James Stahlman was the influential publisher of the Nashville Banner, a prominent daily newspaper in Tennessee. He was also a known segregationist. During the tumultuous era of the Civil Rights Movement, Stahlman used his publication to perpetuate segregationist views and oppose efforts towards racial integration.
In a deeply troubling episode, Stahlman printed the names of the African American families who registered their children to previously all-white schools as a pressure campaign. Not only an invasion of privacy, this was also a blatant attempt to intimidate those who were advocating for equal educational opportunities for all children, regardless of race.
Families were harassed by white readers and received death threats. Parents changed their minds and pulled their children in fear of violent retaliation.
By the time the first day of school integration arrived, only 19 of the eligible 120 African American families remained prepared to send their first grader to school.