VIDEO: MSU Men’s Symposium

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Male students from campuses across the Southeast arrived at Mississippi State for the 2017 State Of Black Men Symposium.

This year’s theme is Transcending Stereotypes and Breaking Barriers. The Symposium is held once every two years.

The conference is designed to address issues African American men face on a regular basis like; racial discrimination, incarceration rates ,lack of healthcare access and unemployment rates.

Organization Vice President Blake Lewis says he hopes students take valuable information back to their schools.

“Since we are at a predominately white institute, going into a big auditorium you might be one or two people of color depending on your major. We just want to let students know that they have a bigger network, they have resources available to them and that they have a voice that is worthy to be heard and that they are important,”said Lewis.

The conference will conclude with Keynote speaker Dr. Terrell Strayhorn.