This year marks the anniversary of two crucial moments in our country’s long history of inequality. Sixty years ago, the Supreme Court handed out its landmark decision in Brown versus the Topeka Board of Education, which effectively ended legal segregation of our nation’s public schools. And 50 years ago this year, the Civil Rights Act was signed into law. Today, on the observance of Martin Luther King Day, Michigan State University kicks off a year-long commemoration of these events with Project 60/50. John Beck is an associate professor in the School of Human Resources and Labor Relations at Michigan State University. Beck says major anniversaries like these are a change to look back, and to look forward.