I immediately fell in love with Bluff City on a recent trip to Memphis, Tennessee. For years I imagined the spirit of the home of the blues that I’d only read about in books or heard on television. I was giddy about getting to experience it all in person and excited about being where so many firsts in life occurred.
Through my earliest interactions on the trip, it was clear that Memphis is a proud city. Memphians show enormous respect for their roots and the city’s history. Moreover, they embrace their past and allow it to shine through music, history, and art. Some great people created real change for this world in this town, and their souls live on through the streets. I got chills seeing the exact locations and buildings where dramatic influence transpired.
The National Civil Rights Museum
Touring the National Civil Rights Museum felt like an out-of-body experience. Of course, I’ve read about the civil rights movement and watched documentaries, but being there changed me. While standing where Dr. Martin Luther King gave his speech, looking up at the large white wreath outside his hotel door, I could visualize the crowd on the lawn.
The museum envelops you in a past that when times were heinous, so many people demonstrated bravery and strength. With tear-filled eyes, I walked about each exhibit, listened, read, and wondered if I would have had the same hope.
I recommend carving out a few hours to tour the museum and give each piece the respect and time it has earned.
Sun Studio: Where Elvis Made His First Record
A visit to Sun Studio is a lesson in music and determination.
No one ever said making it big was easy and getting there takes more than talent. The enthusiastic tour guide shared how a young Elvis Presley would eagerly show up to record, with little regard from the producer, Sam Phillips. Moreover, we learned Phillip’s secretary, Marilyn Keisker, discovered Elvis. Apparently, she and her well-trained ear were responsible for some of the best of the best of that era.
Additionally, we got to see where artists like Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King, Ike Turner, and Roy Orbison recorded some of their first songs. The music lover in me was awestruck; I felt like a five-year-old at an amusement park. It is truly exceptional that the city maintains this tourist attraction as it gives us the inside scoop and an appreciation for the musicians whose legacy will forever live on.
Beale Street: Home of the Blues
Did somebody say music? We were in Memphis for a whole day before I saw Beale Street. I knew it was on our schedule, but I was anxious for the experience. So, on our way home from a fabulous dinner at the famous Peabody Hotel, we strolled about, listening to the sounds of rhythm and blues coming out of every door you could see. The energy was overwhelmingly immense; it took me a while to sleep that night as I was hyped up and ready to keep going.
We spent some time at B.B. King’s Blues Club another day and got to kick back, take in the vibe, and let the music take us away. One of the guitarists on stage was just inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There is some serious musical talent in Memphis, currently and from days gone by.
I love how Memphis pays tribute to the past but I was just as impressed with their efforts to strengthen its future. While tradition is vital to the locals, empowering the lives of everyone living there is also a priority. The city recognizes social and cultural issues, as well as hardships, in particular with their youth. Every person I spoke to was 100% in on providing outlets, education, skills, and awareness of existing problems.
Church Health: Supporting the Whole Person
For a reality break from tourism, we visited Church Health, a faith-based nonprofit healthcare organization, at Crosstown Concourse, a few miles from downtown.
Church Health focuses on the whole person by offering medical, dental, vision, nutritional education, and behavioral health, primarily to uninsured individuals and families with social and economic challenges. In addition to learning about their services, we got to partake in meal preparation, another essential part of the program. Cooking together was great fun, and knowing that the food we made would feed 50 patients was rewarding.
The work at Church Health is highly commendable and largely depends on volunteers. I couldn’t help but feel humbled by their achievements. It was indeed an honor to be hosted by them.
Cxffeeblack: Reforming the Coffee Trade
Did you know that coffee is not a bean but a seed from African fruit? Coffee is a massive global industry worth 460 billion dollars per year. Still, we learned that less than 1% of this revenue returns to people of African descent.
Cxfeeblack is a coffee club experiment that embraces anti-gentrification, and through history and art, they strive to reduce ongoing inequalities in the coffee trade. The movement enlightens people about the seed’s origin and empowers those living and visiting the city of Memphis. It’s also an educational tourist attraction that draws attention to bettering the community.
Moreover, Cxfeeblack serves enjoyable, delicious coffee without hiding behind cream and sugar. It inspired me to change they way I drink coffee. Admittedly I love my flavored creamers, but the pure goodness from various spices and honey was a pleasant change.
Black Seeds Urban Farms: Food for All
An impromptu stop at Black Seeds was a welcome addition to our Memphis adventure. We met the founder while having drinks at the Inkwell the night before, and he invited us to stop by the community farm. Who said important business can’t get done over cocktails?
Black Seeds is a local food movement providing fresh grown, non-toxic produce to the neighborhoods. The farm is a space for people to come and pick what they need, hang out and help, or just sit and enjoy the peace.
The husband-and-wife duo also hosts outreach workshops on gardening for children. During our visit, a class was going on, and it was cool to see the kids having fun while they were learning. The stop was yet another lesson in building a better tomorrow.
Our visit was hosted by Memphis Tourism.
Learn about the Masters and Makers Trail in Tennessee.
To read about food and wine in Memphis, read my blog About Wine and Travel.
Last updated January 10, 2024
