Also, we will be structuring our lessons around visits to various sites around town. Some of these sites include the Victorian Village, Elmwood Cemetery, Sun Studios, and the National Civil Rights Museum to serve as a virtual classroom away from the classroom. While it is enriching to discuss these places, to describe them and their histories, it is quite another to visit these sites and interact with them in real time. We will meet as a class at these various places, and as we tour and explore them, think about how each contributes to the themes we are discussing: regional identities and their corresponding contradictions.
As part of your coursework, you will begin with a preliminary essay, "Reading Memphis," in which you will visit a site of your choosing on your own. Here you are performing as cultural historian and scholar, acting independently to seek out information about the site you choose. The only exception to your selection of place to investigate is that it cannot be on our list of treks. addition, you will prepare a much more hands-on, sustained, semester-long project that you will present during the Honors Academy Fellows Presentation Day activities in April of this year.
Finally, as Honors class, we will be involved in the many activities arranged by the Honors Academy, including the smArt auction at Burke's Bookstore, the Carter G. Woodson Celebration and African American Read-In, and the Honors Convocation. There are many exciting and rewarding activities ahead of us this semester, so prepare yourself and let's get started!
Hello class my name is Carter Sanders. My major is Biology and this is my sophomore year. I plan on graduating this spring with my associate degrees. I am very interested in this course because I have been a Memphian my entire life. I know a lot about the areas and my way around the city because I have lived in different parts of the city, as well as I have family all around the city. I am most intrigued about learning history about Memphis. Some things I have heard from stories from my elders or even reading. One thing I like about Memphis is the musical background we have. People travel from all over the world to walk down Beale, see Elvis Presley's house, etc. I feel special to know that I'm from a city that people think is cool and would love to visit. The only thing I dislike about Memphis is our violence. Every city has their fair share of violence but I'm not apart of those other cities. I hate to turn my tv on to see that someone has been arrested and or killed. A lot of times it is people I know and or went to school with. Throughout this class I hope to gain much more knowledge about my city than I already know. I would like to know cool facts that involve why streets or areas re named the way they are, location of buildings, economics, demographics, etc.
ReplyDeleteYou will certainly learn a great deal about the history of Memphis here: a very trenchant and comprehensive history can be gained from our textbook, Wanda Rushing's Memphis and the Paradox of Place. Then there's Elmwood, and Sun Studios, and the NCRM--all of which represent different facets of Memphis history. So glad to have you on board!
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ReplyDeleteHi my name is Preston Pritchard. I am currently majoring in Criminal Justice and will be graduating at the end of this spring with an associate in arts. Than I will be transfer this coming fall to a four-year institute where I will pursue a major in Computer Science/Cyber Security. I have lived in an suburb of Memphis my whole life and find several things interesting in Memphis history, especially the history that we have from both sides during discrimination. I find that both sides are very fascinating in the way they lived and carried out their everyday life. Since I have lived here my whole life so far, I know Shelby County by the back of my head. My favorite image of Memphis is the Memphis Grizzles, because I am a huge sport fanatic and love the atmosphere at the games. I also find the slogan of the team, Grit'n'Grid very fascinating, because it kind of resemble Memphis the city it self. I find it this way, because this city was originally built on factories and river work that is very intense and hard. The only flaw I find in Memphis and most people from other cities, especially my relatives hang it over my head is of how we are in the top five cities of crime. And yes this is a huge problem within the Memphis city limits, but what these people don't think of is of how we are tremendously smaller than cities like Chicago or Atlanta, which makes our crime rate look higher and we also do not have area/neighborhoods that the city police is scared to go into like Chicago. In Chicago, just the first part of the 2017 year they already have had 26 deaths/homicides and had 746 in the whole year of 2016, where as Memphis had 228. And yes this number is a lot higher than it should be, but our city is no where near as dangerous as other cities. In fact our city people have carried on protest very peacefully, and it showed when the Police Chief of Memphis locked arms with some of the people that were blocking the Hernando-Desoto bridge and walked majority of the people off peacefully, unlike an handful of other cities of where they were trashing vehicles and even burning buildings. So in this class I am very anxious to learn about the people that help make this hardworking city into what it is today, because there is a lot of things to be proud of this city.
