Bessie Smith Cultural Center Presents ‘Building a Bright Future: Black Communities and Rosenwald Schools in Tennessee’
- Bessie Smith Cultural Center
- 10 hours ago
- 4 min read
New exhibit focuses on the development and legacies of Rosenwald Schools in the state
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Tyler Broome
Director of Digital Media and Museum Experience | Bessie Smith Cultural Center
423-266-8658
Debbie Shaw
Senior Curator of Archaeology | Tennessee State Museum
615-253-0144
Chattanooga, TN – June 1, 2026 – Bessie Smith Cultural Center presents Building a Bright Future: Black Communities and Rosenwald Schools in Tennessee, a new traveling exhibition, on display June 2, 2026, through July 31, 2026. Created by the Tennessee State Museum in partnership with The John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library at Fisk University, the exhibition traces the history of education for Black Tennesseans from the Reconstruction period, through the development of the Rosenwald program, and into the present day.
“Building a Bright Future highlights a powerful story of vision, sacrifice, and community investment in education,” said Paula Wilkes, President of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center. “The Rosenwald School movement transformed opportunities for generations of Black students across Tennessee and helped lay the foundation for future leaders, educators, and changemakers. We are honored to bring this award-winning exhibition to Chattanooga and provide our community an opportunity to explore this important chapter of history while reflecting on the ongoing impact education has in shaping our future.”
What are commonly referred to as Rosenwald Schools were the result of an initial partnership between Sears, Roebuck, and Co. president Julius Rosenwald, Tuskegee Institute president Booker T. Washington, and Black Communities throughout the South. Between 1912-1937, that partnership resulted in the construction of almost 5,000 schools for Black children across 15 southern states, including 354 in Tennessee. Rosenwald schools drove improvement in Black educational attainment and helped educate the generation who became leaders of the Civil Rights movement. The traveling exhibition on display at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center of five two-sided panels and includes the engaging stories of alumni and community members from 16 different Rosenwald Schools in Tennessee.
“TSM and Fisk wanted to build a more diverse and inclusive space for all Tennesseans to learn about and honor the history and legacy of Black education in the state,” said Debbie Shaw, Senior Curator of Archaeology at the Tennessee State Museum. “The resilience and perseverance of these Black communities as they strived for equal access to education is highlighted through their work with the Rosenwald School program. The legacy continues today as members from these same groups work toward the preservation of these schools and communities.”
“Our teams at the Fisk University John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library and the Forging Future Pathways Forward: Building a Portal to Rosenwald Collections for all at Fisk University project were thrilled to partner and collaborate with Tennessee State Museum,” said DeLisa M. Harris, Director of Library Services at Fisk University. “This exhibit is the first major showcase of the impact and legacy of the Julius Rosenwald Fund Rural School program in Tennessee.”
This traveling exhibit is an expansion of Building a Bright Future: Black Communities and Rosenwald Schools in Tennessee, an initiative that included a 4,000 square foot temporary exhibit at the Tennessee State Museum and a two-day symposium. The project won a 2024 American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) Leadership in History Award of Excellence and the 2024 Tennessee Association of Museums President’s Award. For more information visit: Building a Bright Future.
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About Bessie Smith Cultural Center
Located in the heart of Chattanooga’s historic Martin Luther King Boulevard district, the Bessie Smith Cultural Center serves as Chattanooga’s African American museum and cultural institution dedicated to preserving and celebrating African American history and culture through art, education, research, and entertainment. Through museum exhibitions, educational programming, community engagement, performances, and archival preservation, the Center shares stories that deepen understanding of the African American experience and its lasting impact on Chattanooga, the region, and the nation. Named in honor of Chattanooga native and internationally renowned blues legend Bessie Smith, the Center welcomes thousands of visitors annually and remains committed to inspiring future generations through meaningful cultural experiences and inclusive storytelling. Learn more at www.bessiesmithcc.org.
About Tennessee State Museum
Celebrating its 86th Anniversary in 2023, the Tennessee State Museum, located on the corner of Rosa L Parks Blvd. and Jefferson Street at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, is home to 13,000 years of Tennessee art and history. Through six permanent exhibitions titled Natural History, First Peoples, Forging a Nation, The Civil War and Reconstruction, Change and Challenge and Tennessee Transforms, the Museum takes visitors on a journey – through artifacts, films, interactive displays, events and educational and digital programing – from the state’s geological beginnings to the present day. Additional temporary exhibitions explore significant periods and individuals in history, along with art and cultural movements. The Museum is free and open to the public Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. For more information on exhibitions and events, please visit TNMuseum.org.
About Fisk University
Fisk University is a highly-ranked historically Black university, according to U.S. News and World Report, and is the oldest institution of higher learning in Nashville, Tennessee. Fisk’s outstanding faculty and students continue to enhance the University’s international reputation for academic excellence. Fisk’s scholars continue to make strides in all areas of the industry from Social Justice to the sciences. A Fisk education prepares students to become beacons in servicing the community and well-rounded leaders and scholars in their respective fields. Fisk offers more than 20+ undergraduate and graduate programs in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Clinical Psychology with a bridge Masters to Ph.D. program through a partnership with Vanderbilt University. For more information, visit Fisk.edu.
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