Fisk/Meharry in Nashville in Davidson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Bombing of the Z. Alexander Looby Home

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, March 12, 2022

1. Bombing of the Z. Alexander Looby Home Marker

Inscription. Z. Alexander Looby (1899-1972) was a prominent civil rights lawyer from the late 1930s until the late 1960s. He also served on the Nashville City Council and the Metropolitan Council. In the pre-dawn hours of April 19, 1960, during a boycott of white-owned businesses to protest segregation in Nashville, this house, occupied by Looby and his wife, Grafta, was bombed. They survived, but later that day, in solidarity with the Looby family, approximately 3,000 civil rights activists, including many students from the city's four Black colleges and universities, marched on the Davidson County Courthouse, By June, the seven downtown Nashville stores originally targeted with sit-ins and other protests desegregated their lunch counters. Concern over the bombing of the Looby residence and the economic boycott helped achieve that result.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 3A 218.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Law Enforcement. In addition, it is included in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and the Tennessee Historical Commission series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is April 19, 1960.

Location. 36° 10.085′ N, 86°

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48.514′ W. Marker is in Nashville, Tennessee, in Davidson County. It is in Fisk/Meharry. Marker is on Meharry Boulevard east of 21st Avenue North, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2010 Meharry Blvd, Nashville TN 37208, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Dr. Harold Dadford West, Sr. (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Nashville Student Movement Office (about 400 feet away); Meharry Medical College and the United Methodist Church (Worship of God through service to mankind) (about 400 feet away); Looby Bombing (about 400 feet away); Citizens Savings Bank and Trust Company (about 600 feet away); Pearl High Athletics (about 600 feet away); Donley Harold Turpin, D. D. S. (about 700 feet away); Dr. D.B. Todd, Jr. (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nashville.

More about this marker. Front side of marker obscured by shrubbery.

Additional commentary.
1. Acknowledgement
Thank you to Linda Wynn of the Tennessee Historical Commission for providing the text of the front of the marker.

— Submitted April 13, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, March 12, 2022

2. Bombing of the Z. Alexander Looby Home Marker

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 5, 2020

3. Bombing of the Z. Alexander Looby Home Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 9, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 674 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 12, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 3. submitted on April 9, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.