The panel is framed around what kind of pesksa what kind of progress blacks have made since the Civil Rights Movement and the enduring challenges and inequality that face africanamericans in the 21st century. The organizers have formulated two major questions for us to talk about. The first is, what historical and contemporary factors continue to make racial equality a contested and elusive concept in the 21st century and second, what kinds of knowledge can we mobilize to face the specific challenges of racial inequity. We have two or three dynamic speakers today and id like to introduce you to them before opening our conversation. Joining us is sara griffin, the william b at columbia and has also served as the director of the institute for research in africanamerican studies. Her most recent book is forth coming in september, harlem nocturne. Women. Politics during world war ii. Our second panelist is camille joseph, the founding direct oroff the center for race and and the author of