Juniors explore Nashville’s Civil Rights legacy

By Ian Dinkins, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications 

In an immersive exploration of Nashville’s Civil Rights history, juniors at University School of Nashville studied out of the classroom and instead in some of Nashville’s most historic venues.
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The lesson, which has evolved over the past few years, was designed to offer students a deeper understanding of the Civil Rights Movement and to consider how history can be told in new and innovative ways. 

The journey began in Durnan Auditorium, where a diverse panel of experts gathered to provide insights on museum exhibitions, storytelling, and the importance of preserving local history.

The students were fortunate to hear from a distinguished group of speakers, each contributing a unique perspective on how history can be shared and remembered:

• Nathalie Lavine ’00, a USN alum and Vice President of Education and Outreach at Cheekwood, gave students insight into the intersection of art and history, showing them how museums are spaces that help us remember and reflect on the past.
  
  
• Melissa Mallon of the Vanderbilt University Library guided students to consider the historical markers scattered across the city and encouraged them to dive into Nashville’s history, particularly focusing on student activism during the Civil Rights era.
  
  
• Marisa Richardson, a historian and professor from Middle Tennessee State University, spoke about Nashville’s rich history and the importance of primary research in uncovering lesser-known stories.
  
  
• Katie Delmez, Senior Curator of The Frist Art Museum, emphasized the importance of exhibitions in shaping public understanding and how exhibitions can be used to highlight untold histories.

• Sabina Mohyuddin, Executive Director of the American Muslim Advisory Council, shared the growing story of Nashville’s Muslim community, adding a critical layer to the city’s evolving history.

These speakers helped students think critically about how stories are told, whose voices are heard, and the role museums and exhibitions play in shaping public memory.

A few years ago, the transformative project began when HS History Department Chair Anna Stern and HS English Department Chair Freya Sachs visited the Woolworth’s downtown Nashville location after it had been converted into a restaurant. The two educators reflected on how the history of the Civil Rights Movement was being told there and whether it fully encapsulated the untold stories that could engage students in a more immersive experience. Their curiosity sparked the idea of using Nashville as a classroom — a city rich with Civil Rights history and full of stories waiting to be explored. 

For the teachers involved in this project, the goal wasn’t just to impart knowledge but to inspire critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.

“We hope they’ve learned about Nashville’s untold stories, how to think about the stories we tell, why and how, whose voices we hear,” said HS English Department Chair Freya Sachs. “We also hope they’ve learned about thoughtful research and primary sources and how to work together as a group, thinking creatively and speaking clearly in their presentations.”

Since the initial lesson, the project has expanded, and last year, the entire junior class participated in this hands-on learning opportunity. By connecting with historical sites, local experts, and primary sources, students dug deep into the city’s history and pitched ways to memorialize and honor these hidden stories.

After the panel, the students embarked on a field trip to key Civil Rights sites around Nashville, gaining inspiration and firsthand experience with the ways the city is remembering its past. The group visited several significant locations, including:

• The Tennessee State Museum, where students explored exhibits showcasing the state’s rich history in a brand-new space downtown.
• Historic Nashville Courthouse, home to the Witness Wall, a place where visitors can reflect on the struggles and triumphs of Nashville’s Civil Rights Movement.
• Woolworth’s, now a restaurant, but once a site of peaceful protests during the 1960s lunch counter sit-ins, which marked a pivotal moment in Nashville’s role in the Civil Rights Movement.
• The Reading Room at the Nashville Public Library, a space steeped in history where students could delve into books and media related to the era.

This experiential component allowed students to connect with history viscerally, not just as passive learners but as active participants in the process of memory-making.

After their field trips, the students were tasked with developing a project that could memorialize an overlooked aspect of Nashville’s Civil Rights history. They were encouraged to think creatively and present their ideas to their peers during Community Time. The students embraced the challenge, which resulted in a variety of unique and thought-provoking ideas that shed light on Nashville’s overlooked heroes.

Here’s a glimpse of some of the students' proposals:

Saawan Duvvuri ’26, Afolabi Ajayi ’26, and Sophie Oliver ’26 recommended creating a Jefferson Street Festival, a vibrant celebration of the businesses and culture that once thrived on Jefferson Street, reconnecting the community with its Civil Rights roots.

Madison Womack ’26, Bryce Cochran ’26, Libin Abdulle ’26, and Isaac Fulton ’26 pitched a project highlighting Nashville’s underrepresented music scene. Their mural would showcase not only famous artists but also those who have shaped the city's musical legacy in often-overlooked ways. 

Wyatt Block ’26, Cody Farr ’26, Christopher Nichols ’26, Jacob Nichols ’26, and Mario Tedeschi ’26 suggested restoring the Tennessee State Prison lobby as a museum, teaching visitors about the importance of human rights, particularly the rights of prisoners, through the story of the prison’s troubling history.

Each group presented its ideas with enthusiasm and conviction, showing a deep understanding of Nashville’s history and the importance of telling these stories in new and creative ways.

Through this experience, students also gained valuable lessons in how history is preserved and how communities can come together to memorialize the past in ways that resonate with future generations.

This Civil Rights lesson allowed juniors to reflect on how to tell the stories of Nashville’s past and think about their role in shaping the future. As these students continue their journey of discovery, they are helping ensure that Nashville’s untold stories are no longer forgotten but remembered and honored for generations to come.