Frist Exhibit Commemorates Nashville's Civil Rights Movement

By Amelia Zeller

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Frist Art Museum is proudly displaying an exhibit titled “We Shall Overcome: Civil Rights and the Nashville Press, 1957-1968” through Oct. 14, 2018 in its Conte Community Gallery.

The Conte Community Gallery is free to everyone, and it is located in the front section of the Frist Center at 919 Broadway. The exhibit is presented in honor of the 50^th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, which occurred in Memphis on April 4, 1968. It consists of 50 black and white photos from the Civil Rights movement in Nashville between 1957 and 1968. 

King's casket being transported from Memphis to Atlanta for burial.

First day of desegregation in Nashville schools Sept. 9, 1957.

In 1957, desegregation in Nashville schools began to take place. The exhibit also includes photos from the year that King was assassinated, and both events are among the photos in the exhibit. The Nashville sit-ins, which took place in 1960 as an effort to desegregate lunch counters in the area, are another historical event included in the photos.

Agitators attack a sit-in demonstrator at a Nashville lunch counter.

All photos in the exhibit were taken by the two daily newspapers in Tennessee at the time, The Tennessean and The Nashville Banner. The exhibit displays strong photos that helped shape the public's opinion at the time.

Although much change has come since the Civil Rights movement, these photos serve as a reminder of issues that are still relevant. Race is still a common subject in American life, and it is a good time to take another look back at the brave people who stood up for change so that we could have a more equal country.

"We always try to bring in knowledgeable exhibits that are relevant to the time," said Frist Museum Visitors Center Manager Bonnie Wells. "This exhibit is important because it refreshes the public's memory of what people have been through just for equality. It shows the passion and pain that drove the Civil Rights movement."

The Frist Art Museum hosted or will host three events related to the exhibit. At noon on April 14, there was a panel discussion titled “Voices from the Front Lines” with participants from the local Civil Rights movement.

“The pictures themselves are powerful, but nothing makes the movement more real than the first-person accounts that were given at this event,” said Wells. “No one can better express the inequality of the times than the ones who were there.”

Among those who spoke were King Hollands, Gloria McKissack, and Rip Patton.

 At 7 p.m. on April 16, there was a concert titled “Songs of Freedom” in the Frist Auditorium. The concert included spirituals from slave days, freedom songs created in the civil rights era, and the jazz that resulted from these times. This event featured performances by local artists and musicians. “Songs of Freedom” was presented with the future National Museum of African-American Music in Nashville.

Another event to be held in association with “We Shall Overcome” will be a two-day educator workshop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 19 and 20, which is open to K-12 teachers of all subjects. This workshop will allow teachers to examine the photos in the exhibit while participating in a group gallery discussion that will allow them to gather teaching materials. The event is limited to 20 educators, and registration is due by July 16. Breakfast, lunch, studio activities, materials and gallery admission will be $50 for Frist members and $60 for non-members.

It is the perfect time to view the Frist's “We Shall Overcome” exhibit because the country is still very conscious of race relations. Those who inspired through the stormy Civil Rights era deserve recognition, and these powerful photographs take individuals from 1954 to 1968 with a whirlwind of emotions provoked by the images of the times.

The Frist Art Museum has a vision to inspire people through art to look at their world in new ways, and this exhibit brings that vision to life. Regardless of skin color, individuals can benefit humanity by learning of the heroism of people from the past and learning more about things that are important.

For more information, visit www.Fristartmuseum.org. 

Former Deputy Assistant Director of the Secret Service Speaks at Motlow Smyrna

By Anthony Czelusniak

Motlow Buzz Staff Writer

         SMYRNA, Tenn. – Former Deputy Assistant Director of the Secret Service Lynda R. Williams spoke at Motlow’s Smyrna campus, discussing her career and personal life for Black History Month.

         Williams is a 28-year veteran of the Secret Service. She retired in 2017 and resides in Middle Tennessee, teaching criminal justice at Middle Tennessee State University. She takes the opportunity to speak at colleges and other events to help spread her message.

         Williams’ speech at Motlow focused on the ideas of individuality and not conforming to the ideals and beliefs others may have.

         “I may not be the orator the Dr. [Martin Luther] King was or have the prominence and wealth of Oprah, but I still am somebody," she told her audience. "I don’t let others define me. We need to claim ownership of what others say about us and what we don’t like about ourselves. Be the best me I can be.”

         When she was promoted to a special agent, she received some backlash against her promotion but did not let that dissuade her.

         “I did not need to be small or petty, and act like them," she added. "I returned any negatives with positives, and I let my light shine.”

         Williams also spoke about working a demanding job and having a family. Because of her position as special agent, she was assigned to advance teams. These teams would arrive at locations where the president or vice-president were going to visit, and arrange for security, lodgings and other logistical matters weeks in advance. This led to her not seeing her then husband or daughter more than once or twice a week.

         “I’d land at the airport on a Saturday, drive home to spend time with my daughter and husband, and then drive back to the airport to return to my duties,” Williams explained, “but the special agent in charge was kind enough to use his credentials to let me use the phone on the airplane for a few minutes each night to talk to them.”

         While on assignment in South Africa, Williams was fortunate to meet with Nelson Mandela on multiple occasions.

         “It was the highlight of my career to meet Nelson Mandela," she said. "He was so kind, inspiring and larger than life.” 

         While she was assigned to South Africa, she brought her daughter with her to let her experience more of the world.

         “There’s a whole other world out there,” Williams explained.

         She has traveled to almost every state in the country as well as a large amount of European, Asian, and South American countries. She considered this travel to be one of the best parts of her job.

         “I’m so blessed to be able to see the things I do,” she said, adding, “plus I’m getting a paycheck to do it.”

         Williams concluded her speech with a story of how she met Maya Angelou. While Williams was unable to get a picture with Angelou, she did receive a personal letter from the famous poet, singer and activist. The note concluded with a passage from the poem “Still I Rise” by Angelou. Williams concluded her talk with a similar message.

         “In spite of others, you too can rise.”

         Williams began her career in 1988 as a uniformed officer at the White House after answering an ad in the newspaper created by the Secret Service. After three years, she was promoted to a special agent and investigated financial crimes such as counterfeit and fraud. In 1997, she was assigned to the Vice Presidential Protective Division.

         In 2003, Williams was promoted assistant to the special agent in charge of the Washington Field Office. This was the first time an African-American woman was promoted to a supervisory role in a major field office. In 2008, she was promoted to secret service attaché of South Africa, where she oversaw operations in Sub-Saharan Africa, West Africa, and the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

         She returned to Washington in 2011 and was appointed to special agent in charge at the Office of Congressional Affairs. Williams was appointed to the Senior Executive Service as the deputy assistant director of the Office of Human Resources in 2015. In this role, she served as the chief security officer, developing, implementing and managing the agency’s programs and strategies.