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The 6th UT Martin Civil Rights Conference will examine the impact of African American leadership on West Tennessee since the mid-1960s, and relate it to the impact of statewide and nationwide leadership issued from the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. One of the emphases of the conference will be cultural leadership; indeed literary and artistic creation is an expression of deep social dynamics while it is an important tool to shape leadership. Black film, Native American drums and flute music, African-American dance, story-telling, and poetry will come to UT Martin through speakers and artists such as Jesse Rhines, the Tanasi Thunder Drum Group, noted flutist J.J. Kent, the Bantaba dance group, and Harriet Ann Buckley. Thursday evening will feature a presentation by Rhode Island Poet Laureate Michael S. Harper based on the works of the African American painter Jacob Lawrence. The presentation of Highlander School’s activities by Guy and Cyndie Carawan will weave song with leadership. On Friday night, a student panel will discuss the acclaimed movie “Crash”.

The political aspects of Native American leadership will be discussed by Native American activist Susan Shown Harjo. Dr. Cynthia Griggs Fleming, who is currently writing a book about Civil Rights leaders, will recall the history and impact of the Civil Rights movement leadership. Dr. Cynthia Bond Hopson will discuss the Stanton Community, one of two Black Homesteads in the United States. Mrs. Jocelyn Wurzburg will share her experiences as a Memphis Civil Rights activist, and Mrs. Rita Geier, a noted speaker and the initiator of a lawsuit encouraging desegregation in the Tennessee University system, will discuss the impact of her work.

Among other activities of note are three meals:
The Conference encourages scholarship about Civil Rights history through a number of competitions (one of which is designed in partnership with The Jackson Sun) aiming to attract Middle School and High School students as well as College and University students. This year also, the Conference moves into a “town and gown” format by co-sponsoring two cultural events at the Obion County Public Library. A field trip to the National Civil Rights Museum concludes the week’s events.

All events are free and open to the public. Appropriate charges will apply for the Tuesday and Wednesday dinners and the Thursday luncheon (students eat free on Tuesday and Wednesday and will have a reduced fee for the Thursday luncheon). Participants to the Saturday field trip to the National Civil Rights Museum will be responsible for the price of admission and luncheon.