Dr. Dennis Turner Jr., a retired physician and the first African American graduate of Emory University’s residency program, will be among the featured speakers at the sixth annual Mario A.J. Bennekin Black History Symposium hosted by Georgia State University’s Perimeter College from February 16 to 19. The event coincides with the 100th anniversary of the national celebration of African American history and achievement.
Maurice J. Hobson, chair of Georgia State’s Africana Studies Department and an expert on Atlanta and post-World War II American South, will deliver the keynote address on Monday, February 16 at 10 a.m. in the Dunwoody Campus auditorium.
Dr. Turner will present “Growing Up Atlanta: My Story” later that day at 1 p.m., also in the auditorium.
Sally Robertson, co-chair of the symposium, said, “I don’t recall a more spectacular kickoff for the Bennekin Symposium than this year’s lineup. The first day of our annual symposium will set the pace for an unforgettable week made even more special with this year being the 100th year for recognizing and celebrating Black History Month.”
The symposium theme is “The Black History Movement Turns 100: Rooted in Legacy, Growing Through Education.” Events include both in-person and virtual presentations, such as an interactive session on researching ancestry. Students are scheduled to share their experiences tracing family histories and display cultural artwork.
Named after Mario Bennekin—a professor who taught at Perimeter College for two decades and chaired its History and Political Science Department before his death in 2019—the symposium honors his role in establishing African American Studies at Perimeter.
All sessions are free and open to the public, with details available on the event webpage.
