Highlander Folk School, legendary civil rights training center, battles to reclaim Tennessee land

The historic library on the former grounds of the Highlander Folk School, where civil rights leaders like Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. once spoke, is at the center of a heated property dispute in Grundy County. The state confiscated the land in 1961, but now a nonprofit, Tennessee Preservation Trust, owns part of it and is in talks to sell to a for-profit owner of a concert venue. Highlander, which had its offer rejected, is furious and questions the motives behind the sale. There are concerns of conflict of interest and lack of transparency in the deal, with accusations of racism thrown into the mix. The future of the Highlander site remains uncertain, as different parties vie for control. The story traces back to the school’s pivotal role in the civil rights movement and the ongoing fight to preserve its legacy. Though the fate of the property is in question, the Highlander Center’s impact is seen as lasting, regardless of who ultimately owns the land.

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Photo credit tennesseelookout.com