Fifty years ago this year, five Black Gaels Basketball players walked off court in protest in 1972, which led to the subsequent hunger strike to demand Saint Mary's College to live up to its Lasallian commitment to serving the poor and historically marginalized communities. These demands led directly to the first ethnic studies course at Saint Mary's, a Chicano Studies course taught by Brother Camillus Chavez. Today, there are efforts to silence education about race and historical oppression through attacks on critical race theory and ethnic studies. This year, the Ethnic Studies program will host a symposium to honor our past student leaders, to critically examine the importance of facing race in order to envision a future of equity, justice, and healing. The symposium will include a panel of alumni activists and concurrent activist workshops from community organizations on the frontlines of the fights for social justice that shape ethnic studies curricula. The symposium will round out with a cooking demonstration and fireside chat with chef, food activist, and author Bryant Terry, where we will discuss healing and futurity.