NASHVILLE, Tenn (WTVF) — One local college professor is on a mission to save historic black landmarks in Nashville. He says he’s worried historical buildings will come down as the city continues to grow.
Dr. Leorotha Williams Jr. knows a thing or two about history; he's a history professor at Tennessee State University. And lately, he's been taking his work home.
"I could see a little bit of the gentrification going on, I began to see buildings being torn down," said Williams.
There’s no denying the city of Nashville is changing. Williams wants to make sure black landmarks are saved during the city’s growing process.
"These buildings have value anyway but many of the spaces in Nashville have national value or international value in some instances," Williams said.
He’s talking about buildings like The Morris Building downtown. It was here where Williams says prominent African American R.H Boyd held his Christian publishing company. Williams says as a child he remembers receiving church literature from this very company.
Williams is also concerned about the survival of Henry Allen Boyd’s home on Meharry boulevard, the son of R.H. Boyd. The home, which is owned by Fisk University, was slated for demolition until Williams started a petition to save it.
"These are homes of black people who were very, very successful but their success was rooted in the black communities," he said.
He says these are homes where ideas to end segregation where made, plans to bring black universities to town and places where people dreamed to succeed.
"The contributions of African Americans to this city is such if you were to just remove them from the equation Nashville wouldn’t be Nashville."
From churches like Capers being built by some of the first successful black architects McKissack & McKissack to college dorms. Williams says the city needs to do more to help save these spaces.
"Those tangible things are much more powerful than any history lessons, much more inspiring, much more affirming."
Since moving to Nashville, Williams has started his North Nashville Heritage Project. He asks communities to take pictures of their neighborhoods so he can archive the changes.
