In 1848, the African American congregation in First Baptist Church on Broadway requested separate space for worship.

Thirty years later, another division occurred and the church split into Spruce Street Baptist Church, who would meet on North Spruce Street in East Nashville, and First Colored Baptist Church, who would meet on 8th Avenue North.

[2][3] James Lawson began doing workshops about non-violent civil protest there in 1958.

Smith had previously help found Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).

[5] Many prominent Nashville activists participated in Lawson's classes: Diane Nash, Bernard Lafayette, James Bevel, and John Lewis.