Righting the wrong of the past

By Vivian Shipe Ben Bentley, executive director for KCDC, spoke proudly of the changes to come to East Knoxville. Photo by Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Under the watchful eye of the massive statue of Alex Haley, Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon and KCDC Director& Ben Bentley, stood at the base of the statue and made an announcement that would begin to right a terrible wrong. It was an announcement that would finally reconnect East Knoxville with the rest of the city; removing a barrier set in place more than 60 years ago when Urban renewal, or Urban REMOVAL destroyed the black community when it brought the interstate through it’s heart, built a civic coliseum in its neighborhoods, and in doing so, destroyed thousands of homes, churches and businesses from which the African American community has yet to recover. But, the winds of change have finally caught up with time. Change will come in seven stages through a federal grant of 42.6 million dollars , a Restoring Communities grant awarded from the US Department of Transportation. Along with members of city council and community leaders, several key players spoke in support of the changes that would bridge the south , north,...