What Happened to Memphis Tennessee?

The story of Memphis…
References:
US Census
www.britannica.com/place/Memp...
tennesseeencyclopedia.net/ent...
www.fedex.com/en-us/about/his...
kwilson.com/our-story/holiday-...
about.autozone.com/about-auto...
web.archive.org/web/201106150...
247wallst.com/city/memphis-tn....
Images:
1971 MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE (4309898979).jpg by lindsaybridge is licensed under CC BY 2.0
"Wolf River Harbor (former lower channel of Wolf River)" by Greenway Guide is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"Bass Pro Shop, Memphis, TN" by TexasExplorer98 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"mud island" by theogeo is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
"Memphis, TN" by Brad Montgomery is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

[@jtommyprice]

Things that killed memphis. 1. The horrendous school busing decision in the early 70s. Schools were already integrated but the judge decided the city needed to bus kids across the city to try and make every school a 50/50 split instead of everybody going to their neighborhood school. Disaster. 2. In the 90s they tore down the projects and gave out section 8 vouchers and shotgunned those people all over the city. Where before the worst areas of the city were know and avoided suddenly it was all over the city. Crime went through the roof in formerly solid neighborhoods. You’ve now got a couple of good areas surrounded by mostly dangerous parts. Insanity

[@kyaanderson8071]

Closing down all the housing projects and spreading drugs, crime and despair throughout the city, is one MAJOR factor.

[@kreveo2577]

This exactly! Crime is riddled throughout that very few areas feel safe

[@playboy4life18]

That's exactly what happened, they should have left them folks alone...they was happy living in the projects, why bother them...

[@monroetrotter1381]

@@playboy4life18 White people lived in the projects before any Black family did. Why weren’t the white families encouraged to remain on the bottom of the social order?

[@darlinee2911]

Now who's closing down the area

[@kingvan143]

Huh?

[@axnyslie]

The era of Elvis and Sun studios are long gone. That fan base has largely died off or just doesn't travel anymore. Too bad as Memphis has a rich music history.

[@LIFEWITHTHEJONESES1]

You forgot stax records too

[@devintaylor8702]

So true my Granny used to love Memphis TN. And many of her friends well they all are in Heaven now it's just not the same anymore 😔

[@originalkingalpha5116]

You didn't mention Ecko Records.

[@Kass1no]

It still has Rich Historic music just in a more modern Memphis way

[@kaydod3190]

It doesn’t have a rich music history

[@gmamagillmore4812]

It's not the heat, it's the stupidity.

[@cariemorgangraff4829]

Absolutely

[@777macdude]

So make Memphis white again???

[@cariemorgangraff4829]

@@777macdude how about make Memphis moral safe and truthful again. It’s not all about race

[@egarcia73]

You can’t fix stupid !

[@bob-ov4iq]

@@cariemorgangraff4829 it is about race Bc the majority are black and the majority of them live 3rd world country style … there’s so much trash on the streets and bums

[@cameroncunningham204]

As a native of Memphis, this is an accurate assesment. One of this city's greatest sins is when it fought against the Federal Government proposal to Headquarter the CDC here. That would have helped the city grow by leaps in bounds by making the city a biotechnology hub as well as a magnet for medical professionals. Since the early 1990s the city has continuously suffered from poor leadership and forward thinking by both sides of the isle and the problems that exist to day have been cemented in the city's culture

[@pwrfl2357]

Wow i had not heard that about the CDC and Memphis. Interesting

[@cameroncunningham204]

@@pwrfl2357 Granted, this occurred in the 1940s, however, Atlanta owes much of its development because of the billions in federal dollars that have flowed into the city over the decades. Southern states are the biggest welfare queens when it comes to federal dollars but are the biggest whiners about it

[@royharper2003]

what is your source for that information?

[@cameroncunningham204]

@@royharper2003 I will forward a link to a book I have (if still in print) that gives a history of memphis especially as it pertains to our history dealing with malaria and yellow fever outbreaks

[@royharper2003]

@@cameroncunningham204 ok. I work for CDC in Atlanta for over 20 years and have never heard this. I googled it and couldn't find anything.

[@tigersfan3411]

I live in Memphis and it really fucking sucks here. Rude ass people, racists, etc. we have the number one crime rate in the country.

[@damoncleaves8941]

Born and raised in Memphis. Went to school in Nashville. When I was in the Ville, 20 years ago, it was a lot like Memphis. In fact, to me it was a little slower. But their leadership actually put money into the city and it has blossomed. Memphis leadership puts the money in their pockets. The powers that be in Memphis do not want the city to prosper. They want to keep it poor and violent so only a certain few will share the wealth.

