Divided By Design: Race, Roads, and Resistance in Nashville and Memphis

Publication Date

2025

Presentation Length

Poster/Gallery presentation

College

College of Education

Department

Education, Department of

Student Level

Undergraduate

SPARK Category

Scholarship

Faculty Advisor

Mary Ellen Pethel

SPARK Session

Poster: Belmont Social Justice Collaboration

Presentation Type

Poster

Summary

The construction of Interstate 40 through Nashville and Memphis in the mid-20th century was framed as progress but instead became a tool of displacement, disproportionately harming Black communities. In Nashville, the highway cut through the thriving Jefferson Street corridor, disrupting Black-owned businesses, cultural institutions, and social networks. In Memphis, the proposed route through Overton Park sparked legal battles, culminating in the landmark Citizens to Preserve Overton Park v. Volpe case, which set a precedent for environmental and community protections in infrastructure planning.

This research examines the racialized decision-making behind I-40’s placement, the legal and grassroots resistance, and the long-term consequences for Black economic and cultural life. Drawing from newspaper archives, peer-reviewed journals, and court records, this study highlights the parallels between the Nashville I-40 Steering Committee’s unsuccessful fight and Overton Park’s legal victory, revealing how race and political power shaped the outcomes. Ultimately, this work contributes to discussions on urban renewal, environmental justice, and transportation equity.

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