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Uplifting Black Men Conference

Virginia Tech will host its third annual 'Uplifting Black Men' conference this Saturday, February 24th.  It will feature stories of persistence and resilience by black men. But people of all, genders, races and sexual orientations are encouraged to attend, to gain insight into their lives and strategies for success. 

The keynote speaker at this year's Uplifting Black Men' Conference is Professor Marc Lamont Hill. A well-known social commentator, journalist and professor of media studies at Temple University in Philadelphia, Hill is calling for change in academia and academics when it comes to educational enfranchisement. He spoke recently at a conference of the American Society of Higher Education.

"We imagine that within the context of the American democratic experiment, that education will be the things that saves us. I mean part of the mythology of the American promise is that anybody can be successful. Not that everybody can."

Hill has much to say about what's missing from that promise. Among his many ideas for improving higher education is a requirement that all students take courses in topics like black studies, Latino culture, Feminism and LGBTQ. Hill stresses that people from marginalized groups who've made it, have an obligation to help others seeking to do the same.

 
 Tommy Amal is a director with the University’s Black Male Excellence Network, which hosts the annual event.  

 

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Amal says this year's theme is "Resiliance Beyond Measure."

“ We chose that theme because when you look at things that are going on with black men, nationally, and more recently regionally, black men have to be resilient academically, but also socially and personally so we really wanted to put together a group of speakers and experiences and information that would really speak to the level of experience that is necessary now to be successful for black men.”  

Renowned scholar and social commentator, Marc Lamont Hill is the keynote speaker at Saturday’s conference.  There’ll also be breakout sessions on topics like help with college admissions for high school students and even one on hip hop as a tool for mental health.

It’s not too late to register for this Saturday’s "Uplifting Black Men Conference," which will be held at the Inn at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.  To see the schedule and to register, go here.

Robbie Harris is based in Blacksburg, covering the New River Valley and southwestern Virginia.