Coming Back and Looking Forward: A Princeton University Conference for Black Princeton Alumni

In September, 2006, Princeton University held a conference on campus entitled "Coming Back and Looking Forward:  A Princeton University Conference for Black Princeton Alumni." Over 500 alumni and their guests participated in two days of discussion and dialogue about the University, higher education and issues of importance to black alumni. 

• View the conference schedule [PDF]
• Purchase a group photo

DOCUMENTARIES

Princeton alumnus Melvin McCray '74 [PDF], an editor at ABC News World News Tonight, has produced two extraordinary documentaries of the conference. Please note: All of the following videos are in Real Player format. 

• A short 32 minute Highlights video captures the essence of the conference as it unfolded.
  
  
• A full length (2 hour 11 minute)  "Coming Back and Looking Forward" documentary presents content from the lectures, panel discussions and career networking sessions held throughout the weekend. 

Also available is Melvin McCray's Looking Back: Reflections of Black Princeton Alumni, a video documentary  produced in 1997 on the history of African American students at Princeton for the University’s 250th Anniversary.

LECTURES & REMARKS

In addition to producing two documentaries of the conference, Melvin McCray '74, also taped many of the lectures and remarks given by Princeton alumni and University staff.

• President Shirley M. Tilghman's Conversation with Alumni at the conference.  President Tilghman speaks briefly about University matters and then answers questions from the audience. 
  
  
• Concluding address by Cornel West *80, Class of 1943 University Professor of Religion.
  
  
• Hurricane Katrina and America's Racial Politics, a faculty lecture given by Melissa V. Harris-Lacewell, Associate Professor of Politics and African-American Studies.