By Logan Langlois
NASHVILLE, TN — Music City rolled out the red carpet for local icon Diane Nash in celebration of her courage and accomplishments as a pioneering figure in the Civil Rights Movement and the dedication of the Diane Nash Metro Plaza. While attending Fisk University, Nash led several non-violent protests and lunch counter sit-ins throughout Nashville. Diane Nash’s accomplishments include the desegregation of six lunch counters in stores around the city.
It was around this time Nash rose to prominence as a leader and strategist in the student wing of the Civil Rights movement. Following the tragic bombing of civil rights leader Z. Alexander Looby’s house, Nash courageously led a group of students on a historic march up to the Nashville courthouse. It was on these steps that she confronted then-Mayor Ben West on April 19, 1960, by asking “Do you feel it is wrong to discriminate against a person solely on the basis of their race or color?”
To which he responded, “Yes.”
Steering Committee member and banquet co-chair Dr. Phyllis Qualls said this was captured by several news outlets, and four weeks later lunch counters in Nashville were desegregated.
Later, Nash would become a member of the committee that worked towards the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Dr. Qualls said she hopes the celebration inspires future young people to participate in civil rights and politics. Dr. Qualls said the Metro Plaza was meant to be named after Diane Nash years ago, but COVID-19 and other reasons delayed the effort until it was suggested again by the Nashville Metropolitan Minority Caucus. Dr. Qualls said events celebrating important figures such as Diane Nash or other Civil Rights legends bring communities together out of appreciation and respect for their sacrifices and allow citizens to reflect on their city history.
The day’s celebration began around 8:30 am at the historic First Baptist Capitol Hill Church with a press conference, then 30 minutes later progressed into a parade to the Plaza featuring high school bands, local organizations, civic leaders, and other Civil Rights icons. Dedication of the Diane Nash Metro Courthouse began at 10:00 a.m. after the parade arrived. The celebration concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony accompanied by The Fisk Jubilee Singers and two-time Grammy Nominee Ruby Amanfu. A following gala open to the public was held at the Cal Turner Center at Meharry at 6 p.m.
Dr. Qualls said she has herself been inspired by Diane Nash’s non-violent protests and was delighted when she was asked to assist by the event’s head organizer, Metro Council Member Zulfat Suara largely thanks to her being an Executive at the American Baptist College. She said she is a firm believer in Nash’s philosophy that citizen voter registration and participation in general elections for every level of government is the key to a well-run and fair society. Dr. Qualls said there is no one particular point in time in which it is more important to participate in voting, but that voting is important all the time.
Dr. Qualls said this follows the day’s additional lesson of lending yourself to action, which requires people to both speak up for what they believe in and follow it up with real action. She said it is with these lessons she encourages people to work together in building a positive world that celebrates peace.
“That’s what I hope this day is,” Dr. Qualls said. “It causes people to remember, to reflect, to recommit, and to do.”
Copyright 2024, TN TRIBUNE, all rights reserved.
