Tennessee's New South: Marquita Bradshaw and Her Call for Environmental Justice

Abstract

In 2020 Marquita Bradshaw became the first African American woman to win a state-wide race in Tennessee, soaring past her establishment opponents to clinch the Democratic primary for United States Senate. Throughout her campaign, Bradshaw evoked the increasingly popular progressive rallying cry "New South." Bradshaw's vision for a New South is characterized by her call for environmental justice. By speaking about her personal experience with environmental racism, Bradshaw organized a compelling campaign rooted in environmental justice and economic equity based on class solidarity. This article analyzes the powerful yet often overlooked part of Bradshaw's campaign: the religious underpinnings of her environmental justice advocacy. It also examines the historical significance of Bradshaw's use of the term "New South" and how Bradshaw interprets Memphis journalist Ida B. Wells as an inspiration for her movement.