Walking In Memphis: HuffPost’s Listen To America Tour Stops In Tennessee

Jenna Amatulli and Damon Dahlen
Updated

Memphis, Tennessee, is a city that one local described to us as “raw and diverse.” In the four days that Listen to America, HuffPost’s 25-city tour around the U.S., spent there, all that and more proved to be true.

The place is named after an ancient Egyptian city that fell into ruin, leaving in its wake monuments and traces of the influential figures who once called the place home. Like its African counterpart, this Memphis carries the weighted history of powerhouses ― in its case, Martin Luther King Jr., whose messages still echo in the ears of Americans everywhere and who was assassinated at the Lorraine Hotel, and Elvis Presley, who changed the music world irrevocably.

We listened to and chatted with locals and visitors alike at the vibrant new Crosstown Concourse. We hosted a lively discussion about economic justice in the storied Clayborn Temple, the meeting point for the sanitation workers’ strike of 1968, which King came to Memphis to support.

With sites like the temple, the National Civil Rights Museum and Graceland, Memphis has clearly not forgotten where it came from, and we will certainly not forget Memphis. Here’s what our time there looked like:

Check here to see if we’re coming to your town.

The HuffPost tour bus arrives in Memphis, Tennessee, on Sept. 17, 2017, as part of "Listen To America: A HuffPost Road Trip." The outlet will visit more than 20 cities on its tour across the country.
The HuffPost tour bus arrives in Memphis, Tennessee, on Sept. 17, 2017, as part of "Listen To America: A HuffPost Road Trip." The outlet will visit more than 20 cities on its tour across the country.
The HuffPost tour bus sits in front of the Tennessee Welcome Center.
The HuffPost tour bus sits in front of the Tennessee Welcome Center.
HuffPost staffers (from left to right: Christine Roberts, Melissa Radzimski, Emma Gray and Ja'han Jones) make their way to the bus activation site.
HuffPost staffers (from left to right: Christine Roberts, Melissa Radzimski, Emma Gray and Ja'han Jones) make their way to the bus activation site.
Emma Gray and Christine Roberts chat with guests during the HuffPost visit to Memphis.
Emma Gray and Christine Roberts chat with guests during the HuffPost visit to Memphis.
Reggie Davis, left, and Andy Nix sign up to go on the HuffPost bus.
Reggie Davis, left, and Andy Nix sign up to go on the HuffPost bus.
Ballet Memphis dancer Jared Brunson shows off some his dance moves.
Ballet Memphis dancer Jared Brunson shows off some his dance moves.
Jenna Amatulli interviews Reggie Davis, left, and Andy Nix.
Jenna Amatulli interviews Reggie Davis, left, and Andy Nix.
Jamie Harmon speaks to reporters at one of the HuffPost video stations.
Jamie Harmon speaks to reporters at one of the HuffPost video stations.
A storm descends on the bus.
A storm descends on the bus.
Staffers run to break down tents as a storm rolls in, flipping over tents and equipment.
Staffers run to break down tents as a storm rolls in, flipping over tents and equipment.
Hillary Frey helps clean up the site.
Hillary Frey helps clean up the site.
The facade of Clayborn Temple in Memphis on Sept. 18, 2017. 
The facade of Clayborn Temple in Memphis on Sept. 18, 2017. 
The HuffPost bus sits by Clayborn Temple.
The HuffPost bus sits by Clayborn Temple.
The stained glass windows of Clayborn Temple in Memphis.
The stained glass windows of Clayborn Temple in Memphis.
The inside of Clayborn Temple.
The inside of Clayborn Temple.
Sunlight reflects through Clayborn Temple.
Sunlight reflects through Clayborn Temple.
Hillary Frey introduces the "€œEconomic Justice in the City (Revisited)" event at Clayborn Temple.
Hillary Frey introduces the "€œEconomic Justice in the City (Revisited)" event at Clayborn Temple.
"Wealth is insurance against life's emergencies," says Wendi C. Thomas as she begins the panel discussion with Alex Matlock, Floyd Tyler, Jozelle Booker and Carolyn Hardy.
"Wealth is insurance against life's emergencies," says Wendi C. Thomas as she begins the panel discussion with Alex Matlock, Floyd Tyler, Jozelle Booker and Carolyn Hardy.
Floyd Tyler jokes with other panelists.
Floyd Tyler jokes with other panelists.
"We had 85 people deported [in Tennessee last month]. ... They were pulled out of their homes. It's happening in 2017," says Alex Matlock, as she speaks to the crowd about the uncertainty surrounding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and the repercussions for the Latin community in Memphis.
"We had 85 people deported [in Tennessee last month]. ... They were pulled out of their homes. It's happening in 2017," says Alex Matlock, as she speaks to the crowd about the uncertainty surrounding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and the repercussions for the Latin community in Memphis.
The crowd in attendance at the Clayborn Temple.
The crowd in attendance at the Clayborn Temple.
"No one believed a black female wanted to buy a 1,003,000-square-foot brewery," says Carolyn Hardy, as she speaks to the crowd about shattering expectations as a woman in business.
"No one believed a black female wanted to buy a 1,003,000-square-foot brewery," says Carolyn Hardy, as she speaks to the crowd about shattering expectations as a woman in business.
"People of color, like people of any other color, start businesses and they work in those businesses, day in and day out for those businesses to grow. ... All with the intention and the hope of being beneficiaries to America's promise: Prosperity for all," Jozelle Booker says to the crowd.
"People of color, like people of any other color, start businesses and they work in those businesses, day in and day out for those businesses to grow. ... All with the intention and the hope of being beneficiaries to America's promise: Prosperity for all," Jozelle Booker says to the crowd.
Madeline Faber of Memphis' High Ground News speaks during the "€œEconomic Justice in the City (Revisited)" event.
Madeline Faber of Memphis' High Ground News speaks during the "€œEconomic Justice in the City (Revisited)" event.
The setting sun in Memphis.
The setting sun in Memphis.

