ENTICE - Evolving Narratives: Tennessee Initiative for Civic Engagement

• Serve the West Tennessee community of people, students, and scholars 
• Increase awareness of and document civil rights history in West Tennessee and the nation 
• Increase awareness of students, faculty, and staff of equity and justice issues 
• Promote an atmosphere conducive to increased knowledge and understanding of African American culture and issues 
• Offer students an opportunity to interact with civil rights leaders through oral interviews, historical internships, and other activities 
• Encourage student participation in and training for the preparation of conferences 
• Promote the study of history and culture 

In February 2001, at the urging of alumnus Judge Tommy Moore, the first Tom Elam History Roundtable was hosted by the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Department of History and Political Science. The theme centered on the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strike. From the very beginning, this project was structured to expand outward, and to reverberate beyond the Department of History and Political Science (now Department of History and Philosophy). The planning committee decided to hold a series of conferences about the history of West Tennessee’s involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. Soon after, committee members began planning for a second conference in 2002, on the theme of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court redistricting case Baker v. Carr, with the goal of establishing an annual event.   

The UTM Civil Rights Conference aims to document living history by featuring speakers and panelists who are involved in the work of promoting equity and justice. The event also recognizes outstanding contributions by Americans who are dedicated to advancing equity and justice. Through nationally renowned speakers, conference proceedings, exhibits, and cultural performances, UT Martin has become a source for the preservation and documentation of civil rights history in West Tennessee and the nation. The Civil Rights Conference has expanded into a monthlong event bringing scholars and justice advocates like Michael Eric Dyson, Nikki Giovanni, UTM alumnus Van Jones, Robin DiAngelo, Tim Wise, Rev. William Barber, Cyntoia Brown, and Joan Trumpauer Mulholland to conference audiences. UTM is the only university in the country that hosts a civil rights conference that spans one month. Our livestreaming capabilities have also enhanced our audience and participant base.

UTM’s Civil Rights Conference is an extension of the classroom, giving students the opportunity to engage with presenters not only at the scholarly level, but at the personal level. Visits to historically and culturally significant sites stress the value of those sites and their connections to history. Examining the importance of the Civil Rights Movement for today, exploring one's values, and getting to know one another encourages knowledge and promotes understanding in the spirit of unity, which are central tenets of Dr. Martin Luther King's philosophy.

Henri Giles, Chair

Kameron R. Echols

Danny Wayne Pirtle, Jr.

Dominique Crockett

Austin Shamar Ferrell

Justice Watkins

ZeVida A. Jones

Samantha Hutcherson

Alisha Melton

The University of Tennessee at Martin’s annual Civil Rights Conference is being rebranded with a new name. The annual event is marking its 26th year.

The conference has been given the name “Evolving Narratives: Tennessee Initiative for Civic Engagement,” or ENTICE.

Begun in 2001, the event has brought several nationally-known speakers, historical figures, celebrities and witnesses of history to the UT Martin campus, including legendary civil rights icons such as Diane Nash, Bobby Seale, Nikki Giovanni, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, the Rev. James Lawson and the Rev. Billy Kyles.

In recent years, conference speakers have included Michael Eric Dyson, Michelle Alexander, Tim Wise, José Hernández, Tamika Mallory and Eddie Glaude.

Dr. Henri Giles, assistant professor of African American studies in the Department of History and Philosophy and the director of the event, said she was excited about the rebranding.

“I think it reflects the direction the Civil Rights Conference is moving,” she said. “The organizers had a vision 26 years ago to honor and learn from some of the architects of the Civil Rights Movement.

“UTM has welcomed some incredible Americans over the years, and there aren’t many universities with our impressive track record. Having meaningful conversations and engaging with some of this country’s most respected voices will continue.”

Giles added that the student involvement is an important part of the conference’s events, enhancing their education.

“Seeing the many ways our students express themselves through discussion panels, art, music and dance tells me they are paying attention to the world around them and want to engage,” she said. “People will notice the shift in the conference’s name, but they won’t see a change in the dedication to expanding opportunities for educational and civic engagement.”

Chancellor Yancy Freeman Sr. said he expects the rebranding to enhance the popular program that enters its second quarter-century.

"This rebranding builds on the strong foundation we've established through the Civil Rights Conference: the nationally recognized speakers, the meaningful student involvement and the powerful conversations that have emerged,” he said. “It gives us greater flexibility to create the enriching, memorable experiences that define a transformative education."

Dr. David Coffey, chair of the Department of History and Philosophy, said he has worked with the Civil Rights Conference for 25 years. He was pleased with what the rebranding meant for the event.

“ENTICE expands on the meaningful engagement that UTM’s award-winning conference has stood for since its inception, by opening new discussions, new avenues for discovery and new collaborations,” he said. “We are particularly excited about the opportunities for greater student and community involvement presented by year-round programming, all while retaining the conference’s core mission and values.

Dr. Jeffrey Bibbee, dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, said the rebranding also includes an educational aspect for students.

“ENTICE is really designed around the idea of broadening student and university civic engagement,” he said. “We want our students to see how they are part of their local, state, national and global communities and to understand how they can participate in broader civic conversations that connect history, politics, society and culture.”

Giles said the event will not change its focus through the rebranding, but will enable the program to build and expand.

“The term ‘civil rights’ encompasses an array of topics and groups, and we will continue having those conversations in a broader way,” she said. “Just as we’ve seen the Civil Rights Conference grow from a two-day event 26 years ago to a month-long conference, we are now expanding the conversations.

“The ENTICE Series will allow the university to present speakers and programs throughout the year. It also gives students an opportunity to plan sessions and discuss timely topics.”

Photo – ENTICE – Social justice activist and seven-time New York Times bestselling author Michael Eric Dyson (center) speaks at the 2025 Civil Rights Conference, fielding questions from Dr. Danny Pirtle Jr., associate professor of criminal justice (left), and Dr. Henri Giles, assistant professor of African American studies and director of the conference. The event is being rebranded as The ENTICE Series.