LSU Reilly Center Event to Explore Educational Inequity, Feature A.P. Tureaud Jr.

October 25, 2021

BATON ROUGE—"The Great Equalizer? How Policy Cemented Educational Inequity” will discuss how landmark Supreme Court rulings in the Plessy v. Ferguson and, subsequently, Brown v. Board of Education cases continue to shape the values of the American education system. Join the discussion on Tuesday, Oct. 26, at 3:30 p.m. CT by registering on Eventbrite.

Season three of Racism: Dismantling the System focuses on the 125-year anniversary of Plessy v. Ferguson and its “separate but equal” doctrine. The effects of this doctrine filter into every aspect of society. The episode will feature experts in education and policy to explore the education system’s role in perpetuating inequity and the results of longstanding policy decisions meant to subvert equal opportunity in communities of color.

LSU’s first Black undergraduate student A.P. Tureaud Jr. will serve as a panelist in the discussion. Tureaud’s father was integral in fighting for desegregation in Louisiana. LSU junior and Chief of College Councils Xavier Kent will moderate the event.

“I think it is important to dispel the narrative that education provides all students a level playing field,” said Kent. “In this episode, panelists will provide background on how the education system allows inequalities to persist, and what we can do to shed light on the issues that remain within American education.”

The LSU Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs will host the episode in partnership with Southern University and A&M College’s Nelson Mandela College of Government and Social Sciences, Louisiana Budget Project, NAACP Louisiana State Conference, and the LSU Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

Panelists include:

  • Xavier Kent, Moderator, Chief of College Councils, Louisiana State University Student
  • Erica Frankenburg, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Education and Civil Rights at Penn State University
  • Albert Samuels, Ph.D., Chair of Department of Political Science, Southern University
  • A. P. Tureaud Jr., Board Member, Plessy & Ferguson Foundation

The series will be hosted on Zoom and broadcast live on the Louisiana Budget Project’s Facebook page. Admission is free, but you must register in advance on Eventbrite to receive the Zoom meeting access code. Previous episodes are available for viewing on the Manship School’s YouTube channel. For more information, contact acharbonnet1@lsu.edu.

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The Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs is partnership-driven, action-oriented and dedicated to exploring contemporary issues at the intersection of mass communication and public life. Its interdisciplinary approach draws together experts from diverse fields to advance research and dialogue. The intent is to inspire our communities to think deeply, take action, develop solutions and broaden knowledge. Underlying the Center’s endeavors is to strengthen and advance the Manship School’s national and state leadership in media and politics.

LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication ranks among the strongest collegiate communication programs in the country, with its robust emphasis on media and public affairs. It offers undergraduate degrees in public relations, journalism, political communication, digital advertising and pre-law, along with four graduate degree programs: master of mass communication, Ph.D. in media and public affairs, certificate of strategic communication, and dual MMC/law degree.

The Nelson Mandela College of Government & Social Sciences at Southern University and A&M College aims to provide opportunities for a diverse student population to achieve a high-quality educational experience, to engage in scholarly research, creative activities and meaningful public service to the community, the state, the nation, and global environment. Located on the campus of Southern University and A&M College, the flagship of the nation's only HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) System, the College offers six baccalaureate, four masters, and one doctoral degree program.

The Louisiana Budget Project (LBP) monitors and reports on state public policies and how they affect Louisiana’s low- to moderate-income families. Using research, outreach and advocacy, LBP educates policymakers, the nonprofit community and the public about the economic and racial barriers that Louisianans face each day, and looks for solutions that can create a more widely shared prosperity.

The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.

The LSU Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is a division of the Office of Academic Affairs and provides support, referral, and information to students, faculty, and staff on issues and concerns related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. For more information, please visit lsu.edu/diversity.