Tennessee Vacation

African American History in East Tennessee

4 Places to Visit | Plan for 3-5 days

African Americans have always had an important role in Tennessee. Across the state, visitors will find aspects of Tennessee influenced by African Americans in one way or the other.

Starting in Chattanooga, visit the African American Museum, emphasizing both African and African American influences on the city’s growth. While in Chattanooga, see one of the first blues greats to take blues music to the masses, Bessie Smith, a Chattanooga native. Chattanooga honored her with Bessie Smith Hall, a performance venue that also showcases her life. Visit the historic Shiloh Baptist Church, founded in 1866 by former slaves who worked 30 years to raise the funds.

Continue northeast to Knoxville and Haley Heritage Square, a tribute to Roots author Alex Haley who spent the last 14 years of his life in East Tennessee. A 13-foot statue of the author anchors the square. If you visit in June, Knoxville will show you the Kuumba Festival, featuring locals and people from Africa spotlighting the heritage of the area and the influences from across the sea. From dance to music to theater and food, the festival is as enjoyable as it is educational. Also, see the Greater Warner Tabernacle AME Zion Church, dating back to 1845. This church served as a station on the Underground Railroad which assisted slaves in escaping to freedom.

A little off the beaten path, New Market, TN houses the Highlander Research Foundation. Its predecessor was the Highlander Folk Center, where a group of activists challenged the status quo of segregation and attracted students such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks to its doors in the ‘50s.