By Logan Langlois
NASHVILLE, TN — The Jefferson Street Sound Museum hosted In Celebration of Men last weekend with two days of presentations centered around self-care and encouragement, all of which were hosted by other celebrated community members who have positively impacted Jefferson Street. The Museum’s founder and curator Lorenzo Washington said the goal of the weekend was to “support, encourage, and reflect” as men within the Black community, and to celebrate the great achievements that the young men being featured throughout the weekend have earned through passionate hard work.
“It’s a time to have positive reinforcement as far as men and particularly Black men in the community,” the Museum’s Vice President Karen Coffee said. “A lot of the time we know we’re swamped with negative information right? On the news. So, this is something very positive about these individuals coming from the community, and who are part of the community.”
Coffee said Washington had the idea for the event about four months ago and began planning immediately. She said Washington has long been a teacher, mentor, and encourager to the young men around him, and that these qualities are what largely motivated him to host the weekend of building up local Black men. Coffee said the museum wanted to leave individuals who attended the event more inclined to support each other’s businesses and efforts, as well as more willing to ask each other for advice as they navigate day-to-day struggles as a community.
“It’s important to be able to uplift individuals in your community,” Coffee said while discussing what people can do when they find themselves wanting for positive reinforcement, and not finding any around them. “When that happens you need to take it upon your own self to go ahead and uplift yourself and uplift others in your community.”
Coffee said the weekend featured several men giving presentations related to their respective fields of expertise. She said the museum featured several presentations throughout Saturday, including “Black Men in Labor and Music” by Chief Curator of the National Museum of African American Music Dr. Byan Pierce and “Black Men in the Music Industry” “Music to My Ears” by Jefferson Street Sound Museum Studio Engineer and Producer Jarrel Pierson, among several others. Coffee said the festivities continued over to Sunday afternoon as additional presentations including “The Black Man – Journeys, Crossroads, and Pathways Through Life” by Dr. Learotha Williams, professor of African American Studies at Tennessee State University, and a celebrity appearance by “Loc King” Shawn Davis with his presentation “Black Men in the Barber/Hair Care Industry.”
Coffee said selecting who they wanted to showcase throughout the weekend was not difficult as they are always looking to feature individuals and businesses who build up and promote Jefferson Street’s unique history, its present, and its future. Coffee said that the weekend’s events were the first of their kind at the museum, though citizens can expect many more as the museum plans on making the celebration an annual attraction.
Coffee said the Muse hosts celebrations at different dates throughout the year that promote Jefferson Street and community togetherness. She said these celebrations include upcoming events such as a celebration on July 27 Jimi Hendrix’s time living at Jefferson Street on July 27. Future updates regarding events at the Jefferson Street Sound Museum can be found on the museum’s website, jeffersonstreetsound.com
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