CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A resolution to change the name of “Mammy Lane” to “Hattie Lane” was approved by the Clarksville City Council Thursday in a heated meeting that lasted over five hours.
Mammy Lane is part of Plantation Estates, a north Clarksville subdivision where the streets are named for characters and locales from the film “Gone With the Wind.”
An amendment by Ward 11’s Ashlee Evans passed to change the name of the street to Hattie Lane, after Oscar-winning actress Hattie McDaniel, who played “Mammy” in the film.
The amended resolution passed 9-4. Yes votes included Richard Garrett, Vondell Richmond, Dajuan Little, Wanda Smith, Wanda Allen, Karen Reynolds, Ashlee Evans, Trisha Butler and Mayor Joe Pitts. Voting no were Wallace Redd, Jason Knight, Travis Holleman and Stacey Streetman.
The resolution will go into effect on July 6.
After showing a short video documenting the history of the term “Mammy,” Ward 8 councilmember Wanda Allen said now is time for Clarksville to take a stand against racial insensitivity.
“The history of ‘Mammy’ is not something as simple as canceling culture. We’re not trying to cancel Mrs. Hattie McDaniel’s culture,” Allen said. “I stand here in front of you as a person that could be called Mammy any day at any time. It is something that Black women have dealt with. Since the movie came out, it has been protested by African-American people, and that voice was never heard. … We need to stand up and say no more, not in our city.”
Ward 4 councilmember Wallace Redd spoke against the resolution as an example of “cancel culture,” in a speech that drew several objecting points of order from fellow council members.
Redd likened offense at the term “Mammy” to his wife, who is German, to being offended by “Saving Private Ryan” or “Hogan’s Heroes.”
“It wasn’t to be xenophobic. It was there to be funny, for comedy,” Redd said. “I believe there is a movement of division in our country. We hear about diversity, but what I think we need is unity.”
He also referenced the discontinuation of six Dr. Seuss titles by their publisher and incorrectly suggested that some schools teach students to “be less white.” Redd was most likely referring to reports concerning a “Confronting Racism” course used by Coca-Cola for its employees, not a school system.
Jason Knight, a vocal opponent of the name change, took to Facebook immediately following the vote to condemn the council’s decision.
“I’m not opposed to what it was changed to as it still honors the African-American who played the character; however, my constituents didn’t want the name change,” Knight said in a Facebook post.