[@777macdude]

Somewhat true but they have new leadership in the office.

[@michaelhaile6371]

One of the main problems in Memphis is the government. You have City and County governments. If you are a company considering moving there, you have to deal with both. Nashville was the same way until the 80's when they consolidated and exploded.

[@chrislittle1039]

Very true!!! Memphis should be were atlanta is right now.

[@DottyGreenee]

They closed down all the projects, added Secton 8 to 1/3 of the affordable apartments and housing making and spending crime all over.

[@wallacego267]

With a lot of young people moving to Nashville, it's happening.

[@Free-bt6gn]

I've lived in this area my entire life and it's nothing but sad, sad, sad what's happened to Memphis. Once the CLEANEST city in the country with over 1 million citizens, it's now a cesspool of crime and corruption with a population of around 600K. Those who can leave have left and haven't looked back. The politicians are filthy to their core. If FedEx and Autozone left this city, the place would probably fall in the river.

[@NoLuvRecords]

Cleanest over 1 million when was this I guess social media allows you to live in a made up world

[@landunpleasant]

memphis has never had over 1,000,000 people living within the city limits. It has historically grown to the point where it is now and stagnated around there for about the last decade.

[@mikemuchmore3224]

White flight, it's the most divided city. It's the city Dr King was killed in and there's still a blanket of division here. It is everywhere but here it's really bad. Nobody wants to deal with it.

[@CabooseToku]

When my dad was in rehab, we saw Fed Ex planes all the time.

[@lilitharam44]

As a native of Memphis and North MS, I can not disagree with anything you said in the video. I think the crime rate, reputation for having a dirty political scene puts off a lot of potential businesses, not to mention Memphis City Schools have a bad rep. I lived downtown in the early 2000s and loved it, I am not sure that I would want to go back there now. It's sad because it's a wonderful place with a lot of culture and history to share, just seems like no one knows how to go about fixing things.

[@cinnamonsunshine6331]

Memphis police and da are soooooo corrupt and city officials it's sickening.

[@777macdude]

New leadership

[@cinnamonsunshine6331]

@@777macdude the right leadership . They have had new and a new district attorney is needed and they need to right many wrongs that they have done to people.like myself. Anytime you break into a citizens house without cause because you have some kind of personal vendetta because they found that you were committing crimes against the public and he'll you weren't even looking for it and you kidnap them hold them hostage , steal their animals, do numerous other unspeakable things and the D A attorneys say they can do whatever they want?!!!! It's a problem a real mutha fuckin problem

[@lilitharam44]

@@777macdude They try to get new leaders in and then before long the ones who were already there have corrupted the new ones, then the cycle continues.

[@saadinhalf]

Oh Memphis city schools are horrifying- even the private schools are awful. I was very blessed to go to one of them and they fostered me INCREDIBLY well. But they failed a lot of other students who just turned the place into a well-polished cesspool of awful people doing awful things that amount to so little and stay stuck here, making the city even worse with every subsequent generation.

[@americanzombie9482]

Born and raised in Memphis my entire life. Born here in 96, still stuck here today, probably one of my biggest complaints is the lack of job oppurtunities. It feels like all there are is factories and warehouses. Places like Fedex, Nike, and Amazon are your only options really. Most of my friends ended up taking off after college for the exact reason.

[@icabod3374]

Get some CNC Machinist training. Lots of medical mfg. jobs out there. Haas just built a new training facility out by the Wolfchase mall, might want to start there. I went back to school to learn CNC machining when I was 40 now 14 years later I'm doing alright. One thing about CNC machining is it's a career. You can take that skill to almost any larger city and find work. I forgot to mention I went back to trade school for CNC machining for 2 years with a Pell Grant and I did not pay one penny out of pocket to get my certifications.

[@777macdude]

Right, you never thought about going to school???

[@chuckstewart5775]

@@777macdude living here makes people feel defeated sometimes

[@bobby12348]

You can move😂

[@bobby12348]

@@chuckstewart5775 I'm not I live in Memphis doing fine. Travel around give yourself break from Memphis.👍🏿

[@derekcolvin9944]

Couple years ago we traveled the Memphis and enjoyed the city. Of course there were certain areas we stayed away from and it was unfortunate that the area around St Jude Children's Hospital is in Decline. The pyramid was fantastic of course Graceland, the Lorraine Motel and the national Civil Rights Museum was great and the Arcade restaurant was unbeatable. Memphis also has an amazing zoo. It is huge so have your walking shoes on and is home to some of the only pandas in the United States, definitely worth the effort.

