DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dr. Dennis Turner Jr., a retired physician and the first African American graduate of Emory University's residency program, will share his journey as part of the sixth annual Mario A.J. Bennekin Black History Symposium at Georgia State University's Perimeter College. This year's celebration will also recognize the 100th anniversary of the nation's commemoration of African American achievement and history.
Maurice J. Hobson, chair of the Africana Studies Department at Georgia State and a highly regarded expert on Atlanta and the American South after World War II, will kick off the symposium with a keynote address Monday, Feb. 16, at 10 a.m. in Perimeter's Dunwoody Campus auditorium, 2101 Womack Road, Building NC-2100.
Turner's presentation, “Growing Up Atlanta: My Story,†will follow in the same location at 1 p.m.
“I don't recall a more spectacular kickoff for the Bennekin Symposium than this year's lineup,†said Sally Robertson, co-chair. “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.â€
The theme of the week-long symposium is “The Black History Movement Turns 100: Rooted in Legacy, Growing Through Education.†It will feature a mix of in-person and virtual presentations, including an interactive session that will guide participants through the steps of researching their ancestry. Several students will also participate in the symposium, sharing their experiences researching family history and showcasing cultural artwork, among other contributions.
The Bennekin Black History Symposium is named for Mario Bennekin, a beloved professor who taught for 20 years at Perimeter and served as chair of the college's History and Political Science Department before passing in 2019. Bennekin was instrumental in bringing the African American Studies curriculum to Perimeter.
The annual Mario A.J. Bennekin Black History Symposium is free and open to the public, with sessions taking place in-person and virtually. Visit the event webpage for a full schedule and ways to support it.
— Story by Kysa Anderson Daniels
— Photo courtesy Dennise Turner
