NASHVILLE, TN — The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators (TBCSL) is proud to announce that noted author, academic, and minister Michael Eric Dyson will be the keynote speaker at the annual Tennessee Black Caucus Legislative Summit.
Rev. Dyson has written more than 20 books covering a wide range of topics including race, religion, politics, and biographies of a wide range of notable figures from Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Barack Obama to Marvin Gaye, Tupac Shakur and Jay-Z. He has also hosted radio talk shows and has made numerous appearances as a commentator and political analyst for NPR, MSNBC, CNN, and FOX News.
He currently holds joint positions at Vanderbilt University as both a University Distinguished Professor in the College of Arts and Science as a professor of African American and Diaspora Studies and a University Distinguished Professor of Ethics and Society in the Divinity School.
The annual Black Caucus Legislative Summit will be held this November 8th in Nashville, TN. For years, the TBCSL has brought together legislators, local lawmakers, community leaders, and concerned citizens from across the state to discuss issues facing Tennesseans from Memphis to Mountain City. Sponsored by the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators Leadership and Education Foundation, the annual event was revived last year after a brief hiatus. TBCSL members hope to come away from the summit with concrete ideas that they can turn into legislation to introduce when the legislature reconvenes in January. Workshops this year will focus on education, economic development, health equity and criminal justice reform. Rev. Dyson will speak at the summit’s luncheon.
TBCSL Chair Jesse Chism of Memphis says, “With so much taking place across our state and our country that directly affects African Americans, we are working to bring together leading voices like Rev. Dyson from across Tennessee to organize, strategize, and implement a unified legislative agenda with an emphasis on advancing and protecting Black Tennesseans that can also enhance the entire state.”
The Tennessee Black Legislative Summit will begin at 9:00 AM, Saturday, November 8 at the Scarritt Bennett Center, 1027 18th Ave S, Nashville. Those interested in attending can scan the QR code on the attached flyer for registration information.
