The Real News, Stanford’s oldest African-American publication, will hold a panel discussion on the major issues confronting black Americans — particularly since the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case — at 7 p.m. tonight at the Law School.

The event, also sponsored by the Black Community Service Center, is part of Black History Month celebrations. The panel discussion — entitled “The State of the Black Community 50 Years Since Brown: Progress or Regress?" — is designed to inform the Stanford community about the challenges and responsibilities that the black community continues to face.

Issues of modern-day racism, stereotyping and school segregation will be the focus of much of the discussion.

“We’re bringing news in real time, in person and in the context of Black History Month,” said senior Khalilah Karim, an editor at The Real News. “The questions range from the effects of integration on the Black community and the lack of a unified voice among Black America in politics, to the generation gap and problems facing the Black community.”

The Real News wants to hold a forum at Stanford to talk about challenges faced by African-Americans throughout the nation, as well as to discuss how to pool resources to address the community’s needs.

Tonight's panel will look at how blacks in America have progressed since “Brown v. Board of Education,” as well as take a critical look at what further improvements are needed.

The theme of this year’s Black History Month is “Stories Told, Stories Untold.” Accordingly, Karim said she hopes that stories will play a large role in the overall dialogue.

“We also wanted to provide a space for alumni to recount events from the past at Stanford and nationwide and discuss how the legacy of their era relates to the current state of black America,” she added.

In addition to experts on the topic, the panel will also include Stanford faculty members and alumni, such as Law Prof. Rick Banks and attorney Reginald Turner, Class of 1975.

Attendance at the forum is open to the general public.