[@therealdjlay]

There's a lot of new construction and upgrades in that St. Jude area going on right now. They are also building two new high rise towers for the hospital.

[@kaydod3190]

The whole city is the zoo. Nothing amazing about it

[@darlinee2911]

Thank you Derek you are correct and I agree

[@cravenmoorehead7099]

Naive

[@JoshuaGraves113]

We finally got kangaroos here too.

[@cureiosity]

Memphis is a residential-first city, not necessarily a city with tourist attractions. Over 20 years, there have been improvements to some areas with the focus on making them more desirable to live in: downtown gained more condos, Main St added more restaurant options, and recently, have added a grocery store. Midtown had a revival of Overton Square and Cooper-Young. Towards the East, Shelby Farms was modernized and added more activities, the Greenline was created, and that in particular kickstarted other pedestrian paths to be developed, such as the Wolf River Greenway. But, as a whole, Memphis and Shelby Co continue to be residential-first. It is true, Mud Island Park is in total disrepair and has been like that for several years, and efforts are focused on revitalizing Tom Lee Park instead, which is a venue for Memphis In May and the festivals this nonprofit organizes. There is a lot to love about Memphis and Shelby Co, and a lot of outdoor activities one can do, I wouldn't dismiss the city as completely going down, but instead, I would invite y'all to look at the population growth that has happened, even during the first two years of the pandemic (2020 and 2021). So many people from other states and other countries have moved to the Memphis Metro area (I'm including here Memphis, Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville, and parts of north Mississippi) because of work opportunities. We aren't Nashville, definitely, but we have the Grizzlies, Shelby Farms, the Memphis Tigers, 901FC, The Memphis Americans, Memphis In May, plenty of restaurant options, parks and gardens, summer outdoor concerts galore, and lots of neighborhoods with character and charm.

[@wildestcowboy2668]

Da brotha's runnin round jackin caas and being destructive is a little issue that you didn't address.

[@millychap7849]

@@wildestcowboy2668 just so happens that little issue is everywhere if u don't believe just keep living

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

​@@millychap7849I HATE your argument. Crime is everywhere. What a lame argument. Duh. Crime is WORSE here.

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

You make excellent points.

[@jackiemurray8695]

I am a tour guide in Memphis. I am also a transplant from Baltimore. Hands down, I will choose Memphis over Baltimore any day.

[@MATTNMEMPHIS]

Agreed, I lived in Baltimore/Parkville for about 2 years and I could not get out of there fast enough and get back home to Bartlett.

[@millychap7849]

You can work at a factory and go to school on line the jobs not that hard almost every place in Memphis is hiring

[@prophecydaprophet901]

I understand what you saying but trust me I can take you to a few neighborhoods or apartments since the projects gone now and I promise you you'll feel multure on both cities both having one of the highest crime rates both having one of the highest murder rates although Baltimore was a little higher before recently I'll say like 3 to 5 years recently they are neck and neck on that statistic...

[@wildestcowboy2668]

@@millychap7849 and u can get robbed or killed going to that Factory

[@joseaguirre744]

@@prophecydaprophet901 we also spend about 100 million less on police but have a higher population. baltimore is broken

[@robertsmith1865]

I truly hate the fact that Memphis TN really wants to rely on tourism for money. I mean that money can go up and down. Plus look at New Orleans a real tourist capital but has a lot of crime and poor people. Most jobs in tourism don't pay spit Memphis Tn needs better paying jobs and businesses to come here

[@themidsouthcyclist8880]

One of the major sins the city is great at, and great at repeating, is to pump a lot of money into revitalizing a very specific part of an area, then walking away from it forever. Memphis will spend a massive amount of resources and tax incentives on a one or several block area, and then say they're done once the pretty picture has been snapped. Across the street will still be broken-down houses and abandoned businesses, and no improved access to the improved little area. A pinpoint of light is created in the middle of a dark alley, then the pinpoint is left to flicker and go out. All that effort wasted. Zero planning is done, just knee-jerk reactions to look good in a one-time news story. Meanwhile, for example, the Highland Strip is torn up before Thanksgiving 2021, and is not anywhere near usable. Sending in qualified work crews appears discouraged, and planning the project so that someone has the slightest idea what to do concurrently with another crew seems beyond the city offices. That's just a small taste.

