Tennessee Governor Joins Stokes Nielson’s Effort to Honor Civil Rights Leader Edna Smith with Special Day of Recognition
Tennessee Govenor Bill Lee joins producer Stokes Nielson’s effort to honor Nashville’s Edna Smith with a proclamation that August 25, 2024, will be officially recognized as a day of recognition to honor the remarkable bravery and enduring legacy of Ms. Smith’s defense of dignity.
Edna Smith made history in 1921 when, at the age of 17, she defied segregation laws on a Nashville streetcar. Despite facing severe societal backlash and a significant fine for her act of resistance, Smith’s courageous stand against racial injustice played a crucial role in the ongoing struggle for civil rights. Tragically, her life was cut short at just 21 years old on August 25, 1925, due to typhoid fever, but her legacy has continued to inspire.
“The world should know that over a century ago; there was a teenager in Tennessee that, with no organization behind her, and no movement to support her; that showed the best of America by standing up for herself in the face of an overwhelming era of injustice,” Stokes Neilson says. “Her story can not only serve as inspiration to our nation’s youth, but it is a lesson to all that one individual, given courage and resolve, can change the world. Governor Lee’s proclamation marks the first official government recognition of this amazing young woman, and I can’t thank him and his office enough for helping keep Ms. Smith’s story and legacy alive.”
The official recognition of Edna Smith’s contributions comes as part of a broader effort led by Stokes Nielson, who has worked to uncover and bring to light Smith’s impactful story. Stokes was first led to the story of Edna Smith when researching a reservoir on Eighth Avenue for a music video shoot. A 2019 Nashville Public Library blog post on the reservoir featured a paragraph on a criminal court case from the early 1900s as part of a Nashville Public Library archival project; The State vs. Edna Smith.
Nielson’s research has been instrumental in highlighting Smith’s role in challenging segregation, and his dedication has been pivotal in ensuring her legacy receives the acknowledgment it deserves to ensure that her story continues to inspire for future generations.
The Proclamation from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee reads:
“I hereby confer upon Edna Smith (1904-1925), A Day of Recognition, serving as a reminder of her passionate defense of human dignity and brave stance against the injustices of that time.”In addition to Stokes’ extensive research, he has advocated for broader recognition of Smith’s contributions on a national level.
