"Brown v. Board 50 Years Later" used the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision to reflect on the impact and continued relevance of the Supreme Court decision. Beginning on May 2004 and running through May of 2005, the Illinois Humanities Council produced over 25 programs statewide, in Carbondale, Chicago, Decatur, Jacksonville, Macomb, and Springfield. "Brown v. Board 50 Years Later" uses a variety of formats and lenses to look at these issues. Programs considered the case's impact on artists, the impact of the Cold War on the decision, the role of the courts in affecting racial justice, and arguments on both sides of the debate on reparations, among other topics. These conversations occurred in the context of panels, lectures, debates, performances, and film screenings. Most of the programs were developed with a general audience in mind but some are targeted specifically to intergenerational audiences, youth, and teachers. Participants included artists, judges, lawyers, scholars, and high school and undergraduate students.

Download the High School Curriculum and Teacher's Guide on the history, meaning, and legacy of Brown v. Board of Education.