Honoring the 'generous, fearless and principled' Diane Nash

LeBron Hill, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read
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Good morning, fam!

I hope everyone had a great week and is eager to begin a new one.

In recent newsletters, I've taken space to write on the legacy of John Lewis, a man I believed Nashville almost forgot.

But I would be foolish not to add Diane Nash to that distinction. Nash, a mastermind of the Freedom Rides that took place in Nashville, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on July 7.

Beyond the Freedom Rides, Nash was a leader behind the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march.

Crystal A. deGregory, who was able to join the Fisk alumna in D.C. for the ceremony, describes the civil rights icon the best.

"Generous. Fearless. Principled. Immovable on what is right — no matter who is wrong," writes deGregory in her guest column. "That is why she is the greatest freedom fighter I have ever known. And that is why every American should know her name."

And even further, every Nashvillian should know her name.

President Joe Biden awards the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to Diane Nash at the White House in Washington, Thursday, July 7, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
President Joe Biden awards the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to Diane Nash at the White House in Washington, Thursday, July 7, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

May the legacy of Nash withstand the hustle and bustle of Nashville and become a blueprint for how Nashvillians should reflect their community

What else Black Tennessee Voices are talking about this week:

And with that, I'm done for this week!

I don't extend this invitation often due to my forgetfulness, but if you'd like to meet for a cup of tea or coffee, please reach out. I'm always happy to discuss the goals of BTV and what we have in store. Reach me at 615-390-3874.

Have a great weekend!

LeBron Hill is an opinion columnist and editor for USA TODAY Network Tennessee and the curator of The Tennessean's Black Tennessee Voices newsletter and Facebook group. Email him at lhill@gannett.com or tweet to him to @hill_bron or find him on Instagram at @antoniohill12. 

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Honoring the 'generous, fearless and principled' Diane Nash