Z.L., 30s, was regularly called about her son's "poor" behavior in class. She talked to her son, but went to the school to see for herself. She noticed many students being busy bodies, not just her son. The school intimated she put her son on medication. She wondered if the other parents got that same suggestion. The school was predominately white. She removed her kids.
Kat, 40s, said, "I've noticed that restaurants and bars are very rarely diverse ... there seems to be an unspoken rule about which places are for white people and which places are for black people. As a transplant to Memphis, I don't know how everyone knows these things....it's confusing."
Michael, 40s, teaches a Government class in Memphis. He feels issues with race and discrimination are better than in the 60s. However, he struggles with trying to explain to his students the words the Constitution - All Men are Created Equal - when half the men who wrote the Constitution were slave owners. He says we have come a long way but have a way to go.
Julia, 20s, has seen discrimination in the medical field. She has seen a difference in how black and white women are treated when it comes to chronic pain. Black women with pelvic pain are often told a hysterectomy is the best option. White women were often offered alternative treatments that did not involve removing their reproductive system.
L. W., 60s, says, recently, he has had no issues with racism or discrimination. However, he did say his son may have experienced discrimination when purchasing a home. His son was told all lots were a certain price, but when he wanted to buy a plot of land at the front of the community, he was told he would have to pay more. His son decided not to build a home in that development.
J.T. , 20s, new to Memphis, feels the racial problem is better. But he recalled how a church he and his wife attended left him wondering about diversity. He said in the 60s & 70s, the church split due an uptick in minority attendance. Today, the "new" church is still all white. He nor his wife no longer attend that church.
Michele, 30s. In the suburb of Cordova, a white police officer pulled her and her husband over. In the past, they had been through the area with no complications. On that day, their black friend and Michele's white husband were in the front together. Later, a friend explained the cop may have assumed they were moving drugs, and it was a routine stop. She felt the event was strange.
Mac, 40s, says, "...I once interviewed for a job that I was referred to by a white manager. I was qualified and didn't get the job, and not saying because I'm African-American, but there were no people of color in upper level of management as well... Memphis suffers ... with these issues is because of pain and ignorance from all aspects of diversity and it is still affecting today..."
Myron S., 40s, said he felt the racism and discrimination when searching for a new home. While looking for a home, the realtor often took him to different areas than the ones he requested. Areas that were predominantly white seemed harder to visit. He also felt realtors often assumed the dollar amount he would qualify for before even running his credit.
M.B., 50s, said the tension in racial discrimination is still here, but it is better than the past. She said the tension and stresses breaks up friendships. She recalled how a 10-year relationship with her African-American friend was lost because of a difference of views about words and phrases used to describe people. She feels race was at the heart of the split.
D. Lewis., 40s, born and raised in North Memphis, says he has not had to combat racism or discrimination, today. He tries to be as open minded as possible, and feels people are sometimes too quick to claim racism. He thinks if people slowed down, and asked a few more questions, they may find the situation was not racially motivated, after all.
Mary W., 50s, believes Memphis still has a problem with race and discrimination. While couponing at a local store, she and her son were subject to discrimination by an employee who she feels was racist. The employee referred to her and her son as, "you people." She reported the incident to the store manager: nothing was done. She has not been back to that store.
D.F., 30s , was pulled over by a police officer. He admits he was speeding. He was asked if he had any weapons in the car, he said yes. His gun and magazine were separated, but he was charged. He was returning from the Memphis Police Academy on the day he was pulled over. He told the officer this, it did not matter. It cost him thousands of dollars to hire a lawyer.
Deterius, 20s, does not feel Memphis has a problem with racism, today. Mainly because his generation is more open than previous generations. He's friends with people from all different backgrounds and ethnicities, and has not felt the sting of racism growing up. He attributes this to not living too much in the past.
Q.J., 40s, feels, in some ways, racism and discrimination are worse, today. She recalled one of the many issues her son experienced in school. In elementary school, he was not invited to a classmate's party. It was strange because the rest of the class was invited and this was a child her son had played with in the past. Her son attended a white, christian private school from K-12.
