Nashville Conference on African-American History and Culture

02/26/2026

Did you miss the 2026 conference? If so, no worries as we recorded the entire event. Check out the full video on YouTube at the link below, and we hope to see you next year!

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

02/20/2026

We could not be more grateful to everyone who attended and otherwise supported last Friday's 45th annual Nashville Conference on African American History & Culture! As always, a huge thanks to Tennessee State University, our co-sponsors who provide event space and other support. We had several wonderful presenters, musical guests, and community organizations in attendance which made for a dynamic and inspirational atmosphere. Video of the full conference will be available soon, so check back soon. Conference profiles and presenter information is posted on our website at www.NCAAHC.org.

Thanks to all, and we look forward to seeing you again in 2027!

02/05/2026

EDIT: in-person attendance for the Conference is now SOLD OUT and we will not be able to take any walk-in registrations tomorrow. You may still register online for the the virtual conference, and as always we will post the full video on the YouTube following the Conference. Thank you!

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We can't wait to see you next week at the 45th annual Nashville Conference on African American History and Culture at TSU's historic Avon Williams campus! Registration is still open and you can attend virtually or in person. We have a packed program of speakers and entertainers--hope you can join us for a great day!

https://www.eventzilla.net/e/2026-nashville-conference-on-african-american-history-amp-culture-2138676164

01/12/2026

We have so many stellar presenters and sessions planned for the 2026 conference--come out and join us on Friday, February 13th at Tennessee State University's Avon Williams Campus! Online attendance option and student rates available. Check out our lineup below.🤩 Tickets here: https://bit.ly/3Z7UbV4.

➡️Searching for the Enslaved: Research into the Enslaved Families at Sunnyside in Nashville, Dr. Tara Mitchell Mielnik, Cumberland University

➡️Stories in Stone: Documenting the Enslaved Workers at the Tennessee State Capitol, Jeff Sellers, Tennessee State Museum

➡️Promise Land: From the Fiery Furnace to the Promise Land, Dr. Learotha Williams, Jr., Tennessee State University, and Serina Gilbert, Promise Land Heritage Association

➡️Zora’s Sojourn in Tennessee, Glenda Alvin, Tennessee State University

➡️Performance #1: Preview Performance of Over My Head: Sacred Sounds of the American South, W. Crimm Singers, ensemble-in-residence, Tennessee State University

➡️The Black Family Who Built America: The McKissacks, Two Centuries of Daring Pioneers, Cheryl McKissack Daniel, McKissack & McKissack

➡️A White Southern Church (Mis)remembers Slavery: Truth and Fiction in the 1929 Centennial History of Christ Church, Dr. Daniel Schafer, Belmont University

➡️Performance #2: MD and Cobalt Blue

➡️Come As You Are, Hoods Not Required: The 1942 Lynching of James Edward Person in Edgar County, Illinois, Renatto V. Carr, McKendree University

➡️The Pearl High Experience: Something Money Cannot Buy, Rev. Troy Merritt, Saint Paul AME Church

EVENT OVERVIEW:   On Friday, February 13, 2026, join Tennessee State University’s College of…

12/26/2025

📣Exciting news--registration is now open for the 45th annual Nashville Conference on African American History & Culture! We hope you will join us on Friday, February 13, 2026, at Tennessee State University's Avon Williams campus for this beloved day-long event. The conference will run from 9:00am-4:00pm and this year's program is packed with eight thoughtful presentations plus musical entertainment from the W. Crimm Singers and MD and Cobalt Blue. ✨

Pre-registration is only $30 and includes a catered lunch, parking pass, printed conference materials, and access to the day-long event. Registration from February 1-11 is $35. Virtual or student attendance is only $20. Visit our Eventzilla page for the full program and to purchase tickets: http://bit.ly/4997c5n.

Happy Holidays, and we can't wait to see everyone in February!

EVENT OVERVIEW:   On Friday, February 13, 2026, join Tennessee State University’s College of…

12/08/2025

SAVE THE DATE: 2026 Nashville Conference on African American History & Culture

Please mark your calendars for Friday, February 13, 2026 for the 45th annual Nashville Conference on African American History and Culture! The event program and registration details will be shared in late December 2025 or early January 2026. Both in-person (at Tennessee State University's Avon Williams Campus) and virtual attendance options will be available. Pre-registration is $30 and standard registration is $35, which includes a catered lunch, printed materials, and attendance for the day-long event. To receive e-mail updates on the conference, please contact [email protected].

Be sure to check out the conference website (www.ncaahc.org) for additional content, including the Profiles book, video of past conferences, and other archival items. We can't wait to see you!

