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For decades, government funding was withheld from historically Black public colleges and universities, such as Tennessee State University.
States across the South have grappled with the question: What could be possible if those debts were repaid?
In Episode 13, we’ll hear from our colleagues at the Tennessee Lookout and WPLN News.
Together, they produced The Debt, a reported project and podcast that traces Tennessee State University’s decades-long fight for fair funding.
You’ll hear from journalists Emily Siner and Camellia Burris, whose reporting examined an overlooked Civil Rights lawsuit, a historic merger with a predominantly white university, a dramatic student hunger strike, and a lawmaker who discovered his father’s old research on underfunding.
Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. A special thank you to Tennessee Lookout and WPLN News.
Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners:
- Black lawmakers warn constituents that proposed funding formula changes could hurt Mississippi’s HBCUs (Mississippi Today)
- Long before fights over DEI, a judge told Tennessee State University to lose its Black identity (Tennessee Lookout)
- How Rep. Harold Love secured the largest-ever funding boom for TSU — and what comes next (Tennessee Lookout)
- How much has Tennessee State University been underfunded? Here are 4 calculations (Tennessee Lookout)
Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at podcast@statesnewsroom.com
Photo: Almost since its founding after Reconstruction, Tennessee State University has fought for funding. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
