Black History

In celebration of Juneteenth, a new mural honoring Black country music artists was unveiled on June 19 at the site of the former Vanderbilt Printing Services building. The mural, created by local artist Elisheba Israel Mrozik, draws inspiration from stories and history featured in Vanderbilt professor and award-winning songwriter Alice Randall’s latest book, My Black Country. Read More

A partnership of the Metro Nashville Historical Commission, Vanderbilt University and Washington Junior High School alumni succeeded in erecting a historical marker honoring the school where it once stood. The marker, at the intersection of 25th Avenue North and Morena Street, was a celebration of the effort to honor Black history in Nashville by preserving the legacy of the school. Read More

Vanderbilt University Press has launched a new trade series, Global Black Writers in Translation, which will publish a variety of texts by authors of African descent translated from their source languages into English. The goal is to amplify a body of writing that introduces anglophone readers to the range and complexity of Black literary and cultural production, history and political thought. Read More

Vanderbilt’s 2020 celebration of Black History Month included lectures, off-campus trips, community events and more to celebrate and reflect on the history, impact and contributions of African Americans throughout the country’s history and at the university. Read More

More than 200 people gathered in front of Vanderbilt University’s Memorial Gym Feb. 22 for the dedication of Perry Wallace Way, the portion of 25th Avenue South recently named in honor of Vanderbilt trailblazer and Nashville native Perry Wallace, the first African American to play varsity basketball in the Southeastern Conference. Read More

Vanderbilt Divinity School will display work by artist Michael McBride as part of “Arts in Black History Month.” The exhibit “Intimate Conversations: An Introduction to New Works" will be in the Art Room at the Divinity School through March 14. Read More

Lessons from the 1961 Freedom Rides and their relevance to today’s racial justice protests were discussed by alumnus and author Eric Etheridge and rider Rip Patten during a recent campus visit. Read More

The Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center unveiled its first class of Legacy Pioneer portraits. The 10 portraits, which were painted by James Threalkill, BS’79, will hang in the Study Lounge inside the Black Cultural Center. Read More

Once a vibrant corridor of live music venues and recording studios, Jefferson Street launched the careers of many iconic blues, R&B, jazz and soul artists. Read More

It's been 50 years since eight African American students first enrolled as undergraduates at Vanderbilt. The university is marking this and other milestones with a new website and with banners displayed in a central location on campus. Read More