Video: Eddie Glaude keynote speech excerpt

By Evelyn Tu on Oct. 26, 2009, 5:49 p.m.

Center for African American Studies chair Eddie Glaude gave one of three keynote speeches at Princeton's "Coming Back and Moving Forward" black alumni conference, which took place Oct. 22-24. Glaude's lecture, "America Looks Back: How Will We Move Forward?" called on the audience to re-examine how the past affects the present.

Cornel West, the Class of 1943 University Professor in the Center for African American Studies, gave one of three keynote speeches at Princeton's "Coming Back and Moving Forward" black alumni conference, which took place Oct. 22-24. West spoke about his newly released memoir, "Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud."

Video: Michael Eric Dyson keynote speech excerpt .

Michael Eric Dyson, a prominent sociologist at Georgetown University, gave one of three keynote speeches at Princeton's "Coming Back and Moving Forward" black alumni conference, which took place Oct. 22-24. Dyson read from his forthcoming book "Presidential Race: Barack Obama and Blackness in America," which analyzes the decisions President Barack Obama made handling race during the campaign.

650 attend largest gathering of black alumni in University history .

At the largest gathering of black alumni in the University's history last weekend, emotions overflowed as people talked about change -- Princeton's transformation from their time as students and the transformation they can bring about through continued engagement. "It's very obvious to me that the Princeton of 2009 is very different from the Princeton of 1983, and even the Princeton of 2006," said Ken Bruce, a member of the class of 1983 and a past president of the Association of Black Princeton Alumni. "For many of us, our Princeton experience is complex," he added. "We love it.

700 expected for second black alumni conference .

More than 700 black Princeton alumni plan to return to campus for the "Coming Back and Moving Forward" conference Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 22-24.

Transcript: African American studies moves to new home .

The Center for African American Studies this week unveiled its new home in Stanhope Hall, which has undergone a complete renovation that has transformed the 204-year-old building into a light-filled space that reflects many historical details of its time period.

Video: Looking Forward (excerpt) .

Attendees at the "Coming Back and Moving Forward" black alumni conference Oct. 22-24 will have a chance to view the full documentary, "Looking Forward," by Melvin McCray '74.

Center for African American Studies poised to lead at critical time .

Princeton's Center for African American Studies is launching an aggressive effort to become the leading resource for the public's understanding of race in America, coming at a time when the center's scholars say they are seeing an upward trend in racial issues igniting the country in a series of "brush fires."