Shantytown at the Humanities Building, 1989

The student group Anti-Apartheid Coalition of Tennessee created a symbolic shantytown collection of shanties between Andy Holt Avenue and the Humanities Building in April 1989. The group had staged two protest marches in the preceding three months and had delivered a petition to President Alexander. Coalition member Amadou Janneh called the shantytown “a statement of repression in South Africa.” He also indicated that although the coalition did not have permission to establish the shantytown, their rights were protected under the first amendment. Students occupied the shanties in shifts. Dean of Students Jerry Askew indicated that while the shacks were not constructed completely in accord with policies in Hilltopics, they could stay since the construction would have been approved if permission had been sought and the town was a legitimate student demonstration.

The shanties stayed in place for three and one-half months. They were dismantled on Wednesday, July 26, with the consent of the Anti-Apartheid Coalition. Amadou Janneh said that in the preceding several weeks, the shanties and their occupants had become objects of violence, including firebombs, eggs, and rocks. He made clear that the destruction was not ordered by the administration; the group decided that the structures had become unsafe because of the attacks, so the group decided that demolishing the shantytown was the best thing to do.

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  • Title Shantytown at the Humanities Building, 1989
  • Author
  • Keywords Shantytown at the Humanities Building, 1989
  • Website Name Volopedia
  • Publisher University of Tennessee Libraries
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  • Access Date July 25, 2025
  • Original Published Date
  • Date of Last Update October 16, 2018