ReplyDeletePreston, you make some very important and insightful points about Memphis! I love the connection you make between the Grizzlies' slogan and the early stages of Memphis history. Also, your comments concerning Memphis crime rates are particularly compelling, because we have been condemned for that very problem. You shed some interesting light on interpreting the figures--perhaps this is a project topic germinating?
DeleteHello class, my name is Micaela Guyton. I am currently majoring in education and I will be graduating at the end of this spring semester. I will then be living in Nashville to transfer to Belmont University to study music therapy. I have lived in Memphis my entire life. Although, I have lived here for 19 years; I unfortunately do not know Memphis as well as I could. I have not even been to Graceland, which is one of the huge attractions here in Memphis. I guess it is not a big deal, but only because it has recently come to my attention via radio that many people, who have lived in Memphis their entire lives, have not been to Graceland or other "huge" Memphis attractions. I can say that i do love how this city is big on music and food. Music and food are probably my two most favorite things. Therefore, to grow up in a place where we have Beale St., music festivals, and little "small town" food places is quite an honor. The only I do not like about Memphis is the crime rate. I honestly do not like watching the news because of that simple fact. It's always so negative and they never seem to try to push forth the good deeds that a Memphian is doing. We have several churches and different organizations who go out and feed the homeless and other things along that nature but it never seems to be broadcast. As for this class, I am really exciting for it. I hope to learn a lot more about Memphis in general. I hope to learn more about the history and how Memphis became Memphis.
ReplyDeleteMicaela: First and foremost, do not say 'unfortunately' or apologize for not knowing as much Memphis history as you 'should'! We're all in here to discover that history, and I myself am still learning. Also, I was born and raised in Memphis and have never visited Graceland because my parents thought it was tacky. What can one do? I just never got around to it! But welcome, welcome to HONR 1110 and here's to a fantastic learning experience!
DeleteHello, my name is Anna Bock. I am majoring in Psychology and Political Science. I am taking this class in order to graduate with honors, and hopefully transfer to the University of Memphis. I may minor in Photography, as it is a passion of mine as well. I moved to Memphis from the Jackson, Mississippi area when I was about four years old, so I have lived here almost my whole life. I have lived in areas of Memphis such as Germantown, Cordova, Bartlett (Sycamore View), and Hickory Hill. I have traveled to most parts of Memphis, so I'm very familiar with the city. I would have to say that my favorite part of Memphis is probably Midtown. I love all the attractions, restaurants, and the atmosphere. The first attraction that I went to when I came to Memphis was Elvis Presley's mansion, as my father is a huge Elvis Presley fan. Unfortunately, I have not had the chance to visit attractions such as the Civil Rights Museum, Sun Studios, or Studio on the Square. I love the history behind Memphis, and would love to learn more about it, mostly regarding the Trail of Tears, Civil War, and Civil Rights Movement. Like Carter said, I also love how we have a rich music background. I also dislike how we have a reputation of heavy violence, as well as a high infant mortality rate. It saddens me also to turn on the television to see somebody is murdered every day. I hope to learn more about the history behind Memphis, and the people. I'd also like to learn about why the streets are named what they are, and what we could do to further encourage growth and appreciation for our city. I am very thankful that this will give me a chance to learn more about Memphis, and to visit attractions that I have not had the chance of visiting before.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post, Anna! You and I have some things in common (aside for the photography passion): I too have lived all over town--from East Memphis to Hickory Hill. I also have relatives in and around Jackson, MS, and I too adore Midtown. Great to meet you!
