Radical Volunteers: Dissent, Desegregation, and Student Power in Tennessee

Radical Volunteers explores southern student activism in Tennessee between the Brown decision in 1954 and the Kent State University shootings in May 1970, broadening scholarly understanding of New Left and Black student radicalism. It reveals that students joined organizations and became activists to assert their autonomy and student power became a rallying cry across the state. It situates campus activism within their broader communities and reveals disjuncture as much as coherence in the movement. Despite being outnumbered, Tennessee student activists secured significant campus reforms, pursued ambitious community initiatives, and articulated a powerful countervision for the South and the United States.

Format: Hardback
Length: 277 pages
Publication date: 01 May 2024
Publisher: University of Georgia Press

Radical Volunteers: The Untold Story of Southern Student Activism in Tennessee
Radical Volunteers: The Untold Story of Southern Student Activism in Tennessee is a groundbreaking study that sheds light on the largely unknown history of student activism in the state between the Brown decision in 1954 and the national backlash against the Kent State University shootings in May 1970. As one of the first statewide studies of student activism, it broadens our understanding of New Left and Black student radicalism beyond its traditional hotbeds in the Northeast and the West Coast.

By incorporating accounts of students from both historically Black and predominantly white colleges and universities across Tennessee, Radical Volunteers places events that might otherwise appear random and intermittent into conversation with one another. This methodological approach reveals that students joined organizations and became activists in an effort to assert their autonomy and, as a result, student power became a rallying cry across the state.

Katherine J. Ballantyne, the author of Radical Volunteers, illuminates a broad movement comprised of many different sorts of students—white and Black, private and public, western, middle, and east Tennesseans. Importantly, Ballantyne does not confine her analysis to just campuses. Indeed, Radical Volunteers also situates campus activism within their broader communities. Tennessee student activists built upon relationships with Old Left activists and organizations, thereby fostering their otherwise fledgling enterprises and creating the possibility for radical change in the politically conservative region.

However, framing student activism over a long period of time across Tennessee as a whole reveals disjuncture as much as coherence in the movement. Though all case studies contain particular and representative features, Tennessee's diversity lends itself well to a study of the movement's complexities.

One of the key findings of Radical Volunteers is the role of student activism in challenging the status quo and promoting social change. Students from both Black and white colleges and universities participated in protests, sit-ins, and other forms of activism, demanding greater access to education, civil rights, and social justice. They also worked to address issues such as poverty, racism, and environmental degradation.

Despite the challenges they faced, student activists in Tennessee were successful in achieving many of their goals. For example, they helped to desegregate public schools, establish community health clinics, and pass legislation to protect workers' rights. They also played a significant role in the civil rights movement, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Selma to Montgomery March.

However, student activism in Tennessee was not without its challenges. The state's political climate was often hostile to student activism, and many students faced harassment, arrest, and even violence. The state's educational system was also segregated, and many Black students were denied access to quality education.

Despite these challenges, student activism in Tennessee continued to grow and evolve. In the 1960s, students became more involved in the anti-war movement, and they played a significant role in the protests against the Vietnam War. In the 1970s, student activism continued to grow, and it became more diverse and inclusive.

One of the key factors that contributed to the growth of student activism in Tennessee was the presence of a strong network of student organizations. These organizations provided students with a platform to organize and mobilize, and they also provided them with resources and support. Some of the most prominent student organizations in Tennessee included the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the Student Peace Union (SPU), and the Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC).

SNCC was a civil rights organization that was founded in 1960 by students from the University of Mississippi. It was one of the most influential organizations of the civil rights movement, and it played a significant role in the desegregation of public schools and the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. SPU was a student peace organization that was founded in 1965 by students from the University of California, Berkeley. It was one of the most prominent student peace organizations of the 1960s, and it played a significant role in the anti-war movement. SEAC was a student environmental organization that was founded in 1970 by students from the University of Tennessee. It was one of the most prominent student environmental organizations of the 1970s, and it played a significant role in the fight against environmental degradation.

In addition to student organizations, student activism in Tennessee was also influenced by a number of other factors. These factors included the influence of the Black Power movement, the rise of the feminist movement, and the impact of the Vietnam War.

The Black Power movement was a social and political movement that emerged in the 1960s in response to the oppression and discrimination faced by Black Americans. It was led by a number of prominent figures, including Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks. The Black Power movement was characterized by its emphasis on self-determination, black pride, and social justice.

The rise of the feminist movement was a social and political movement that emerged in the 1960s in response to the oppression and discrimination faced by women. It was led by a number of prominent figures, including Betty Friedan, Gloria Steinem, and Bella Abzug. The feminist movement was characterized by its emphasis on gender equality, reproductive rights, and social justice.

The impact of the Vietnam War was a significant factor in student activism in Tennessee. Many students were opposed to the war, and they participated in protests and other forms of activism to bring an end to the conflict. The war also had a significant impact on the economy, and many students were concerned about the impact of the war on their future.

Despite the challenges that student activists faced, student activism in Tennessee continued to grow and evolve. In the 1980s, student activism became more focused on economic issues, and it played a significant role in the fight against the privatization of public education. In the 1990s, student activism became more focused on environmental issues, and it played a significant role in the fight against climate change.

In conclusion, Radical Volunteers: The Untold Story of Southern Student Activism in Tennessee is a groundbreaking study that sheds light on the largely unknown history of student activism in the state between the Brown decision in 1954 and the national backlash against the Kent State University shootings in May 1970. By incorporating accounts of students from both historically Black and predominantly white colleges and universities across Tennessee, Radical Volunteers places events that might otherwise appear random and intermittent into conversation with one another. This methodological approach reveals that students joined organizations and became activists in an effort to assert their autonomy and, as a result, student power became a rallying cry across the state. Katherine J. Ballantyne's book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of student activism in the United States.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780820366371