On Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at 6 p.m. Roland S. Martin visited UT Martin as part of the UT Martin 24th Annual Civil Rights Conference Fact Over Fiction: The Truth is Marching On.
The event was hosted in Watkins Auditorium in the Bowling University Center. Chancellor Yancy Freeman spoke on the importance of the Civil Rights Conference to Martin and the surrounding community while thanking Henri Giles and members of the planning committee for hosting the event. Chancellor Freeman called upon Lauren Davis, a senior Mass Media and Strategic Communications major, to introduce Martin.
Martin took the stage alongside co-moderators Dr. Danny Pirtle Jr., an associate professor of Criminal Justice, and Henri Giles, a lecturer of Mass Media and Strategic Communications.
Martin spoke an a wide range of topics and took questions from the audience as well as his co-moderators. He started the discussion speaking on the current education system in America and how the lack of accurate depictions of historical events is leading to uneducated adults commenting on current events.
Martin also talked multiple times on how important it is to have uncomfortable conversations. He stated, “God gave me a spirit of discomfort.” He also shared his belief that the reason why real discussions regarding race do not happen in the media is because media producers are a majority white and those discussions are often uncomfortable. This led into questions about criticisms he receives as a journalist and multimedia host. When asked who his critics were, Martin simply responded with, “I don’t care.” and explained that he was interested in having factual conversations, not ones based in emotions.
When discussing the power struggle inside of America’s political climate he stated, “When someone is willing to give up morals, principles, values and ethics for power, that’s the person I would be absolutely scared to death of.” He also explained that all leaders should be challenged about their morals and ethics, regardless of party affiliation. He later emphasized how important it is for discussions regarding race and politics to be based in facts, even if those facts make people uncomfortable.
Some other topics discussed included:
- Historical cycles featuring white backlash
- Community support efforts
- Constitutional rights
- Former President Trump’s time in office
- How laws passed during the civil rights era are still impacting us today
As an award winning journalist, Martin is the host of #RolandMartinUnfiltered. This show focuses on news, politics, sports, and culture from an African American perspective. He has authored many books including White Fear which he often referenced during the evenings discussion.
Martin is a life member of the National Association of Black Journalists, and a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