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ReplyDeleteHello everyone. my name is Sidney Holland. I am a sophomore here at Southwest and intend to graduate this spring with an associate’s degree in Business Administration. Upon leaving Southwest I plan to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Non-Profit Organization at the University of Memphis. I’d like to take that degree and apply it to an organization here in Memphis, such as St. Jude or Lebonheur children’s hospital, particularly to organize events to raise money for the organizations. Non-profit work would be a dream job for me as I wish to work for others, as opposed to punching a clock day in and day out for the benefit myself alone. I have lived in the Memphis area most my life, except for a short three years where my family relocated to Arkansas. Upon growing up in the Memphis area, my heart for helping local Memphian's has grown as well. I believe there is a need in Memphis and surrounding areas for unity and encouragement for those who live here. This is one of the reasons I enjoy working with the Memphis Union Mission alongside of my church. Like Preston Pritchard, one of the main things I enjoy about Memphis is its love for the Memphis Grizzlies. Although Memphis is often a place of violence as others have stated before me, I think one thing we all seem to agree on is the importance to “Grit and Grind”. I originally signed up for this class to earn my honors diploma, although I am now engrossed in a sense of guilt, as many of the topics and places we will visit I have not been to. Through this class I hope to become a better Memphian myself, and am very interested in getting to know the "soul' of this soul filled city.
ReplyDeleteNo need to submerge yourself in 'guilt' over not having visited many of the places we will visit this semester--even if you had, there is a chance that you would not have the critical insight with which you will be engaging with these sites and topics. In short, this is an optimum time to get reacquainted with Memphis, learn her history, and appreciate her on a whole new level.
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ReplyDeleteMy name is Sophia Hahn. This is my second semester at Southwest, however, this is the first semester in which I had decided on a major, sociology. I plan on doing nonprofit work during and after college. I am taking this class because I am working towards graduating with honors. I have lived in Memphis my entire life. My first home was off of Highland in midtown. Then after I had my fifth birthday, we moved to Cordova and I have stayed there since. Memphis will always be home, but I plan on moving on to bigger and better things down the road. I hope to learn as much about this city before I give my final good bye, which is why I am really looking forward to this class. The city of Memphis has a lot of heart. If you are looking to party the night away on the weekend and listen to some top notch blues music, Beal Street is where to go. For the creative types who are looking for art, culture, a variety of restaurants, or something different to do, go to Midtown. My favorite things about this place I call home would have to start with the New Daisy. This is where I would go too see concerts almost every weekend, then have a burger at Dyers after the show. There are also great museums such as the Brooks art museum. I had a piece win a silver key in the contest held there. I am not a fan of barbecue, so I do not know the best spots for that. However, my favorite restaurant is Paulette's by Riverside. When I am bored or have a lot on my mind, I walk around downtown or Overton Square and just soak everything in. After this class, I hope to learn even more ins and outs of this treasure chest of a city and be a more well-informed citizen.
ReplyDeleteWelcome, Sophia! It is good to meet you finally! I do hope that you discover some new and wondrous things that Memphis has to offer before you leave us. Where had you planned to relocate?
DeleteHello Honors Inquiry Spring 2017. My name is Uyen Nguyen, from Vietnam, this Spring I will have been living here for 3 years. My parents and brother came to US first for more than 10 years and then my dad brought me here to live with them. I'm not familiar with almost everything here except Southwest college because I'm a sophomore and I hope I will be graduating after this Spring semester. My major is dietetic technician; I plan to be a dietitian by transferring to University of Memphis. Although everything is new, I enjoy my major so far because I want to live as healthy as I can and help others as well by having good diet, not by taking pills. I was eager to take this class to get the Honors diploma of course and learn more about Memphis but I'm not sure I can be on the tours on Fridays because I have rotations on Fridays this semester. Most places I've been in Memphis are hospitals and nursing home, and the one I like most for now is St. Jude. I hope some day I can volunteer to do something there or get my job there as a dietitian. What I like about America is freedom, diversity, and academy achievement that I feel while studying in Southwest. As I’m learning to be a dietitian and practicing on rotations in healthcare field, I have concerns about health, diseases, especially obesity. Moreover, according to WMC Action News 5 in 2016 “Memphis ranks number one in obese adults and physically inactive adults and second in adults with diabetes. Overall, Memphis ranked second in ‘weight-related health problems,’ fifth in ‘healthy environment,’ and 14th in ‘fat prevalence.’”
