This Is Nashville
This Is Nashville
WPLN News - Nashville Public Radio
Evolving portrayals of Nashville’s Black history
50 minutes Posted Jul 8, 2026 at 6:00 pm.
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Show notes
How do we honor people who were enslaved when the enslavers are at the center of so much of our history?
For generations, Nashville’s portrayals of its Black history has lacked accuracy, as institutions have shied away from the legacy of American slavery.
Today, we look at three well-known historical sites in Middle Tennessee: The Hermitage, Fort Negley and Travellers Rest. All have made recent efforts to adjust how they portray their history — but not everyone is satisfied with the approach.
This episode was produced by Cynthia Abrams.
Guests:
Jamel Campbell-Gooch, community organizer and descendant of Esquire Hayes, who was enslaved at The Hermitage
Dr. Aisha Francis, president of Franklin Cummings Tech and descendant of Hiram and Eveline Overton, who were enslaved at Travellers Rest
Dr. Angela Sutton, Vanderbilt historian who studies Fort Negley
Eola Lewis Dance, ethnohistorian and former CEO of James Madison’s Montpelier