100 Years of Orange Mound, Memphis: America’s 1st Black Mecca

As Memphis, Tennessee recently celebrated it’s 200th birthday in May, the country’s oldest African-American neighborhood is also marking 100 years as an official part of the city of Memphis since 1919.

Before Tulsa, Rosewood, and Harlem there was ‘The Mound’

Elvis Presley, The Blues, Beale Street and even The First 48 have all become synonymous with talks of Memphis, Tennessee. Once you drive over the Shelby County line at the eastern bank of the Mississippi River not only does the landscape change, so do the demographics. The western side of the state is equivalent to another world when you compare it to the less diverse and hilly terrain of East Tennessee. But don’t let it fool you. Memphis is more than it’s stereotype of crime, poverty, and amazing barbecue, but one that includes a very important and necessary history.

Slavery, Jim Crow, and struggle are often a part of the narrative when discussing black history; A more melancholy reality to be tied to. But good ole’ Memphis is special. When you speak it’s name don’t forget to mention it included the first place that black folks could really do something for…