On Tennessee State University’s HOMECOMING day, the Intersection of 28th and Jefferson Street divides the Alumni, Family & Friends (West on Jefferson, where the TSU Signage marks entrance to the Campus) from the local Black Nashville Community, who too come out to participate in The Parade and to lay claim to this day of fun, food and fellowship (East on Jefferson). Nashville has the distinction of being the Number 2 City in America in the number of HBCUs. Second to Atlanta with 5 HBCs, we have 4; Three of which reside on the Jefferson Street corridor.
Many alumni never go past 28th at Jefferson. The campus activities are so inspiring in it’s Family oriented powerful ‘Ole Tiger Spirit’ that with such a packed schedule there is a constant movement of on to ‘The Next’ Activities. What with all of ‘The Traditions’… the “Alumni Fish Fry”; The “Pep Rally”; “Greek Show”; “50 Year Line Anniversary Celebrations”; the former “Battle of The Bands” (where prior to COVID, Aristocrat Alumni High School Band Directors brought their Bands from as Far as Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland… to after marching in the Parade they did battle in Hale Stadium —and so much more… all on the University side of 28th and Jefferson.
But for me, Homecoming Day could never be complete without a walk and fellowship down the Black Nashville side of 28th and Jefferson; among the East Nashville and South Nashville folk who join the North Nashville and West Nashville folk to make this day the largest event in the Nashville Black community. Shout out to all the Nashville Vendors who work so hard and tirelessly and give so much to the glory of this day. I see U… the generators, the putting up and taking down of Tents, Tables, Chairs. Crafting, Food buying and Preparation… for this Annual time of Inspiration, Music, Dance… You ROCK Nashville!
But to Israel United in Christ, clad in purple garments: “Your translation and transmission and representation of Bible as you stand on Jefferson street on Homecoming Day is nothing short of disrespectful of a people who have already been kept under the feet of this nation. Your misogynistic voice is a power play that holds no sway; but a divisive, destructive spirit that is mindless to even your own needs for life. Your constant use of a ‘bull horn’ in your delivery of the message you proclaim indicates your lack of knowledge of anyone else’s Faith and struggle to live.”
The loudest part of their message to the local Homecoming Vendors at the Nashville Community End of Jefferson Street began maybe about 6 years ago as a ‘Single Stop Soapbox’ —to now in 2024 having become a Five Stop soap box; scattered among this small strip Area. There is an overpowering approach as they ‘walk up on you’ with printed propaganda —Proselytizing. No sooner than you move away from one, the next man appears. They spew a very draconian style scripture aimed at the control of women; of which in all the years that I have experienced them I have yet to ever see one woman stand with them. The void of the voice of women in 2024 leads me to see them as just another ‘all male system’ of the planet. Over their ‘Bull Horns’, their message on Homecoming day centers on harassment of the women who are called out as ‘whores and sinful women’.
The music from the Vendors has now become so ‘turnt up’, to drown out the bullhorn volume. A very threatening environment has overtaken the spirit of the festivities. It is my pray that the Men of the Elks Lodge, one of the most fixed presence of community minded black men of Jefferson Street will take interest in keeping this environment free of this very disruptive and antagonizing presence of men who must find another place and time to deliver their message to the community.
It is here that the shooting occurred, killing one and injuring at least eight others. The TSU side of 28th had already been restored to normalcy as the last of the buses were pulling out from Kean Hall transporting the students downtown to the Titan stadium for the Game; which had already started by the time of the shootings on the Nashville Community end of this very awesome Day of TSU Alumni & Friends ‘coming home.’
A final word to Israel United in Christ. “How do you reconcile the killing VIOLENCE that occurred at The VERY SPOT on which YOU STOOD?”
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