ReplyDeleteI am certainly happy to meet you! You make some very interesting points about Memphis in terms of its national profile--I have heard that we are one of the chief cities with obesity as one of its top health issues. This might be a subject area you could focus on. Also, as for the treks, those who are unable to attend a given event/tour on Fridays may opt to go on Saturday instead.
DeleteOh my Lord! Where's my post? I wanted to show it to someone? I deleted the first one and wrote another yesterday?
ReplyDeleteHello Ms. Lester and fellow classmates! It’s me Bonnie Reed. I decided to enroll in college after all four daughters graduated. I am very proud of them, they encouraged me to practice my faith and take the college leap. They pushed me and shared their college experiences with me. I am very grateful for the insight. I was very nervous about enrolling, because of my age. I’ve had to work extra hard to keep up in my classes. I have done very well by the grace of God! I will graduate from Southwest this Spring, with an Associate of Applied Sciences degree. I plan to incorporate and further my knowledge by attending Rhodes College in the Fall. My goal to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Business. What do I like to do in my spare time? I am an avid domino player! I have won many trophies for my skills. I have traveled from Memphis many times to play in domino tournaments in other states. When I’m not studying or doing chores, I hone my domino skills. The challenge of wearing many hats as a woman, mother, grandmother and student has more joys than heartaches. I make sacrifices as needed for my education. Late study nights trump a Ladies night out. Test preparations trump a movie night. I have grown to understand the importance of priorities. I'm very excited about this Honors Class! I obviously desire an Honors Diploma, however learning about my native city, is my main objective. Aside from trips to Disney World, Jamaica, a cruise to the Bahamas, Arizona, California and Texas, Memphis IS my home. I am embarrassed to admit, I know very little about "my hometown". I believe this Honors class will afford me an opportunity to really learn about Memphis. Although, I have visited some of our "tourist sites", many I have yet to enjoy. I am very proud to be a Memphian. My desire is to be better informed about this very diverse city I live in. I’m looking forward to working with everyone.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to know you, Bonnie! Congrats on the education you've earned so far, and here's to what you will accomplish in the future. You bring up an interesting point when you place 'tourist' sites in quotes as you do: as we investigate these sites, we have to bear in mind that while they do reflect Memphis culture and history, they do shape how visitors to our city perceive us. This is the Memphis they see. Think about how each place paints a picture of Memphis to visitors from other U.S. states--and foreign countries as well.
DeleteYou will also have to tell me all about your love of dominoes!
Hello! My name is Kayla Brooks. I was born and raised here in Memphis, TN. I've had quite an interesting relationship with this city so far. As a child, I was so in love with Memphis. As a teen, I grew distant, looking outside these city limits for a place to call home. In recent years, I have grown fond of the city again. I find that the more you take an active interest in getting to know Memphis for who she is, the more irresistible you find her. In my adolescence, the culture here was such a big part of who I was. There was rarely a week I wasn't tap dancing for the rotary club, going on a field trip to a historic site like the NCRM, winning grizzlies tickets from the "Read to Achieve program" (back when the grizzlies were still in the Pyramid), or rehearsing for Memphis in May and Africa in April. I was so much a part of this city. In recent years I have been wondering how I lost that. My current theory is that when I went to middle school and really started to expand my interests, I confused the need to grow with the need to leave Memphis behind. I begged my mother to send me to Andover, a boarding school in MA. She didn't. I still don't know how I feel about that. What I do know is that I was consumed with the idea that to be better or smarter or more valuable, I needed to get out and see what the rest of the world had to offer. I still believe that vehemently. The only difference is that now I am mature enough to know that that truth does not strip Memphis of the wanders she holds. I am proud to be apart of this blue dot in a sea of red. Memphis is poetry and dance and food and music and soul and beautiful. Memphis is the perfect combination of "good old-fashioned southern" and liberal. Memphis will always have a special place in my history and my present. I am so grateful for all that she has given me-- even when I did not appreciate her the way she deserved.
