Sordid Historical Facts About Slavery in Memphis

[kangarunner]

More Reasons Why You'll LOVE MEMPHIS!

1. Memphis Was a Major Slave Trading Hub

Before the Civil War, Memphis was one of the largest inland slave markets in the South. The city’s central location on the Mississippi River made it a perfect spot for shipping enslaved people — both by boat and railroad. Enslaved men, women, and children were bought and sold in public markets downtown, often displayed in shackles like livestock.

2. Auction Blocks Sat Right in Downtown Memphis

Court Square and other parts of downtown were once the sites of regular slave auctions. Buyers browsed enslaved people by inspecting their teeth, muscles, and compliance. These "sales" were often advertised in local newspapers like classified ads.

3. The 1866 Memphis Massacre

Just one year after the Civil War ended, a horrific event occurred: white mobs, including ex-Confederate police, went on a rampage and killed at least 46 Black residents, many of whom were formerly enslaved Union soldiers. Churches, homes, and schools were burned to the ground. The goal was to "put Black people back in their place." It shocked the nation — and directly led to Congress passing stronger Reconstruction laws.

4. Memphis Police Were Born from Slave Patrols

The early Memphis law enforcement system evolved directly from slave patrols — organized groups of armed white men tasked with catching escaped slaves and keeping Black people “under control.” After emancipation, many of these patrolmen simply became city cops, and the racist mindset carried over.

5. Slave Cemeteries Were Bulldozed and Forgotten

Multiple burial sites of enslaved people in and around Memphis were either paved over, left unmarked, or built on top of. In some cases, entire cemeteries were relocated — with no proper records or respect — to make room for white urban expansion. This has caused deep spiritual wounds for the Black community.

6. Nathan Bedford Forrest Ran a Slave Market in Memphis

Before becoming the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, Nathan Bedford Forrest — now a deeply controversial figure — ran a massive slave-trading business in Memphis. His name was honored with statues and even a park (Forrest Park) for decades until they were removed under public pressure in recent years.

7. Free Black People Were Harassed and Controlled

Even before the Civil War, free Black residents in Memphis were subjected to racist laws called Black Codes that restricted their movement, ability to own property, or even gather in groups. They could be arrested for not having a white “guardian.”

8. Memphis Profited from Black Labor Long After Slavery

After emancipation, sharecropping, convict leasing, and Jim Crow laws ensured that Black labor continued to build Memphis’s economy — without fair pay or rights. Many were arrested on minor charges and forced to work for free under “convict labor” schemes.

These facts aren’t just relics — they help explain why Memphis still carries racial tension and economic inequality today. It’s a city where the past was never buried — just paved over.

[hb2345]

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