Z. Alexander Looby

You’re now standing in front of one of the most “explosive” sites in the Civil Rights movement in Nashville. This is the former home of Z. Alexander Looby and his wife, Grafta Mosby Looby. As you learned earlier, Attorney Looby was a mentor to Attorney Avon Williams Jr.—both of whom represented students arrested during the Sit-Ins. Born in the British West Indies in 1899, Looby came to the U.S. in 1914. After earning a Doctor of Juristic Science from New York University in 1926, he moved to Nashville, and began teaching at Fisk University and Meharry Medical College.

Looby’s civil rights career began in 1946 when the NAACP hired him, Thurgood Marshall, and Maurice Weaver to represent Black defendants in the Columbia, Tennessee Race Riot case. The jury acquitted all 23 defendants, marking the start of Looby’s pivotal role in the Civil Rights movement.

In 1960, during the Nashville Sit-In Movement, Looby defended students from Fisk, Meharry, Tennessee State University, and American Baptist College. On April 19, 1960, his home was bombed by segregationists aiming to intimidate him and other activists. While Looby and Grafta escaped injury, the blast shattered over 100 windows at nearby Meharry Medical College.

In response, 3,000 demonstrators marched silently, in a three-person formation, from Tennessee State University to Nashville City Hall. This included Diane Nash who challenged the mayor on the front steps. Their efforts led to Nashville becoming the first Southern city to desegregate lunch counters on May 10, 1960. Although the bombers were never charged, Looby continued his legal work, defending civil rights protesters and rebuilding his home with enhanced security, including narrow windows and a bomb shelter.

Beyond his legal achievements, Looby co-founded the Kent College of Law and, in 1951, became one of the first African Americans elected to the Nashville City Council. His commitment extended to spiritual and educational causes. In 1960, he donated the land for St. Anselm’s Episcopal Church, located next door, creating a permanent campus ministry for Fisk, Meharry, and Tennessee State University students. St. Anselm’s remains a space for student support and racial reconciliation in the region.

Before departing, explore the nearby Meharry Medical College campus by taking our Fisk and Meharry walking tour. Established as the first medical college for African Americans in the South, Meharry continues to be a major training ground for Black medical professionals, dedicated to advancing health, equity, and excellence in the field. 

To learn more about Fisk University and Meharry Medical College, consider taking our dedicated Fisk and Meharry walking tour. Alumni and faculty from these prestigious schools offer a long list of Black community leaders. For our next stop, I’m excited to tell you more about the important role of Black music in Music City.

Directions: Continue down Meharry Boulevard and turn RIGHT onto 21st Avenue North. At the light, turn LEFT and you will see the Jefferson Street Sound Museum immediately on your right, 2004 Jefferson Street. This is your next stop. There is parking behind the museum.