[@GeorgeVreelandHill]

The problems of Memphis are the same problems that most cities are facing. Frankly, if this country does not get its act together and face reality with guts, then we will all be living in a third world country.

[@tommysee]

Ahhh yes, the elephant in the room.

[@donaldsawyer2618]

So correct. Broadway May be bustling as he mentioned but trust me there are heroin addicts and people in cardboard boxes laying outside as well. I believe in Memphis

[@wtk6069]

Unsustainable urbanization. Encouraging more people to live in an area than they can provide jobs for long-term. Better to have a smaller city with a vibrant economy than a larger one with a stagnant economy. It seemed to help Detroit once a lot of people moved out, though, so don't fear contraction, unless the place completely dries up like some formerly important river cities have, like Portsmouth, OH or Cairo, IL (I don't see this ever happening to Memphis).

[@loboheeler]

Last time I visited Memphis was in 2006 when the "Memphis Bell" B17 bomber was still there on Mud Island. There was a classic suspended trolley that went there. There was also a fabulous large scale model of the entire Mississippi River system with great detail and flowing water. Maybe not a lot of people see that anymore.

[@krisstarring]

They used to have a waterpark there too. I lived in Memphis in the early 90's when they started developing the Harbortown neighborhood out on Mud Island. I recall my dad and I going out on Sunday drives to check out the new townhouses they were building out there and thinking how cool it would be to live right near the river on the bluff. Mud Island Park has been in disrepair for quite some time. You can still right the suspended monorail, but don't expect to do much when you get to the other side.

[@jtommyprice]

That’s all gone. Got too dangerous to go down there.

[@MATTNMEMPHIS]

Just saw the Bell in Ohio, and she now looks like she just rolled off the assembly line. Brought a tear to my. She is absolutely gorgeous now. She's in a better place, believe me.

[@carlklein9385]

As a native Tennessean, when I was a little kid in the 60’s Memphis was the premier city in Tennessee. It was the biggest in the state and had the best of everything. My parents took me on day trips to Memphis and I so enjoyed it. I don’t know what happened to Memphis since those days. I always half joked that it was because Elvis died. That was 1977 and it hasn’t recovered much. A strong and growing Memphis is good for Tennessee. There is room for two economic engines in the state, Memphis and Nashville. And I always enjoyed the in-state rivalry between the two.

[@willardwayne3]

International harvester and Firestone leaving was the beginning of the end imo

[@reality4434]

@@willardwayne3 Willie Herington

[@205ken4]

Too many future neuroscientists & engineers in the area lol

[@grammgale58]

You do narrations very nicely. Yes, I am one of those from Frayser and proud of it! Class of 1970. It was a blue collar neighborhood back then and it was ok. My dad was a minister, welder and yes, high school teacher at Hamilton HS AFTER he helped build the damn thing! That was in 1977 he had health issues and retired. My mother died living in the same house there until just six years ago. She refused to move. She was almost 92. In her area it was still very safe She was the lady driving around in the Cadillac saying Jesus is Coming. Yes, that was my mother! I made a mistake of living in the nicer area of Frayser and letting my three boys go to school in Georgian Hills. I had to move. It was horrendous. The busing in of kids from the other neighborhoods with bad issues just made the schools unsafe to go there. We moved. I could go on and on. I am now over the line into MS with a Byhalia, MS address and my little acreage of forest is not going to be very private for long. Forests are now gone, and there are more warehouse buildings being built on every highway and crossroad. Even down my road another 150 homes are going to be built. Help wanted signs for hiring is everywhere. Southaven, Olive Branch and Byhalia. Oh no one wants to go back to work it seems. There are jobs here. I could say what I think went wrong in Memphis but I am not a politician nor very smart. I just hate our farmland is being sold out for warehouses and large homes that no one can afford to buy. Where will the local farmers come from? They will be gone. Some moved to the county areas of Shelby county and commute like I had to do at FedEx. They found out crime is there as well.

[@daking901]

Let's not ignore an extremely gross mismanagement of the city's funds by city hall. For years, there was little to no accountability for the city council/board of education/mayor's office. Herenton had absolutely no business running this city

[@robertsmith1865]

Thank you

[@dlunsford1980]

Not sure when you visited but some things have happened since. For one, Ford is building blue oval city about 40 miles down I-40 and we will be making all the F150 lightnings. Downtown is now blossoming with a bunch of boutique hotels and the city is looking at completely redoing mud island and the Pinch district where St. Jude resides. Another place worth visiting would had been Sears Crosstown where the city along with some investors took one of Memphis largest abandoned buildings and turned it into a fantastic place for people to live, shop and play. Memphis is the toughest city in Tennessee. They are constantly taking their hits and getting back up and moving on and you can hear this in the music that continues to come from such a soulfull place.