ReplyDeleteThough Memphis is lovely, she is not without her faults. As someone else mentioned, there is an epidemic of violence throughout our city. We are plagued with poverty and illiteracy. We still have quite a way to go before we can ever call these issues solved, but I love that we are a city that has not given up the fight. In this class, I hope to develop a deeper love and understanding for the city that raised me. I want to learn what Memphis means to other people. I'm ready to fall in love with Memphis again.
Beautifully written! So nice to read such enthusiasm. Welcome, and I hope this course provides you with an experience you will reflect on fondly:)
DeleteGreeting and salutations captive audience, my name is Diego Gasteazoro and I am a sophomore in this fine institution, my major being Computer Science. If all goes well, I should be graduating this semester. My relationship to Memphis is that of an expat, as unlike many of my peers, I am not native to this city. I've been living around the Memphis area for almost a year now, although I have visited family who lives in the area a few times before moving here for my studies. I believe that me being an outsider to the city gives me a unique perspective from which to observe the happenings of this peculiar town. In my year of living here, I've grown somewhat fond of the people and some of the places I have visited (although since I haven't dedicated myself to the study of the city's layout, I do not know it as well as I wish I did.) While many aspects of the city are lovely, I do wish that public transportation wasn't a joke here, as it'd make some of my escapades much more manageable (not that I don't have a car). In the end, aside from the honors diploma, I hope that this class gives me the intimate knowledge I desire of Memphis, and better yet, the ability to analyze and observe any city I desire.
ReplyDeleteWelcome, Diego, and thank you for the response! I am glad to have you here and eager to hear your impressions of what you learn about Memphis and her history.
DeleteMy name is Liza Crichton and I am in my fourth semester at Southwest. I’ve been attending Southwest for almost as long as I have been in Memphis. I am a native New Yorker, growing up about an hour outside of New York City. My connection to Memphis is my mother, a Queens native, who moved down here 8 years ago to be with my stepfather who took a job at FedEx. Over the years I have visited but two and a half years ago I brought my boyfriend with me and we fell in love with the city together. Anxious to leave New York due to fatigue and a yearning for something new, we decided Memphis would be the place. A year and a half later, I’m still here and he’s back in New York but I have no regrets. Memphis allowed me the financial security and ease to go back to school after a five year absence and I am proud of all I have accomplished. I like that everything in Memphis is accessible and natives always tell me this too. It is not overcrowded and there is room to breathe. But there is also rich culture and a vibrant city with plenty to do. The downside to this and what I dislike about Memphis is that I often feel I am in a bubble. New York is geographically smaller but the neighborhoods so distinctive you feel you are constantly travelling into smaller worlds. Memphis in this way feels very small, I feel like all I do is drive up and down Poplar Avenue. And aside from Southwest, I find myself in a very white bubble, which surprised me because this is a majority African American city. Coming from New York I was used to seeing different faces all the time, the lines seems more finely drawn in Memphis. What I hope to get out of this class is a deeper understanding of Memphis history and how the city formed. Even reading the first few pages of Rushing’s book I kept exclaiming “Yes! Why does everyone discount and stigmatize Memphis?” I want to know that history and I want to hear from my fellow classmates how they see it and how they think, especially for me as an outsider, we can be a tide of change for the city.
ReplyDeleteSo awesome to met a New Yorker!!! I also miss the diversity and ease harmony between cultures there. Welcome to Memphis
DeleteI was once married to a native New Yorker--he was born in Brooklyn--and through him I developed an abiding love for the city of NYC and its people. There is such a vibrant air about Manhattan--a busy-ness, so to speak, that I love. And you can walk EVERYWHERE as opposed to Memphis, where if you plan to walk to a site of interest, plan ahead by a few days and bring water and rations. So glad to have you in class !
