We have been in Memphis for the last couple of days, touring Beale St and downtown Memphis
FUN FACTS
Sits on the East bank of the Mississippi River
Major Cotton shipping port.
Flooding farm lands near river make for excellent soil in which to grow Cotton.
City won by Union during the Civil War after a 94 minute navel battle of Iron Clads vs , and I’m not kidding, cotton clads.
Southern naval strategist figured the cotton bales would absorb the artillery impact. Didn’t factor in the little issue of flammability.
I wonder which cotton agent was a brother in law to that strategist .
Perhaps you have heard this one before. When the 19rh amendment was up for a vote it was a razor thin margin. There was a congressman from Tennessee named Joseph Hanover whose family had immigrated from Poland when he was young. He was clear that he was voting against it.
He then got a telephone call from his mother.
She asked him, Do you think I am smart enough to know how to vote?
He voted for it.
The 19rh amendment passed.
He was voted out of office the next election.
He served a much more valuable term than 99% of the current members of the Federal Legislative branch.
We then went to the National Civil Rights museum Formerly The Lorraine Motel where Dr King was assassinated.
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The museum has hundreds of of great stories, and traces the civil rights struggle from the beginnings of slavery in Africa.
This is a map of Birmingham,Alabama, that became known as Bombingham.
“ You have to be prepared for die, before you can begin to live”
That’s Brass!
Dr King goes to Memphis to support the sanitation workers strike.
This was the famous slogan of the protestors.
It goes on for 60+ days.
It is finally settled after Dr King is assassinated.
One of the issues was a pay increase.
Here’s the story of how that was settled.
New hero, Abe Ploughing
Rest well Oh yea, Suffs
This term replaces suffragettes. There was nothing little about the women who battled for the right to vote. Enjoy your new word.
Paul
Pau's Travels 