Tennessee State University, Hadley Park

Welcome to Tennessee State University! TSU opened in 1912 and was for many years known as Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial College or Tennessee A&I for short. TSU was the state’s first publicly funded college for African Americans and remains Tennessee’s only public HBCU. The school was designed to teach and train young African Americans for twentieth century jobs—from automobile mechanics to algebra teachers. As the university grew, so did its academic offerings—the school conferring its first bachelor’s degree in 1924. In 1968, the school’s name was changed to Tennessee State University, which reflected the school’s prestige and academic programs. 

The school’s profile increased during the Civil Rights movement, despite push back from administrators and legislators. In fact, the state government forced the expulsion of 14 students for their participation in the Freedom Rides and sit-ins. This list includes Frankie Henry, Ernest Rip Patton Jr., Etta Ray, and Frederick Leonard. Students who were expelled for their Civil Rights activism were awarded honorary doctorate degrees by TSU in 2008. To hear the full history of Tennessee State University, we recommend you take our campus walking tour on Nashville Sites.

After the bombing of Z. Alexander Looby’s home on April 19, 1960, students and community members gathered in front of Elliott Hall on TSU’s campus. The Rev. C.T. Vivian purposed a “Silent March” to city hall, nearly four miles away. This story is on our previous stop, but here’s a reminder: The “Silent March” ended with a political victory. Three weeks later some lunch counters opened to Black customers. They had won the battle, but the war for Civil Rights was not over.

Those engaged in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s shared the goal of racial equality but differed on strategy. This break in consensus led to three different groups. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference initially focused on litigation in the courts while the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee pursued change through direct nonviolent action. After 1965, a third group emerged—led by Stokely Carmichael. Known as the Black Panther Party, they espoused self-defense tactics and Black nationalism. On April 7, 1967, Carmichael spoke to a large crowd in TSU’s Kean Hall. The following day a confrontation between HBCU students and the police escalated after a Black student was arrested. Known as the Nashville Race Riot, there were several serious injuries and more than 40 arrests. 

Such events were the result of deep frustration experienced by African American communities—particularly in regard to economic, employment, and housing disparities. Also, many college students and activists, including both King and Carmichael, opposed the Vietnam War. It was a time of unrest and distrust of government. Riots occurred across the nation in cities like Detroit and Baltimore. Then, on April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on a hotel balcony in Memphis. He was there to protest with sanitation workers for better pay and treatment. For a man who preached nonviolence, his violent death triggered a wave of civil disturbances, which swept the United States following his assassination.

Before we leave, we’d like to note Hadley Park which you’ll pass on your way to the next stop. Established in 1912, Hadley Park created a safe space for Black Nashvillians to gather and to enjoy outdoor recreational facilities. We’ll tell you about Hadley Park’s swimming pool at our next stop, but take our Jefferson Street driving tour for the full story. 

Exit the parking lot by turning LEFT onto John A. Merritt Blvd. then turn LEFT onto 33rd Ave N. Continue on 33rd until you reach Albion St. Turn LEFT and follow Albion along the southern edge of Hadley Park. Turn RIGHT onto 28th Ave N. and stay straight for about a mile. Turn LEFT onto Park Plaza then RIGHT onto 25th Ave N. Enter the park on your right and find parking near the Centennial Art Center. This is our final stop of the tour.