Jay E., 70s, says, "yes, there is still a problem with race in Memphis." He feels the problem persists due to a lack of cultural appreciation. He says we do not celebrate one another enough and we still believe in the "myth of race". He believes schools could help alleviate this problem. However, many schools' curriculum do not nurture a sense of community or connection.
E. L., 60s, feels systemic racism is real and thinks Memphis has ground to make up, from an economic viewpoint. "Memphis is one of the poorest cities in the nation, and African-Americans are affected by that poverty." If economic change is to come, those affected the most must continue to work hard, taking advantage of the prospects education brings.
Shamek W., 40s, feels the term “racial problem“ is inaccurate because problems have solutions. He looks at how many unarmed African-Americans are killed during a routine police stop (like his former student Darrius Stewart), but those who commit mass murder in churches and schools are often escorted safely to jail. He thinks racism is here to stay. He hopes he is wrong.
Marco P., 20s, says Memphis still has issues with race & discrimination. Things have improved, but it seems power is still in the hands of a few wealthy, white people. “It’s like apartheid South Africa.” He feels home ownership is an important key to financial strength. So many fell prey to predator lending scams of the early 2000s, it hurt upward mobility for many African-Americans.
Brick, 50s, says racial stereotypes about black people – men in particular - are rampant. However, he feels when African-Americans choose to move and forget the “less desirable” neighborhoods (instead of helping to build them back up) we only hurt ourselves. Africans-Americans are not only victims of racism, but sometimes they may unknowingly perpetuate it.
Chuck, 70s, an art professor, recalled a white student’s mother filing a complaint on him. She thought he put a “voodoo spell” on her son because he liked his class too much. He says racism is rife in Memphis's art world, too - from both black and white. His abstract art is often considered not black enough by various black people and not white enough by certain white people.
B.A., 40s, says she does not see racism affecting her kids, today. But while growing up, it was brutal for her. Her parents are black and white. She went to a predominantly black school in Memphis and transferred to a predominantly white school in California. In both schools she was made fun of by both groups. Straddling two worlds, she never felt accepted.
Fred K., 40s, feels he has gotten the benefit of the doubt because of the color of his skin. When he interviewed at a local hospital, he walked the entire campus without being questioned. But he saw a guard who he had passed multiple times call out to a black man to ask if he "needed help," although that man was dressed like him and looked simply like a guy there for an interview.
Cedric, 30s, owner of a landscaping business, has issues when working in some white neighborhoods. The problems come from homeowners living next to the homes of his clients. “Sometimes they come out and complain about the loudness of my lawnmower or the cut grass blowing into their yard, even after I rake it up.” He feels it would be different if he were white.
Ann, 40s, a Memphis educator, sees LGBTQ prejudice in school. “The problem is more with teachers than amongst the students. A fellow teacher purposely misgendered a student in front of the class.” The young man was a trans-boy, but the teacher refused to respect his identification by repeatedly calling him a girl. It was reported. The teacher wasn’t corrected.
James, 20s, a Barista, absolutely believes discrimination is a problem in Memphis, especially against the LGBTQ community. “I’ve been denied bathrooms, extracurriculars, on top of neglect from staff to even stop harassment.” Some doctors will not treat him and “random ass” people harass him. Although these problems exist, he feels, in some ways, we have improved.
Carter, 20s, a college student, has seen and experienced discrimination in Memphis. “In high school, I saw a black student dragged out of class for talking during quiet time.” Even though others were talking (himself included), the black student was singled out. In a “liberal” arts college, he says LGBTQ and minorities still fight for decent meeting spaces and a diverse education.
J.D., 20s, a comedian, says "Of course! But we forget because it’s not Jim Crow ... But our city...is still dealing with the after effects of the racism that was so prevalent when MLK was shot here. They blamed the Memphis bridge collapse on the BLM March a few years ago - why do you think they came to that conclusion? Because the belief that “blacks ruin our things” still runs rampant."
Mr. and Mrs. H, 80s, retirees, said their daughter was disgusted with her former employer - white coworkers seemed to receive the promotions. A coworker with a high school diploma, and who routinely needed her help, was promoted over her - she has a master’s degree. She worked there three years, but white coworkers employed for a few months were promoted over her.