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Also on HuffPost

The HuffPost tour bus rolls into Oxford, Mississippi, on Sept. 15, 2017, as part of "Listen To America: A HuffPost Road Trip." The outlet will visit more than 20 cities on its tour across the country.
The HuffPost tour bus rolls into Oxford, Mississippi, on Sept. 15, 2017, as part of "Listen To America: A HuffPost Road Trip." The outlet will visit more than 20 cities on its tour across the country.
The HuffPost Tour bus pulls up in front of the Lafayette County Courthouse on it's visit to Oxford, Mississippi.
The HuffPost Tour bus pulls up in front of the Lafayette County Courthouse on it's visit to Oxford, Mississippi.
People surround the HuffPost tour bus during the visit to Oxford, Mississippi.
People surround the HuffPost tour bus during the visit to Oxford, Mississippi.
Sam Levine interviews Julia Tatum while her dog Bentley sits on the couch with them inside the HuffPost tour bus.
Sam Levine interviews Julia Tatum while her dog Bentley sits on the couch with them inside the HuffPost tour bus.
Bentley the dog visits HuffPost bus while in Oxford, Mississippi.
Bentley the dog visits HuffPost bus while in Oxford, Mississippi.
B.C. Crawford speaks with Jenna Amatulli during an interview in the Off Square Books store.
B.C. Crawford speaks with Jenna Amatulli during an interview in the Off Square Books store.
Barbie Gates, a pet nanny, takes some dogs for a ride in the back of her Volkswagon Beetle.
Barbie Gates, a pet nanny, takes some dogs for a ride in the back of her Volkswagon Beetle.
The front of the William Faulkner House in Oxford, Mississippi.
The front of the William Faulkner House in Oxford, Mississippi.
One of the typewriters of William Faulkner in Rowan Oak also known as the William Faulkner House.
One of the typewriters of William Faulkner in Rowan Oak also known as the William Faulkner House.
The phone William Faulkner received word on that he had won the Nobel Prize.
The phone William Faulkner received word on that he had won the Nobel Prize.
The outline of a book written on the walls in the William Faulkner House.
The outline of a book written on the walls in the William Faulkner House.
The William Faulkner House grounds.
The William Faulkner House grounds.
A detail of weathered wood on corner of a barn on The William Faulkner House property.
A detail of weathered wood on corner of a barn on The William Faulkner House property.
Hillary Frey introduces journalist Curtis Wilkie, who will interview Mayor Robyn Tannehill during the "What Makes Oxford Work"€ event at the Off Square Books store in Oxford.
Hillary Frey introduces journalist Curtis Wilkie, who will interview Mayor Robyn Tannehill during the "What Makes Oxford Work"€ event at the Off Square Books store in Oxford.
Journalist Curtis Wilkie asks questions of Mayor Robyn Tannehill.
Journalist Curtis Wilkie asks questions of Mayor Robyn Tannehill.
Mayor Robyn Tannehill answers audience questions at the Off Square Books store in Oxford.
Mayor Robyn Tannehill answers audience questions at the Off Square Books store in Oxford.
Journalist Curtis Wilkie listens to questions posed by audience members.
Journalist Curtis Wilkie listens to questions posed by audience members.
The audience listens as journalist Curtis Wilkie speaks with Mayor Robyn Tannehill.
The audience listens as journalist Curtis Wilkie speaks with Mayor Robyn Tannehill.
HuffPost leaves Oxford, Mississippi, with the setting sun headed for Memphis, Tennessee.
HuffPost leaves Oxford, Mississippi, with the setting sun headed for Memphis, Tennessee.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.