EVENT OVERVIEW:
On Friday, February 14, 2025, join Tennessee State University’s College of Liberal Arts and the Metropolitan Historical Commission for the 44th Annual Nashville Conference on African American History and Culture (NCAAHC), a dynamic celebration of the contributions of African Americans to Nashville and Tennessee history. For over four decades, this award-winning conference has brought together historians, students, educators, community leaders and others interested in African American history and culture.
This year's conference will be held at the Tennessee State University's Avon Williams campus (virtual attendance option also available) and is packed with many new presenters, engaging sessions, and talented entertainers. Our theme this year is “Prismatic Reflections: African American Stories of Resilience."
Attendees will enjoy thoughtful sessions from seven distinguished Tennessee historians, researchers, and authors and will be treated to musical and theatrical entertainment. The registration fee covers access to the event and helps ensure that the conference continues for future generations. Registration is now open. We hope you will join us at the 44th annual Nashville Conference on African American History and Culture!
For more information about the conference, including archives and speaker bios, visit www.NCAAHC.org.
REGISTRATION OPTIONS:
1. In-person attendance:
$30 pre-registration (thru January 31)
$35 registration (February 1-14)
$20 students (must show student ID upon entry)
This ticket includes access to the full-day event, catered lunch, printed and digital copies of conference materials (program and profiles), and post-event link to conference video recording. Digital conference materials will be provided via email prior to the event. Parking passes will be emailed prior to the event and also available for pickup on-site upon entry. Your receipt is your ticket for entry.
2. Virtual attendance: $20
This ticket includes virtual access to the full-day event, digital copies of conference materials (program and profiles), and post-event link to conference video recording. Prior to the event, registrants will be provided with digital conference materials and an access link to watch the live event via Webex.
PRELIMINARY PROGRAM:
8:30AM Registration begins
9:00AM Opening Remarks
Tim Walker, Metropolitan Historical Commission
Linda T. Wynn, conference co-founder and co-chair, Tennessee Historical Commission
9:25AM To Pave the Way for His People: A Life of Preston Taylor, Dr. Edward J. Robinson, Texas College
9:50AM Reflections on: My Black Country: A Journey Through Country Music's Black Past, Present, and Future, Alice Randall, Vanderbilt University
10:15AM BREAK
10:45AM From the Black Visitor Perspective: Preparing Sites of Enslavement to Build and Sustain Relationships with Black Visitors, Tammy Gordon, Greenwood Seneca Foundation
11:10AM Tennessee Life Photography, DaShawn Lewis, photographer
11:35AM Performance #1: Voting, Love, and Black History, Dr. Michelle J. Pinkard and Soul Fire poetry group, Tennessee State University
12:00PM LUNCH
1:30PM Remarks, Dr. Samantha Morgan-Curtis, Dean of College of Liberal Arts, Tennessee State University
1:35PM Why Don’t We Know Who Bombed Z. Alexander Looby’s House?, Betsy Phillips, Nashville Scene and Vanderbilt University Press
2:00PM The Lawson Longevity: The Architecture of the U. S. Nonviolent Movement, Dr. Dennis Dickerson, Vanderbilt University
2:25PM Performance #2: The Nashville Student Movement and the Leadership of the Selma Campaign, Elliott Robinson, Nashville Public Library
2:50PM “A Great Cloud of Witnesses": Listening to Nashville's Marginalized Voices, Dr. Learotha Williams, Jr., Tennessee State University
3:15PM Closing remarks, Dr. Learotha Williams, Jr., conference co-chair, Tennessee State University
