The 10th annual Black Issues Conference plans to address the difficult questions facing the black community in America on Saturday through a series of discussion-based sessions.
Coordinated by the Multicultural Student Life and the UT Chapter of the NAACP, the conference was organized to educate all members of the community on the issues facing black society today.
The conference will feature a speech and book signing by Roland Martin, an African-American journalist and former CNN contributor. Roland’s accomplishments include being named as one of the 150 Most Influential African-Americans in the United States by Ebony Magazine three times, as well as the winner of the 2009 NAACP Image Award for Best Interview for “In Conversation: The Michelle Obama Interview.”
Crystal Hardeman, associate director of Diversity and Multicultural Education, said she views the event as especially relevant given the recent controversial rulings surrounding the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner.
“It’s really even more relevant now with what’s going on in our society,” Hardeman explained. “It’s even more valuable now for us to be knowledgeable about blacks in general, knowledgeable about black culture and knowledgeable about who we are as black people.”
While the conference is aimed at addressing issues facing black society in America, Hardeman stressed that the conference was open to all ethnicities interested in affecting positive change.
“This conference is not just for black people,” Hardeman said. “It’s for all people to learn about the issues facing black people.”
For student and co-chair of The Black Issues Conference Kierra Richmond, the event offers “the opportunity to gain insight about the diversified daily experiences, micro-aggressions and concerns of African-Americans.”
Richmond also noted the conference will show students how they can contribute to eliminating stereotypes and biases.
For those attending the event, Richmond said she hopes to provide both a “safe space” in which to discuss important issues and facilitate discussion between people who might not have met otherwise.
The “Stand Your Ground: The State of Black America Today” conference will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Carolyn P. Brown University Center. For program schedules and registration information, visit their website.
