Tent City (Tennessee) facts for kids

Tent City, also known as Freedom Village, was a special camp in Fayette County, Tennessee. It was set up for African Americans who were forced out of their homes. This happened because they tried to register to vote during the Civil Rights Movement. They were also stopped from buying things they needed. Tent City started in 1960 and lasted for about two years.

Why Was Tent City Created?

Voting Rights and Evictions

In 1960, about 1,400 Black Americans signed up to vote in Fayette County. This area was very segregated, meaning Black and white people were kept separate. As a punishment, white landowners forced 257 Black sharecroppers off their farms. Sharecroppers were farmers who worked on land owned by others.

A Place to Stay: Shepard Towles' Land

A local Black landowner named Shepard Towles offered his land. He let the families who had lost their homes set up tents there. Towles said, "These people had nowhere to go. I decided to let them come in free." He also let them use water from his well. This camp became known as Tent City.

Fighting for Rights: The Civic and Welfare League

Before Tent City, John McFerren and Harpman Jameson started the Fayette County Civic and Welfare League. This group worked to improve life for Black people in the community. McFerren, Jameson, and a lawyer named J.F. Estes went to Washington, D.C. They asked the Justice Department for help. The Civil Rights Act of 1957 protected people's right to vote. But white people in the area still refused to sell food and other supplies to Black registered voters.

How Did Tent City Get National Attention?

Spreading the Word

John McFerren reached out to national newspapers. He wanted people across the country to know about the struggles of those in Tent City. Big gas companies like Gulf Oil, Texaco, and Esso refused to deliver gas to McFerren's store. The NAACP then asked people to stop buying from these companies.

Government and Union Support

Attorney General Robert Kennedy ordered the Justice Department to look into the problems in Fayette County. The AFL-CIO, a large group of workers' unions, also helped. They printed a booklet called Tent City... "Home of the Brave" and asked for donations. In 1961, trucks brought 150 tons of food and clothes to Tent City.

Help from Students and Quakers

People from across the country learned about Tent City. White civil rights supporters from Cornell University, the University of Wisconsin, and the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) came to help. This national attention helped more Black people register to vote. Eventually, Black voters became the majority in the county. However, elections were still unfair for a while.

What Happened to Tent City?

The main camp on Shepard Towles' farm lasted for about two years. After that, the people living there moved. Some went to stay with other Black families. Others moved to different parts of Tennessee.