Phoebe Ferguson and Keith Plessy, descendants of the opposing parties in the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson U.S. Supreme Court case, will speak at the NAFSA 2024 Annual Conference & Expo in New Orleans. In 2009, they cofounded the Plessy & Ferguson Initiative to advance civil rights, history, memorialization, and transitional justice. They will address the conference at the plenary session on Thursday, May 30.
More than 125 years ago, Ferguson’s and Plessy’s ancestors were opposing principals in a court decision that upheld the constitutionality of Jim Crow laws mandating segregation under the “separate but equal” doctrine. Today, Ferguson and Plessy are working together to spark important conversations about finding unity and fostering mutual understanding.
“NAFSA is honored to have two leaders with such meaningful ties to our host city and U.S. history lend their voice to our conference,” said Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO at NAFSA: Association of International Educators. “They are living examples of the power of reaching beyond difference to engage constructively and build community—which resonates deeply with our mission as international educators. At a time when growing polarization threatens the fabric of civil society in the United States and around the world, their story of how a painful legacy can be transformed into one of peace and common ground is deeply inspiring. It is also a powerful reminder of the power of redemption.”
The words and work of Plessy and Ferguson are a direct complement to the theme of the NAFSA 2024 Annual Conference & Expo: “Resilience. Renewal. Community.” During this event, international educators from across the globe will convene to share their experiences, resources, and tools for connecting with and empowering students and scholars across cultures, languages, religions, and regions.
Phoebe Ferguson is a native New Orleanian and the great-great-granddaughter of Judge John Howard Ferguson, the named defendant in the landmark Plessy v. Ferguson case. Keith Plessy is a native New Orleanian from the city’s Seventh Ward and a first cousin three times removed from Homer Plessy, the named plaintiff in Plessy v. Ferguson. As cofounders of the Plessy & Ferguson Initiative, Phoebe Ferguson and Keith Plessy visit schools, higher education institutions, and other historical and cultural organizations to raise awareness of the court ruling, examine its effects, and advocate for understanding one another’s histories as essential to forging peace.
More information about the plenary speakers and the annual conference program can be found at nafsa.org/NAFSA2024.
About the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo
The 76th NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo is the world’s largest gathering of professionals in international education. The conference offers a wide array of learning and networking opportunities and features more than 150 sessions, 150 posters, and 25 workshops on the most crucial topics in international education and exchange. A major highlight of the conference is the International Education Expo, which features exhibitors representing hundreds of organizations from around the world, including colleges and universities; study abroad and intensive-English programs; embassies and government agencies; and more. Learn more at nafsa.org/NAFSA2024.
About NAFSA: Association of International Educators
Serving more than 10,000 members and international educators worldwide, NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange. Visit us at nafsa.org/press. To learn more about our advocacy efforts on behalf of international education, visit nafsa.org/takeaction. Resources to guide our members on regulatory issues can be found at nafsa.org/reginfo.