Every February since the turn of the 21st century UTM has hosted an annual Civil Rights Conference.
The conference is only one of two in the entire country dedicated to honoring civil rights activists, and promoting social change.
Each year there are several events focusing on topics relating to civil rights such as immigration, segregation and social justice, the planning committee also brings in prominent members of the Civil Rights movement to share their stories and advice for future generations.
The idea to start a civil rights conference found its roots in the department of History and Philosophy. Dr. David Coffey, chair of the department of History and Philosophy, has been involved with the conference since he started teaching at UTM back in 2001. His colleague Dr. Alice-Catherine Carls, Tom Elam distinguished professor of History, started the conference back in 2000 as a way to acknowledge the history of civil rights.
“She (Dr. Carls) was concerned with the idea and thought as a program we ought to make some sort of statement, and that’s where it started,” Coffey said.
Coffey has served as director of the Civil Rights Conference for 19 years.
As the conference continually evolved throughout the years, the focus has shifted.
“(over the years) We’ve brought in all sorts of superstars from the civil rights struggle, we’ve done trips, we’ve visited important sites in Tennessee,” Coffey said.
Dr. Carls served as coordinator for several years. When she ultimately decided to pass the torch, she chose Dr. David Barber, professor of History, to take her place.
“When Dr. Barber took over as coordinator he got students more involved and the conference took on some edgy content. Our speakers were more on the controversial side, but I think it’s always been about the history and the importance of civil rights,” Coffey said.
The conference is a great way for the community and the campus to come together on issues that have historically affected the area.
“We have a good deal of self-segregation on our campus and anything we can do to break down those barriers and bring knowledge and sensitivity we want to do that,” Coffey said.
As an educator Coffey wants the conference to be an educational experience, but he also wants it to be an activist experience.
“I think we’ve created quite a few activists over the years. One of the coolest things we did a couple years ago was a march through Martin to commemorate the murder of Martin Luther King Jr.,” Coffey said. “It was a way of showing what we could do.”
A group of over 200 students from various backgrounds marched down University Street with the help of a police escort.
Coffey noted that although previous conferences tended to focus on African American civil rights, this year’s conference focuses on human rights generally.
Last year, Dr. Lindsay Anderson, assistant professor of Sociology, was appointed coordinator of the conference, a switch from a white male representing the conference to an African American female.
The 20th annual Civil Rights Conference focuses on women’s rights, LGBTQ rights and issues of immigration.
Anderson hopes students can gain an understanding of current civil rights issues through attending events this year’s conference.
“An understanding as far as where we’ve come as far as civil rights and more importantly what we’re doing now and where we need to go. A lot of this conference is focused on civil rights fights that we’re still engaged in,” Anderson said.
Anderson discussed her reasoning behind focusing this year’s conference on current issues of civil rights.
“For me civil rights means a connection to our past, but it’s also very much a present day current issue. As a sociologist I am much more concerned with oppression and lack of opportunities now and ongoing,” Anderson said.
The Civil Rights Conference begins planning for each year’s conference months in advance, and students comprise a large voice in choosing speakers and events.
Courtney Price, a senior Health and Human Performance major serving on the Civil Rights Committee, expressed the need for the conference. “(This conference) is here for us to appreciate what has been done for us, so that we can live freely now,” Price said.
Price hopes that annual Civil Rights Conference changes the preconceived notions of some students.
“It would let people see that everyone should be treated equally regardless of their race or background,” Price said.
Over the years the conference has grown to become something Martin and UTM are well known for, just like the Soybean Festival or the annual UTM Rodeo.
Thomas H. Castelli, Legal Director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, speaks to an audience about immigration at Watkins Auditorium on February 17, 2020. Castelli’s speech is a part of the 20th annual Civil Rights Conference held at the University of Tennessee at Martin. (Pacer Photos / Evan Parkhill)
