Representing historical accuracy
From the Chickasaw Nation to the predominantly Black population in the early 1900s, people of diverse backgrounds, races, and ethnicities have found home on the land that our town sits on. This diversity, however, is not reflected in Collierville’s public spaces.
Instead, what we see in public spaces are plaques, markers, signs, and exhibits displaying one-sided narratives of white history from select periods of time.
Understanding the importance of accurate, unbiased historical representation for our town's diverse population, CCJ continues to push town leadership to represent ALL of us while condemning voices that pay homage to racist ideology in public spaces.
We seek to elevate the Black history of Collierville and other histories that are only held in the memories of those that experienced them.
One way we are doing that work is through a documentary film about Collierville-Byhalia Rosenwald school which was the only school for Black children in Collierville from 1921 to the late 1960s.
Our “South Side Oral History Project” documents the specific histories of Collierville’s Historically Black Communities and Neighborhoods (HBCNs) through the collection and preservation of residents’ personal stories and photos. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
Jump to other areas where we’re making an impact:
DEI MUTUAL AID ELECTION REFORM YOUTH INVESTMENT HOUSING REFORM