03/04/2025

Full video of the 2025 Nashville Conference on African American History & Culture is now available! Many thanks to our many wonderful presenters, entertainers/artists, sponsors and supporters who helped make this year's conference an amazing event enjoyed by all. Thank you to Tennessee State University for once again hosting this beloved event!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib6yQp8M9JU

Be sure to check out the Profiles of African Americans in Tennessee book, this year's profiles, archival photos, and many more conference materials available at www.NCAAHC.org!🤓

12/06/2024

Registration is now open for the 2025 conference!

We hope you will join the Metropolitan Historical Commission and Tennessee State University’s College of Liberal Arts on Friday, February 14, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the 44th Annual Nashville Conference on African American History and Culture, a dynamic celebration of the contributions of African Americans to Nashville and Tennessee history. The conference will once again be held in person at Tennessee State University’s Avon Williams Campus. A virtual attendance option is also available.

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 event is packed with many new presenters, engaging sessions, and talented entertainers. Our theme for 2025 is “Prismatic Revelations: African American Stories of Resilience.” Attendees will enjoy thoughtful sessions from seven distinguished historians, educators, and authors and will be treated to musical and theatrical entertainment. The registration fee covers access to the event, a catered lunch for in-person attendees, and helps ensure that the conference continues for future generations.

Pre-registration (through January 31) is $30 and includes a catered lunch; after that date, the price increases to $35, so get your tickets early. For more conference information, including this year’s preliminary program, conference archives and to register online, visit www.NCAAHC.org.

Please share this event with your networks, and many thanks for your ongoing support. We look forward to seeing you at the 44th annual Nashville Conference on African American History & Culture!

10/21/2024

Please SAVE THE DATE for the 44th annual Nashville Conference on African American History & Culture, to be held on Friday, February 14, 2025. Registration information will be posted and mailed out later this year, but we hope you will make plans to join us!

03/05/2024

For those who missed the 43rd annual Nashville Conference on African-American History and Culture, we now have full video of the event available online! Be sure to also check out the newly-added map demo on "Mapping the Destruction of Tennessee's African American Neighborhoods" after the first presentation. Thanks to all who attended and supported this year's conference!

We are so grateful to our conference co-sponsor, Tennessee State University! A huge thank to you the staff of Metro Nashville Network and Metro Information Technology Services for their assistance in recording this year's event. For more conference archives, visit www.NCAAHC.org.

Video here: https://bit.ly/3P2Chic

02/05/2024

Only four more days until the 43rd annual Nashville Conference on African-American History and Culture! We are so excited to be back in person this year at Tennessee State University's Avon Williams Campus. The conference runs this Friday from 9:00am-3:30pm.

If you still need to register, tickets are only $35 and include a catered lunch. We also have a virtual attendance option for only $20. Check out this year's program, presenters, profiles, and register at https://ncaahc.org/2024-conference/.

We look forward to seeing everyone this Friday!

01/24/2024

We have a lot of exciting content packed into the 2024 conference, so please plan to join us on Friday, February 9th! As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision, the theme of this year’s conference is “Marching Towards an Inclusive Future: Seismic Shifts in Tennessee Communities,” with a focus on civil rights history.

Knox County Public Library's archivist Zachary Keith will discuss mapping the destruction of Tennessee’s African American communities, then author Dr. Rachel Martin will detail the explosive beginnings of school desegregation. Paula Blackman Iacampo of HarperCollins Publishers will explore integration of the airwaves, followed by an examination of Meharry Medical College’s role in the Civil Rights Movement by MMC Library Executive Director, Sandra Parham. Singer Deni E. Lowe will undoubtedly captivate all with her performance, “Songs of the Movement.” After lunch, Robbie Jones of Richard Grubb and Associates will present an overviwe of the Nashville Student Movement from 1942-1969. Next, we’ll hear about the Nashville Public Library’s Civil Rights Room from one of their own, Special Collections staff member Elliott Robinson. A theatrical performance by Gerold Oliver and Tyrone Robinson will shine a light on the inspirational legacy of basketball great Perry Wallace’s fortitude and the intersection of race and sports in the South. Dr. André Churchwell of Vanderbilt University will close the program with a session on the history of minority communities in Nashville.

Conference co-chairs Linda Wynn (Tennessee Historical Commission) and Dr. Lea Williams (TSU), Freddie O'Connell, Mayor of Metropolitan Nashville & Davidson County, Metro Nashville Historical Commission’s Tim Walker, and Tennessee State University's College of Liberal Arts dean, Dr. Samantha Morgan-Curtis, will provide additional remarks.

Pre-register by 1/31 for a reduced rate of $30 (catered lunch included); after that date, tickets are $35. For tickets and more details, visit: https://ncaahc.org/2024-conference/.

We can't wait to see everyone!