Blacks in Tennessee, 1791-1970

While black men and women have played important roles in Tennessee's growth and history; slavery, caste, and segregation have forced them to live apart and to create a separate history. In this historical analysis, Lester Lamon offers an understanding of the history of black Tennesseans, recognizing that they have been both a part of and apart from the developments affecting the dominant white population of the state. The different economic priorities, political loyalties, and racial populations evident in the three ';Grand Divisions' of the state have created superficial differences in the historical experiences of blacks in the three regions. Intrastate competition has reinforced these sectional differences, but a common factor found in the black experience has been a racial ';givenness'the idea that blacks should not expect equality or free association with whites. Tennessee's black history is not one of a surrender to racial pressure, but, instead, is a story of courage, sacrifice, frustration, and dreams of freedom, equality, and respect for human dignity. Blacks in Tennesseeprovides a necessary and culturally enriching addition to the traditional history of the state.