Dr. Coby Vernon Smith, noted Memphis activist and educator, is the first African-American student to attend Southwestern University at Memphis, which is today Rhodes College. In the spring of 1967, with Charles Cabbage and John Burrell Smith, he founded an organization called the Black Organizing Project in Memphis. Feeling that the mainstream civil rights movement was primarily geared to integrating the black upper class with white society, BOP took on the task of organizing the ghettos, particularly youth. In the Riverside neighborhood around Carver High School the name BOP was gradually replaced by The Invaders, and it would be this name that was spread by local media and which would be remembered. The Invaders marched for the Memphis sanitation workers in 1968, taught Black history classes in storefronts in North Memphis and South Memphis, marched with hospital strikers, and marched across Arkansas with Lance “Sweet Willie Wine” Watson in 1969. Although the media attempted to consistently link the Invaders to violence and hatred of whites, reporters rarely allowed the Invaders to rebut such charges, or to state what their organization stood for. At a time here in 2011 when the rights of union members and sanitation workers in Memphis are under attack from politicians, it is important for Memphians to remember the lost legacy of The Invaders.
events
Juneteenth in Memphis’ Douglass Park
Juneteenth in Memphis is held every year at Douglass Park in North Memphis, and it is always a big event, full of live music, dance, vendors, food and fun. Saturday June 18, 2011
Da Plugg Music and More in Tallahassee
Is there still a place in the music industry for the concept of record stores? Clearly some young entrepreneurs think so. Da Plugg Music and More is a really-cool new record store on South Adams Street in Tallahassee, not far from the FAMU campus. They have all the latest hip-hop releases, as well as mixtapes, magazines and DVDs. They are worth a visit.
Industry Insider Music Summit Showcase at Local 662, St.Petersburg FL
The Industry Insider Music Summit showcase has been moved from the State Theatre to Local 662. It’s going down!
Industry Insider Pool Party, St. Petersburg FL
Industry Insider Pool Party is in full effect. The DJ’s are spinning independent music.
RIP Cleaborn Homes (via @jasper8591)
782 tate st. block party 123456 live {rip cleaborn homes} (by jasper8591)
Tate Avenue Block Party 2011
This year’s block party on Tate Avenue was the first one since the demolition of Cleaborn Homes began. “They can tear down the bricks, but they can’t break up the click” read one young man’s T-shirt.
Rick Ross Coming to Level II in Memphis, 6/11/11
Rick Ross will be coming to Memphis on June 11, performing at the Level II at 5020 American Way in Southeast Memphis. Call (901) 365-0077 for VIP reservations.
Terrance Houston Drum Solo with George Porter Jr. at the Levitt Shell 2011
Terrence Houston Drum Solo.MOV (by jdoggtn7) The “Guardian of the Groove’ takes a solo at the George Porter Jr. concert last night