Bari-Ellen Roberts, former financial analyst and lead plaintiff in the successful discrimination suit against Texaco, will address "The Impact of Race, Gender and Class in Corporate America" at DePaul University on Feb.3 in the Schmitt Academic Center, 2320 N. Kenmore Ave., Room 254 at 3:30 p.m.

     In 1990, Texaco recruited Roberts from her position at Chase Manhattan Bank where she served as the first African-American vice president in the Corporate Trust Division. Four years later while serving as senior financial analyst in Texaco's finance department, Roberts became the lead plaintiff in what would become the largest discrimination suit in U.S. history. In November 1996, after the release of the "black jelly beans" tapes, and in the face of Roberts vs. Texaco, the corporation agreed to pay $176 million to approximately 1,400 African-American employees nationwide.

     Roberts has written a book about the incident, "Roberts vs. Texaco: A True Story of Race and Corporate America." She recently joined the faculty of Fairfield University in Connecticut where she teaches a business course on corporate financial responsibility. She is also the president and owner of a management-training firm that focuses on diversity, sexual harassment and violence in the workplace. Roberts and her two daughters live in Stamford, Conn.

     On Feb. 17, "The Way of Our Fathers," a documentary on African spiritual practice and beliefs, will be shown as a brown bag lunch event from noon to 2:30 p.m. in the Egan Urban Center, 243 S. Wabash Ave., Room 9101.

     The film explores the nature of traditional African religious thoughts and the role of spirituality in the personal and communal lives of Africans. The creation mythology and divinity concept, ancestors, social life and the role of spiritual healers and diviners are viewed from the African perspective. The film is narrated by the Rev. Gabriel Setiloane, professor or religious studies, University of Cape Town. The film was produced by Maarten Turkstra and was presented at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Cape Town, South Africa in December.

     "The Ways of Our Fathers" will be shown in four 26-minute segments with brief discussion after the first two segments and a broader panel discussion at the end.

     DePaul's Black History Month programs are sponsored by the Egan Urban Center and the Center for Culture and History of Black Diaspora . Both events are free and open to the public. However, seating is limited. Soft drinks and dessert will be provided at the film screening, so please RSVP by calling 312/362-6000.