A statue of Sequoyah represents Oklahoma in the National Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C. Photo from Architect of the Capitol / Flickr
Tennessee Rep. Bryan Terry (R), a member of the Choctaw Nation, calls for the addition of Sequoyah, who developed the Cherokee syllabary, to the State Capitol:
Prior to the settlement of Tennessee, the inhabitants of the land were Native Americans with Cherokee and Chickasaw being the most prominent. In fact, Tennessee derived its name from a Cherokee village named Tanasi meaning little river. Perhaps the most notable of all Tennessee Indians is Sequoyah, a Cherokee born in the village of Toskegee which is modern day Monroe County. Sequoyah was known for making the Cherokee syllabary which made it possible for the Cherokee to read and write. Following the Trail of Tears, the Cherokee Nation was fractured. Sequoyah made it his life's work to reunite the Cherokee Nation. Sequoyah was not only and educator, but a unifier. As I look at the issue at hand, I see a fractured nation with many leaders looking to create further division. I see symbols, statues and busts that have different meanings to different people. I don't look at the history of Nathan Bedford Forrest and Andrew Jackson for blame and contempt. I see them as part of the storied history of Tennessee as they provide examples of mistakes we should not repeat. As Andrew Jackson called for the removal of Native Americans, I will choose to not follow his example of intolerance and not call for the removal of the busts. I will choose to follow the example of Sequoyah. As he dreamed of uniting a splintered Cherokee Nation, I, too, dream of working to unite a nation splintered by racism, fear and intolerance. As opposed to calling for the removal of any bust, I will call for the addition of a privately funded bust or statue to the Capitol.Get the Story:
Bryan Terry: State should honor Sequoyah (The Daily News Journal 6/28) Also Today:
The controversy over Forrest and the flags (WREG 6/28)
The Man Who Saved Nathan Bedford Forrest (The Memphisi Flyer 6/28)
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