Oakland neighborhood, Knoxville, Tennessee facts for kids

The Oakland neighborhood in Fountain City, Tennessee, which is now part of north Knoxville, Tennessee, was once a small community where most residents were African American. It was located south of Tazewell Pike and west of Beverly Place and Beverly Road. This area had its own unique history, especially concerning schools during a time when communities were often separated by race.

Oakland: A Historic Neighborhood

The Oakland neighborhood holds an important place in the history of Knoxville. It was a close-knit community that developed during a time when laws and customs in the United States kept people of different races apart. This separation, known as segregation, meant that African American families often lived in their own neighborhoods and had their own schools and businesses.

What Was Segregation?

Segregation was a system where people were separated based on their race. This happened in many parts of the United States, especially in the South. It meant that African American people and white people often had separate schools, hospitals, public restrooms, and even different sections on buses. This was not fair, and it led to many challenges for African American communities. The Oakland neighborhood was one such community that experienced life under segregation.

The Oakland School's Journey

A key part of the Oakland neighborhood was its small elementary school. This school was specifically for the African American children living in the area. For many years, it served as a central place for learning and community life.

After a long struggle for equal rights, schools in Knoxville and across the country began to integrate. This meant that students of all races could attend the same schools. Once integration happened, the Oakland elementary school was no longer needed as a separate school and was closed for some time. However, its story didn't end there! Eventually, the building found a new purpose and was transformed into a children's museum, offering a fun and educational space for all kids in the community. This change shows how old buildings can be given new life and continue to serve the public in different ways.

Life Around Oakland

While Oakland was a distinct community, it was also connected to the wider Fountain City area. Nearby, there were schools for white students, such as Shannondale, located to the north and east, and Smithwood (which no longer exists), to the north and west. The Smithwood area, near the intersection of Tazewell Pike and Jaxboro Pike, was also home to the ornate Smithwood Baptist Church. In the past, there was even a Smithwood Drugstore and a Smithwood Taxicab Service, run by a local owner named "Dub" Tipton. These details give us a glimpse into the daily life and local businesses that served the residents in and around the Oakland neighborhood.