BUFFALO, N.Y. — Canisius College's Afro-American Society is celebrating 50 years on campus.

To commemorate the big day, the group brought in famed journalist Roland Martin to speak on race in America.

Martin stressed the importance of representation and becoming familiar with your past.

“If you don’t understand that history, you cannot understand present day. There’s been progress, but we are no doubt still living with the realities of race in America,” said Martin.

The society works to increase diversity on campus and support currently enrolled minority students.