Nashville Heroes and Heroines: Unknown and Known - Robert Churchwell Sr. - The Jackie Robinson of Journalism

Nashville Heroes and Heroines: Unknown and Known will hold its first program on Oct. 21 at the Special Collection and University Archives Building, Room 200. It will be on the life and legacy of Robert Churchwell Sr., "The Jackie Robinson of Journalism." Churchwell was the first black American to write for a Southern newspaper – The Nashville Banner. In this program we will explore his early life in Jim Crow Nashville and the years that followed, attending Pearl High School; his time during World War II; and Fisk University; his family life and will end with a description of his family and challenging life as a black journalist, during the later part of the 20th century.  The program will include panelists: Robert Churchwell Jr. (son); Marisa Churchwell Smith (daughter); and Andre Churchwell (son). In addition to serving as a panelist, Dr. Andre Churchwell, senior advisor to the chancellor on Inclusion and Community Outreach for VU, will also serve as the program moderator. Collegues of Mr. Robert Churchwell Sr. will also be present to share their remembrances of his time at the Banner - Pat Embry (retired Banner News reporter) and Dwight Lewis (former editorial page editor of The Tennessean).