Tennessee Figures
Aretha Franklin
The daughter of a Baptist preacher, Aretha Franklin, who would later be known as the “Queen of Soul,” was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1942. Franklin was involved in both the civil rights and women’s rights movements: her songs “Respect” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” were considered anthems of those movements for social change.
Photo credit: PBS
Cordell Reagon
Born in Nashville in 1943, Cordell Reagon was an American singer and activist who founded The Freedom Singers of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. He was only 16 when he became a leader in the civil rights movement.
Photo credit: National Humanities Center
Patricia McKissack
Originally from Smyrna, TN, and an alumna of The Tennessee State University, Patricia McKissack was a junior high school English teacher turned author. With her husband, she penned more than 100 books, introducing children to African-American history. McKissack won multiple awards, including the Coretta Scott King Award three times.
Photo credit: Penguin Random House
Bessie Smith
Born in Chattanooga Tennessee, Bessie Smith was one of the greatest blues vocalists of all time, earning the moniker “Empress of the Blues.” Smith sang about poverty, racism, and sexism. She was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
Photo credit: Black Music Project
Young Dolph
Raised in Memphis by his grandmother, Adolph Robert “Young Dolph” Thornton, Jr., was an American rapper who started his own independent record label two years after releasing his debut mixtape. He was known for his gold records and collaborations with other artists.
Photo credit: BlackPast
Nikki Giovanni
Born in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1943, Nikki Giovanni formed her own company and published her poetry because, as she puts it, “no one was much interested in a Black girl writing what was called ‘militant’ poetry.” Decades later, Giovanni is the recipient of 7 NAACP Image Awards, a Grammy nominee, and a finalist for the National Book Award.
Photo credit: Poetry Foundation
Jenna DeVries
Chattanooga-based singer Jenna DeVries was discovered by American Idol, ultimately reaching the Top 24. Her sound is a fusion of pop, country, and Americana elements. Devries recently started the The Outlaw Collective, which raises LGBTQ+ and minority artists’ voices in the Nashville music scene.
Photo credit: NashvilleVoyager Magazine
Get Involved
Help us support justice and equality for all Tennessee students and educators.