I'll Take You There: Exploring Nashville's Social Justice Sites

by Amie Thurber (Editor), Learotha Williams (Editor)

Before there were guidebooks, there were just guides--people in the community you could count on to show you around. I'll Take You There is written by and with the people who most intimately know Nashville, foregrounding the struggles and achievements of people's movements toward social justice. The colloquial use of "I'll take you there" has long been a response to the call of a for recommendations of safe passage through unfamiliar territory, a decent meal and place to lay one's head, or perhaps a watering hole or juke joint. In this book, more than one hundred Nashvillians "take us there," guiding us to places we might not otherwise encounter. Their collective entries bear witness to the ways that power has been used by social, political, and economic elites to tell or omit certain stories, while celebrating the power of counternarratives as a tool to resist injustice. Indeed, each entry is simultaneously a story about place, power, and the historic and ongoing struggle toward a more just city for all. The result is akin to the experience of asking for directions in an unfamiliar place and receiving a warm offer from a local to lead you on, accompanied by a tale or two.

300 pages, Paperback

Published May 15, 2021

Reviews

[India · Rating 4 out of 5]

My husband and I slowly went through this book over coffee in the mornings and got to learn so much about Nashville’s history. As locals, it was really rewarding to develop a greater understanding of the places that we visit often. I was also amazed by the number of businesses and organizations that no longer exist and would be otherwise forgotten.

Only giving 4/5 stars because the structure of the book made it difficult to follow the timeline of events. While grouping by area was helpful, I would have loved a timeline in the back. The structure being nonlinear was confusing at times.

[Luann]

This unique guide book focuses on the city of Nashville and its outlying neighborhoods. It is not a book you read for enjoyment or entertainment. Because I was reading it as a bookclub selection, I did read it cover to cover, but I would recommend that it be read in this way. Instead, I suggest reading it in its intended form, as a guide book. Plan outings to the different areas and with each outing read the descriptions of the sites you intend to visit that day ahead of time. Once at the site, try to feel the emotions of those whose lives were altered either for better or worse as a result of the place and/or events being remembered.

[Ray Holloman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Nashville local, this book really hits home. While reading this book so many of these locations I have visited and walked through so many time. It shows how Nashville has has such an impact on the social justice movements and how so much of our history has been torn down. I would have never known about some of the impacts that local areas had because it has been erased. Anyone wanting to learn about the impact of Nashville should read this book.

[Ashley Blankinship · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very educational. I learned so much about Nashville that has definitely changed the way I look at this city. It is so helpful for me at my job at the Nashville Visitor Center. The book definitely has a left lean on just about everything. Still educational nonetheless. Would definitely recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about Nashville and Tennessee as a whole.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t want to be a tourist in the city I’m calling home, but I do have a lot of catching up to do. I enjoyed this less sanitized list of sites and the book has guided my weekends for the past few months.

[Peg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trying to learn more about my new hometown. This book has a lot of info about local spots that are related to the fight for racial equality. Very interesting!