The Black Issues Conference conference brings together students, faculty, staff, and community members to discuss different issues affecting the Black community.

20^th Annual Black Issues Conference

Black Issues Conference 2025

The Annual Black Issues Conference coordinated by Multicultural Student Life and the UTK Chapter of NAACP is Saturday, February 1, 2025! The purpose of this conference is to offer a forum for research and discussion of issues affecting the African American community. The Black Issues Conference features an outstanding keynote speaker and workshops. Stay tuned for updates!

Since 2005, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and MSL have hosted the Black Issues Conference conference, which typically takes place in February during Black History Month. Some issues may include education, health, and much more.

Check back for updates. For more information, email: bic@utk.edu

Past Speakers

Wesley Hamilton, disability advocate and founder/CEO of the non-profit organization: Disabled But Not Really, 2024

Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman, editor of The Black Agenda: Bold Solutions for a Broken System, 2023

Dr. Sampson Davis, board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician and NY Times best-selling author & co-author of The Pact, We Beat the Street and The Band, 2022

Tabitha Brown, actress, Emmy winning host, healthy lifestyle influencer and author, 2021

April Ryan, Reporter, author, White House Correspondent for The Grio, 2020

Andrew Gillum, former Mayor of Tallahassee and Gubernatorial Nominee for the State of Florida, 2019

Angela Rye, attorney and CEO of IMPACT Strategies, 2018

David Banner, Grammy Award winning music producer, recording artist, philanthropist, activist and actor, 2017

Sharon Cooper, sister of Sandra Bland, subject of suspicious death in a Waller County, Texas jail, 2016

Roland Martin, NAACP award winner, author, journalist, host and managing editor of TV One’s NewsOne Now, 2015