2008 Woodie Awards
UTM Civil Rights Conference sets high bar for next year's events
Christopher Turner
Issue date: 3/6/07 Section: Campus News
- Page 1 of 1
|
What started off as a vision has become a reality and UTM is playing a role in keeping this vision alive by hosting its Seventh Annual Civil Rights Conference from February 26 to March 3. This event originally started off as a one-day event, paying tribute to the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strike, and now has become an annual occasion paying respect to a defining moment in Civil Rights History.
This year' conference, themed "The Legacy of A Decade of Civil Rights Acts and Movements 1957-1968" started with the opening ceremonies on Monday and with the viewing of "Hateful Things" video in Watkins Auditorium. Tuesday, a day taken out to pay homage to those of the Native American descent, was a day filled with Native American History. From a traditional Native American dining to a flute performance by J. J. Kent and Tanasi Thunder singers, the day concluded when Tom Kunesh (Hunkpapa LaKota) spoke on "The Reconstruction in the Time of Atheism: Past Present and Future of Tennessee Indian Affairs." (See a more in-depth article on the Native American History below.)
Wednesday was designated as "Diversity Day." It was on this day that Sodexho provided students with "Southern Hospitality" by providing dinners with "soul food." Dining music was provided by The Girls and Boys Club of Northwest Tennessee Gospel Choir as they performed a host of songs in tribute to traditional African American gospel. The night was concluded with the "dress rehearsal" of "The Left Hand Singing," a play that tells the story of three college students and three parents during the Civil Rights Movement.
Chancellor Nick Dunagan gave a formal introduction of Dr. Cynthia Griggs Fleming as she gave a outstanding speech titled "A Crisis of Victory: The Continuing Struggle for Civil Rights in the New Millennium." The finale of the day was with the UTM Collegiate Choir, as they performed before the stage was taken by Dr. Julian Bond who spoke on "The Civil Rights Movement Past, Present, and Future."
On Friday, the library had a showing of the critically acclaimed "Eye on the Prize," a collection of films that displays the tyranny African Americans faced during the Civil Rights Movement. Later was the showing of "Higher Learning," a John Singleton movie that shows how racism and bias is still a problem even in the institutes of higher learning. An open panel followed immediately afterwards. The Civil Rights Conference concluded with a trip to the Nashville Public Library on Saturday.
"I was very pleased with the efforts of the university bringing the importance of the Civil Rights Movement to UTM and the city of Martin. Many do not know who Dr. Julian Bonds is, let alone know his work towards the fight of equality. This Civil Rights Conference showed that everyone counts and every voice will be heard.+ I just hope that the following years will be just as good as this one," said Karon Woods, president of the Black Student Association.
Be the first to comment on this story