American Baptist College

For a small school with less than 200 students, American Baptist College, abbreviated ABC, has an impressive list of notable faculty and alumni. In the 1950s and 60s, under the guidance of Professors J.F. Grimmett and the Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, Sr., ABC’s students set the tone for nonviolent protest in Nashville and across the South. This new generation of Civil Rights leaders included alums like Julius Scruggs, Bernard Lafayette, James Bevel, William Barbee, C.T. Vivian, and John Lewis. 

American Baptist College, formerly American Baptist Theological Seminary, was established in 1916. It was founded by the National Baptist Convention, the largest African American Christian denomination. In 1918, the seminary moved to Northeast Nashville. And for several years, the school shared space with another HBCU called Roger Williams University. In 1924, American Baptist finished construction on Griggs Hall, which remains the centerpiece of the 53-acre campus. Griggs Hall was named to honor one of the seminary’s founders, Allen R. Griggs, and his son—the Reverend Sutton Griggs, the school’s first president. For over 100 years, American Baptist College has carried out its mission to “develop Christian leaders and prepare them to serve and work for social change and justice in the world.” And their mission continues to inspire. 

For this stop we’d like to highlight two individuals: C.T. Vivian and John Lewis. Raised in Illinois, the Reverend Dr. C.T. Vivian was a pastor, a professor, an author, and a natural born organizer. Vivian and James Lawson, a divinity student at Vanderbilt, organized the Nashville student movement guided by the principles of Mahatma Gandhi. C.T. Vivian joined Dr. Martin Luther King’s staff and served as a major leader in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. In 2013, Vivian was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. Seven years later, the Rev. C.T. Vivian passed away—the man that Dr. King once called the “greatest preacher that ever lived.” But his legacy lives on in the C. T. Vivian Leadership Institute based in Atlanta.

C.T. Vivian’s most famous classmate was John Lewis. Lewis came to Nashville in 1958 to become a Baptist minister, but destiny had different plans for the boy from Troy, Alabama. John emerged as the youngest and one of the most dynamic leaders of the national movement for Civil Rights. He graduated from American Baptist College and also received a B.A. from Fisk University in 1967. 

Lewis was the youngest speaker at the 1963 March on Washington, and in 1965 he was nearly beaten to death on the infamous day known as Bloody Sunday. In 1987, he was sworn in as a member of the United States Congress from Georgia’s 5th District. Known as the "Conscience of Congress," Lewis served more than 30 years and remained a fierce advocate for social justice. After his death in 2021, Nashville renamed 5th Avenue North to honor his legacy. 

Head back the way you came by turning RIGHT out of the parking lot onto Baptist World Center Dr. Turn RIGHT onto Fern Ave., crossing over the interstate, then turn RIGHT onto Whites Creek Pike. Enjoy the views of the Nashville skyline before turning RIGHT onto Dickerson Pike. In about a half mile, stay to the right onto N 1st St. Turn RIGHT onto Jefferson St. and stay straight for one mile until you reach Rosa L. Parks Blvd. Turn LEFT onto Rosa Parks, passing the Tennessee State Museum on your left. This museum is free and covers the Civil Rights Movement in the Tennessee Transforms gallery of the permanent exhibit. 

Continue on Rosa Parks then turn RIGHT onto Rev. Kelly M. Smith Way. Turn LEFT onto Nelson Merry St. in front of First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill. You can find street parking in front of the church or park in the lot across the street. The historical marker for historic Black churches in this area is located on the far side of the parking lot along MLK Blvd.