Tune In Alert: Listen to Episode Three of Tennessee Tourism’s Civil Rights Trail Podcast
Tune In Alert: Listen to Episode Three of Tennessee Tourism’s Civil Rights Trail Podcast
Hear the Story of the Clinton 12 and Tennessee’s First School to Integrate in 1956
Listen to the stories. Photos and assets for media use only can be found here.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – July 5, 2022 – Listen now to episode three of the Tennessee Civil Rights Trail podcast. Episode three focuses on the story of the Clinton 12 and Green McAdoo Cultural Center. The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD), Travel South USA and Ingredient Creative launched the three-episode series, which features real stories from Civil Rights veterans who were there, who made a difference, and explain why what took place then is still so relevant today.
Episode three travels back to 1956 as 12 students become the first to integrate a previously all-white school in Tennessee. Hear impactful stories from members of the Clinton 12 and how that legacy is told at Green McAdoo Cultural Center. On August 20, 1956, Bobby Cain, Jo Ann Boyce and ten other Black students registered for school without incident, and it appeared integration would happen peacefully. However, by that weekend, outside agitators showed up.
“We were like on pins and needles. How are we going to be accepted when we walk down the hill?” said Jo Ann Boyce, member of the Clinton 12. “How are we going to be accepted when we go inside the school? The pledge we made is that we're going to walk down the hill, we're going to hold our heads up high, and we are going to show bravery. And that is exactly what we did.”
“You hear different people talk about it, but as far as my thoughts about it, it was a hellacious situation,” said Bobby Cain of the Clinton 12. “It was a bunch of people out there hollering and jeering and cursing going on and once you walk down that hill, now I’m going through this crowd down here and these people cursing or whatever, it was a frightening experience for me. I didn’t tell anyone that.
Hear how the town stood up against the rioters, who threw rocks, eggs and rotten tomatoes. Local law enforcement, a volunteer citizen police unit and the Tennessee Highway Patrol also protected the students.
Episode two of the podcast explored Nashville’s Civil Rights history, including at sites like the Witness Walls and Civil Rights Room at Nashville Public Library and about protestors making their voices heard and the role college students played in the movement, including Fisk University.
The podcast delved into music’s role in uniting and inspiring during the Civil Rights era, including at two of the newest sites in Tennessee along the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, including the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville and Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis. Episode one focused on Memphis’ Civil Rights history, including the role of music and radio and Dr. Martin Luther King’s work and legacy at sites like the National Civil Rights Museum.
For more information on Tennessee’s 14 stops along the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, visit www.TNcivilrightstrail.com. Travelers can also document their visits and redeem their “stamped” passports for prizes, all from their mobile device, using Bandwango. Passports are available online. Join the conversation on social media at #tncivilrightstrail.
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