Tickets on Sale for 72nd Anniversary Brown V. Board Commemoration, Featuring National Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump and Grammy Award-Winning Artist
Tickets are now available for the 72nd anniversary commemoration of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision. The banquet event, slated for May 17, 2026, at Townsite Topeka in downtown Topeka, Kansas, is co-organized by the Brown v Board Anniversary Coalition and The Brown Foundation for Educational Equity, Excellence and Research. Tickets may be purchased www.BrownvBoardAnniversary.org.
The evening event will feature nationally acclaimed civil rights attorney and bestselling author Ben Crump as keynote speaker, alongside Grammy Award-winning performance poet J. Ivy. The program’s theme, “Ensuring Our Nation's Contract with Its Constituency Serves Justice for All,” empowers featured guests to reflect on the country’s civil-rights progress in the wake of Brown, and to consider where the nation goes from here.
“Brown v. Board of Education stands as one of the most pivotal legal decisions in our nation’s history, affirming that education must be a right accessible to all, not a privilege for a few,” said Crump, who is known for his work on prominent civil rights cases that advance justice and pursue accountability. “Today, that fight continues—not just in the courtroom, but in our classrooms and communities. I am proud to support a foundation that is investing in educators, because they are on the frontlines of shaping equity, opportunity, and justice for future generations. When we empower teachers, we strengthen communities and carry forward the promise of Brown—ensuring that every child has a fair chance to learn, grow, and succeed.”
On May 17, 1954, the United States Supreme Court issued its unanimous ruling in Oliver Brown et al. v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, et al, declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The decision overturned the “separate but equal” doctrine and catalyzed the modern Civil Rights Movement. Seventy-two years later, Topeka,alongside the other communities represented in Brown, remains home to that history. This year’s anniversary observance is designed to connect the past to present-day conversations about equitable justice and education.
“Brown v. Board of Education is more than a moment in history—it’s a living reminder of the power of education to transform lives and communities,” said Ivy, who is the first poet to win a Grammy Award since the late Maya Angelou. “As a poet, I’ve always believed that words and knowledge have the ability to open minds and create pathways where none existed before. Supporting a foundation that uplifts educators is deeply personal to me, because teachers are the true architects of possibility. When we pour into them, we pour into our future—strengthening our communities, inspiring our youth, and continuing the legacy of progress that Brown v. Board set in motion.”
For announcements and additional event details as they are made public, follow pages for the Brown v Board Anniversary Coalition and The Brown Foundation on Facebook, or visit www.BrownvBoardAnniversary.org.
