Converge Media journeys back to the South: Memphis
Converge Media is back in the South on a #PartneredPilgrimage with Seattle’s Choose 180 and Sankofa Impact. We are documenting the trip as a group of nearly 30 individuals from The Emerald City experience history and culture in New Orleans, The Mississippi Delta, Memphis, Selma, Montgomery, and Atlanta along the way, the group will meet with and learn from Civil Rights foot soldiers and activists working in their communities today.
We will be documenting our film crew’s experiences in each city as we go. Stay tuned for updates on the film.
#SankofaImpact #ichoose180 #BlackHistory #SharedHistory #Seattle #freedom #BlackLivesMatter #BlackHistoryMatters #collectiveliberation #BlackMediaMatters #WWConvergeDay 2 #ConvergeOnTheRoad
The Stax Museum of American Soul Music
Our first stop was at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. This museum, on the site of Stax Records (one of the premiere Soul music labels in the country), features a look at the history of Soul and it’s impact on American culture. The museum is also attached to the Stax Music Academy, which focuses on engaging the next generation in the tradition of Soul.
Lunch time at The Four Way
The Four Way is a Memphis staple, serving soul food to locals and celebrities alike since 1946. During the visit, the group heard from owner Patrice Thompson and her husband Jerry as well as their daughter Joelle. The restaurant also was the last place Martin Luther King Jr. at prior to his assassination at the Lorraine Motel.
The Lorraine Motel
Our next stop was the Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King Jr. was shot. The Motel, which is now closed to the public, is attached to the National Civil Rights Museum. The exterior is preserved exactly as it was on April 4th, 1968 - the day of King’s assassination. The Choose 180 group explored the site and surrounding exhibits, and paid their respects to Dr. King.
Makeda’s Cookie
The Converge team paid a visit to Makeda’s Cookies, a legendary Memphis spot and the site of Young Dolph’s murder on November 17th, 2021. He was known as one of the hottest rappers on the scene from Memphis but to his community he was much more than that. Young Dolph would go to the South Memphis Athletics Ministries to donate turkeys to families in need annually. He also mentored young adults and teens often talking about their possibilities to further their education.
Beale Street
We ended the day on Beale Street, taking in Memphis’s famous nightlife. We ate at B.B. King’s Blues Club before exploring the street and checking out the historical markers along the way. The street was home to many of the first Black businesses in Memphis, including Hooks Brothers Photography and the Jackson Drug Store.
