Rosetta Miller-Perry — Tennessee Tribune founder, publisher and CEO, and a luminary to many local media members and social justice advocates — has died. She was 91.
The Tennessee Tribune initially announced Miller-Perry’s death.
Known for her subtle warmth, frankness and an interest in a wide range of topics, Miller-Perry was an entrepreneur and staunch advocate for civil rights. Her life's work was dedicated to ensuring the stories, achievements and voices of Tennessee’s African American community were told with accuracy and dignity, according to the Tribune's announcement.
In 1991, after being unable to secure financing from local banks, Perry invested $70,000 of her personal savings to launch the Tennessee Tribune.
Under her leadership, the newspaper grew into one of Tennessee’s largest and most influential Black-owned newspapers. The paper established a reputation as a voice for civil rights, community advocacy and support of Black-owned businesses.
The Tennessee Tribune is also the namesake of Tennessee Tribune News & Gifts, a shop with two Nashville International Airport locations known for showcasing products from Tennessee-owned businesses and helping local entrepreneurs reach new customers.
In addition to founding the Tennessee Tribune, Miller-Perry founded the Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce nearly 25 years ago. Today the chamber has more than 550 members in 14 counties.
Miller-Perry served in the United States Navy and obtained an undergraduate degree from Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis). She was among the first African American students to graduate from Memphis State more than 50 years ago.
Miller-Perry later moved to Washington, D.C., to attend Howard University Law School. Shortly after she worked for the United States Commission on Civil Rights and moved south, where she divided her time between Memphis and Nashville serving as director of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under Clarence Thomas.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
