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African American History & Culture - Since 1975

BECK CULTURAL 
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The Second Balcony: The African American Experience at the Bijou Theatre

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24TH

6-7:30 PM

BIJOU THEATRE

Short Description

Discover Knoxville’s hidden history through The Second Balcony, a beautifully crafted book exploring the Bijou Theatre’s role in Black entertainment and community life. With rare photos, powerful stories, and a foreword by Rev. Reneé Kesler, this 91-page volume is a must-have for history lovers and Bijou fans alike.

 

 

About the Book

Experience the Bijou in a new way through The Second Balcony, a powerful book by historian Jack Neely. Commissioned by the Bijou Theatre, this beautifully designed volume invites readers to see the theater’s history from a different perspective, revealing its role in Black entertainment and community life in Knoxville.

 

From segregated seating in the “second balcony” to the many legendary Black artists who graced the stage, The Second Balcony sheds light on untold stories of resilience, artistry, and cultural pride. The book includes rare archival photographs, newspaper clippings, and firsthand accounts that bring to life over a century of Knoxville’s Black performance history.

 

With a foreword by Rev. Reneé Kesler of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, this 88-page book is both an important piece of scholarship and a tribute to the generations of African Americans who shaped the Bijou’s legacy.

 

Perfect for history enthusiasts, music lovers, and anyone who cherishes Knoxville’s cultural heritage, The Second Balcony makes a meaningful addition to your library or a thoughtful gift.

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“I think you’re right that we’re doomed to repeat tragedies until we all learn more from our history. More light needs to be shined on the history of our Black communities.”
Harrison Boyd, Knoxville, TN

Beck Museum

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Lynching Scene
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Loki Mulholland

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Truth Must Be Told
Watch
A Statement from Beck was issued after Mr. George Perry Floyd, Jr., an African American unarmed man, was killed after being publicly tortured for 8 minutes and 46 seconds by police in Minneapolis on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2020. 
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WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT BECK
 

NIKKI 
GIOVANNI
Author, Poet, Educator &
Native of Knoxville, TN

“I was so inspired by the stories and the history shared as well as all the wonderful work that Beck is doing. A very special day that gave me strength in our journey for racial justice.”
Felicia Gustin, Berkley, CA
“It is with hope for real change, I'm sending this check. Hopefully, we will begin to move toward justice."
Nancy Lindemer, Knoxville, TN
"We endeavor to be part of the solution and wish to partner with the Beck to do our part. Please count on us to provide support to all people of color facing cancer and in any other way that helps our community move forward.”
Beth Hamil, Cancer Support Community of East TN
"I had a wonderful time visiting the Beck Cultural Center! Thank you so much for sharing the wonderful black history of Tennessee.”
Shayla C. Nunnally, Ph.D., Manchester, CT

Over 200 Years of History & Culture

Maurice Franklin Mays

August 30,1919, the race relations climate in Knoxville took a bloody turn and the city became one of the “Red Summer” cities during a time when race riots were erupting all across the nation. Maurice F. Mays, a handsome black man born around 1887, was accused of murdering a white woman and Knoxville erupted in violence. 
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@ The Beck

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