will provide a great topic for debate at President Geoffroy’s “Conversations on Diversity.”

Last spring, the university held the first series of diversity conversations. Four diversity conversations will be held during this academic year to peak the interest of the university, Hill said.

“We are going to try to engage the ISU community,” Hill said. “That’s our intent.”

During Black History Month in February, the Ames branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will host a photo gallery depicting the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling from beginning to end.

The Iowa State University Conference on Race and Ethnicity will also be utilizing the Brown decision as their theme for this year’s conference.

Geoffroy has appointed a committee of six ISU officials to work together to come up with more event ideas to commemorate the anniversary. The committee is made up of Hill; Tahira Hira, assistant to the president; George Jackson, Graduate College assistant dean; Walter Gmelch, dean of the College of Education; and Pat Miller, Lectures Program coordinator.

Hill said the committee conversed numerous times throughout the summer about possible speakers and said more information on specific speakers and dates will be known in a few weeks.

The university is trying to ensure the presence of important figures who actually played a role in the historic events that occurred a half-century ago, Hill added.

Blake said he hopes the ISU community will take the effort to better understand America’s history through the events scheduled throughout the year.

“My only hope is that Iowa State University will take the lead in looking into these historical issues as well as the broader implications and how it has impacted groups far beyond the African-American community,” Blake said.

Hill said it is important for the ISU community to get involved in the celebration because diversity has always been a part of Iowa State and has directly benefited everyone.

“We were founded with a diverse population in mind,” Hill said. “Diversity is a value of this institution. It’s a part of our fibers, a part of our culture.”