Celebrating Metro Nashville Public Schools Black Excellence: Lonnell Matthews Jr.

From the Metro Nashville Public Schools:

February 1, 2021

Black History Month, originally known as “Negro History Week,” was an idea birthed from notable African Americans, including journalist and author Carter G. Woodson. The recognition was created to commemorate the historical events of the African Diaspora.

The celebratory week eventually became a month-long celebration recognized in the United States of America during the month of February. Throughout the years, the month has evolved not only to recall the past but also to visualize the potential of the present and future.

For Black History Month 2021, Metro Nashville Public Schools will explore the theme MNPS Black Excellence. The topic was selected to celebrate the achievements of African-American alumni and current students, products of Metro Nashville Public Schools, who have achieved success in their fields of work or show great promise as they move toward graduation.

We kick off our celebration of MNPS Black Excellence with Davidson County Juvenile Court Clerk Lonnell Matthews Jr., who is a 1997 graduate of Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School. Matthews, who was elected in 2018, previously served two terms on the Metro Council as the District 1 representative.

“Black excellence is knowing that culture comes from you and is influenced by you,” Matthews says. “It’s knowing that not only is there a seat at the table for you, but when you walk up to the table, any seat is available to you.”

We salute all MNPS graduates who embody Black excellence in Nashville, across the country and around the world.

This press release was produced by the Metro Nashville Public Schools. The views expressed are the author's own.