DeleteGood evening! My name is Naomi Riley and I immediately apologize for my late reply, I work all day on the weekends. I am going to graduate this Spring semester from Southwest with hopes to transfer to a four-year college. I have traveled and lived all around, but I was born in Orlando, Florida (Yes, near Disney World). My father received a scholarship to a college here in Memphis so we moved when I was 9 years old. I lived in Memphis for nearly 3 years while my dad was in school. One he graduated he received a job so then we moved to the mountains of North Carolina. This area was my favorite and we stayed in the country for four years until we moved back to Tennessee. Now, I have been living in Memphis since 2012, where I had most of my high school years. For the majority of my life in Memphis, I have lived in the outskirts such as Arlington and Cordova. I know these areas very well, but I am not familiar with downtown main attractions of Memphis, sadly. I would like to visit Elmwood Cemetery and Mud Island. I am excited that this class will help me explore more of Memphis! I love all the great places to eat in Memphis, especially since barbeque is a specialty. Oddly enough, I enjoy our bipolar weather. My main dislike about Memphis are the terrible drivers combined with the constant road construction. Increasing crime rates spreading to the outskirts have also bothered me especially with how our city council deals with the issues. . Again, I hope to be able to explore Memphis with this class and learn about our city's economy system. I am very intrigued as to how FedEx has kept Memphis afloat as a city so spread out.
ReplyDeleteSo happy to meet you--and to have your lovely mom along for the ride. You must share what it is like to be taking a class with your mom! I hope you both find this class fun and full of exciting new experiences.
DeleteHello all, my name is Celeste Riley and what can I say but that I really love Southwest. I'm originally from Queens, N.Y. and moved to Florida where I met, married and started a family. I only finished one year of college and shifted gears to invest time in raising our seven daughters! Yes you read right...We moved to Memphis 12 years ago and did visit some local landmarks like the Pink Palace Museum, Dixon, National Civil Rights Museum and Tupelo. When we returned to Memphis five years ago I knew I wanted to return to college. I was scared to start having a twenty year gap because my brain isn't what it was...That's why I love Southwest because with hard work I've been able to join Phi Theta Kappa, the Honors Society, and Alpha Sigma Lambda. It has given me opportunities to travel abroad to Ireland last spring and London this spring. I graduate in May with double majors, an Associates of Arts in foreign languages(Spanish)and Associates of Applied Sciences in Elementary Education. I will pursue these double majors at U of Memphis.I love international studies and that lens is what I use for Memphis in this class. It's rich culture both in the past and present are exciting for me to delve in, especially the music. I do see many paradoxes of socioeconomic means like standards of living and education in Germantown versus Frazer. I still see the confederate flag waiving from homes and pickup trucks, which angers me, but enjoy Antebellum homes and southern hospitality. It seems to me a schizophrenic city...many voices...many emotions...so complex
ReplyDeleteYou seem so energetic to have raised seven daughters! My goodness, what a busy lady! I am so glad to have met you and to have you in this class. It seems you have a wonderful array of interests and you are quite a vigorous scholar! I suspect our class will be rewarding--I hope it will be!
DeleteHello everyone I'm Theresa Smith.I'll be graduating from Southwest in the fall after that I'll be continuing my education at the University of Memphis where I wish to receive a bachelors in Anthropology. I'm also an inspiring writer, I've written several stories for my mother elementary classes and my ultimate goal is to become a published writer. I typically like to lean towards the fantasy genre when writing but I like to add a little history. My favorite Author is the great Zore Neale Hurston, she's the reason I want to be a writer and anthropologist. Although I was born and raised in Memphis I really don't know as much as I would like to know about the city. By taking this class I'm hoping to get a better understanding of my city as well as fall in love with the city I call home.
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