By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — It has been a beacon of hope since it was part of the Underground Railroad. It has been referred to as the “freedom church”and was part of the abolitionist movement. For over 175 years this community church, as it was initially known, has provided a place to worship God and educate, empower, and uplift. This week amid a flood of activities, speakers, block parties, and ceremonies; that walk of faith and servant hood will be celebrated. Greater Warner Tabernacle A.M.E. Zion Church has a proud history. Each initial means something: African Methodist Episcopal Zion.…
Author: Vivian Underwood Shipe
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — They all came, black and white, to pay homage to the shoulders on which they stood: those unsung African American women who fought for the 19th Amendment but were left out of the pages of history. Herstory was told by prestigious African American women leaders of Knoxville at the Shades of Suffrage event held on February 29th. They all left their titles at the door as they stepped into their position as the present day Suffragist whose job it now is to protect that vote. They sang, danced, presented poetry original songs, and speeches…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — It is the 100 year anniversary of the 19th amendment. It is also the year of revelation. As the country prepares for celebrations nationwide about the victory giving women the right to vote; there is another preparation going on….the movement across the nation to finally acknowledge that African American women were part of that struggle too. Initially the races fought side by side to ensure all had the right to vote. After the 15 the amendment was passed giving all men the right; there was an intentional movement to exclude the African American women from…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — When it began it was called the National American Women’s Suffrage Association. Fast forward 100 years it is now known as the League of Women Voters All over the nation celebrations are being held to commemorate the passing of the historic 19th amendment giving women the right to vote. One of those celebrations was held at the historic Foundry in Knoxville this past weekend. Mayor Indya Kincannon opened the festivities with a proclamation naming February 14th, League of Women Voters.Day in Knoxville. The keynote speaker for the event was Dr. Katie Cahill, Associate Director…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Rick Staples was there, along with hundreds of other art lovers, sponsors, and contributors. They had come from far and wide, from New York, even as far away as Paris France . Of course they did; after all, this dream to bring the great works of Knoxville’s native son, artist extraordinare, Beauford Delaney back home, had been a dream and a goal of the art community and Knoxville Museum of Arts curator Stephen C. Wicks Delaney is considered one of the greatest American Abstract painters of the 20th century and there was great collaboration…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — This year is the 100th year anniversary of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. ALL women. That fight saw women jailed, beaten, ostracized, even force fed in that battle to obtain that right. African American women were part of that struggle and will be recognized and celebrated in a showcase to be held February 29th in Knoxville. Women leaders from across the city will sing, act, speak and dance in a celebration and awareness raising afternoon. There will also be an essay project held for grades 5th thru 12th . The…
KNOXVILLE, TN — Let Freedom Ring: Social Justice, Economic Empowerment, Love, Peace and Unity. This was the theme.for the 38th Annual King Week in Knoxville sponsored by the MLK Jr. Commemorative Commission under the leadership of Deborah Porter, Chair. Eleven events and two historical occasions drew hundreds to events around the city. Arts Tributes, performances with the Knoxville Symphony, a celebration choir, interfaith prayer services, symposiums, a race against racism and a community forum were among the many activities. The week also kicked off the 100 year celebration of the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA and the directing debut of Johnathan Clark,…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Go back and get what we left behind….this was the meaning of the African word spoken by Ronni Chandler, keynote speaker for the Knoxville Emancipation Proclamation Service held on New Year’s Day. Hosted by the Knoxville NAACP at the historic Mt. Zion Baptist Church ; the crowd who had gathered to remember the day the slaves were freed , listened as Chandler boldly and accurately broke down the history and issued a challenge. Her words were so clear and memorable, even the young people in attendance were able to repeat much of what she…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — With those three words, “Let us begin,” an historical mayoral inauguration ushered in the promise of great change in Knoxville. The inauguration ceremony was history making right from the beginning as Yassin Syrian was chosen as the Master of Ceremonies by newly-elected Mayor Indya Kincannon. Yassin, whose company, Yassins Falafel House was chosen as the nicest place in America by Good Morning America, shared his story of coming to America nine years ago with nothing and his humble beginnings of selling sandwiches on the street. He shared his story to show how the acceptance…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Ronni Chandler, Project GRAD Executive Director, stood before them with the report they had requested and with the push of a button presented a PowerPoint report that confirmed what over 1,000 people who showed up before the Knoxville School Board over a year ago in support of Project GRAD already knew, the program is making a difference in the lives of the students it serves. In April of 2018, citizens of Knoxville filled the Board of Education meeting room, the hallways, and the lawn outside the building with over 1,000 people in protest of…