[@alexandersmith5342]

North Memphian checking in, born and raised in the Nutbush/Berclair area. Love your optimism but the city has been slowly but surely coming to the brink of shutting down. It won't be long til the city dissolves it's charter and ruins the rest of the county.

[@joseaguirre744]

you forgot the river park is being upgraded

[@marewrld]

Other than the crime, my city is solid. We might not have that rock n roll popularity anymore but we got hip hop and great sports fan bases. We good down here.

[@reverietapes]

We contributed a lot to modern hip hop too, there should be Memphis rap museum

[@sameenergy9414]

That hip-hop shyt gotta go. It's become pure mental and spiritual poison. It's killing the youth.

[@kaydod3190]

@@reverietapes Memphis didn’t contribute nothing

[@GeeEm1313]

The insane crime it has killed it.

[@vampyretime177]

Basically, I don’t understand why they are shocked.

[@GuyVick]

Every city has killings y’all act Memphis is the most dangerous which is was at one point

[@franciscoortiz9730]

Gangs, ignorant scumbags

[@johneverett5788]

Yep it would be one of the best cities if they could get the crime under control

[@777macdude]

Crime is everywhere,stop it Bruh. Y'all just admit it.... Memphis has a lot of black people 🤷🏿‍♂️

[@hoseahosanna6700]

Graceland is the 2nd most visited house behind the white house

[@edwardchance2543]

I want to say what happened but it would sound racist I've been in Memphis since 98 and am so happy to say I will be leaving this shithole soon

[@nathanielh786]

it might sound racist but it's true.

[@777macdude]

Well the others implemented the plans for the***** to struggle 🤷🏾

[@davyboy9397]

Lucky you. I live in Arlington, but I can't wait to move to middle or east Tennessee. The Memphis blight is coming for Arlington, Collierville and further . Cordova and many parts of Lakeland are already shite and Millington too.....

[@777macdude]

@@davyboy9397 and the blacks are in middle and east TN as well 🤷🏿‍♂️

[@DottyGreenee]

They closed down all the projects, added Secton 8 to 1/3 of the affordable apartments and housing making and spending crime all over.

[@michellemartin3401]

I think Memphis has a large African American population , mud island should be turn into a water park skate park. Nashville has a large white population and country music all of the economic money from the Tennessee government is going to them to support Nashville. A tale of two cities one black and one white in Tennessee.

[@supersaturn956]

Facts, as a Black man myself I paid respect and chose to visit Memphis over Nashville for past vacation of mine despite its flaws and what other people have stated.

[@777macdude]

Preach sista, preach!!! Because Nashville is still the capital city of TN so WILL ALWAYS BE TAKEN CARE OF.... Like New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Baton Rouge is the capital but New Orleans is the more popular city.

[@nathanielh786]

It's not that simple...it always is what COMES ALONG when you have a large black population. you do it to yourself. facts, whether you like it or not.

[@digitallhm8160]

Atlanta has a majority Black population and it's still growing.

[@JoJoStar22]

@@nathanielh786 Facts, the truth hurt. I don't wanna be no where with a larger AA Population and that's coming from a black man. Too much foolishness!

[@pwrfl2357]

If you want to hear a real sad story, come to Little Rock and try to figure out why we didn't fight like hell for Fed Ex! Or any other forward thinking idea actually. Memphis may have it's faults but it definitely has a beat of its own. When you cross that bridge you can feel it. I can't wait to leave Little Rock behind!

[@hoopty.]

It gets real when you cross over to Arkansas. Those little towns like, Hughes, Forrest city, Marion, are deadly.

[@pwrfl2357]

@@hoopty. and my hometown of Blytheville

[@hoopty.]

@@pwrfl2357 Yeah I have driven thru there a few times on my way to St Louis.

[@dknowles60]

well Little rock has a crappy air port. to get Fed Ex you need a good air port.

[@lyricdream444]

@@hoopty. naw just poor and ignant!

[@wisuan]

Being a teenager in Memphis I have to say it is absolutely awful!! I live in an OK part of Memphis (In between north and east memphis) but things are terrible.. I quit going to IRL school because my high-school was too dangerous with gun incidents and drugs, plus I had to walk along a major road to get there and would get harassed by men in hoopty cars with trash bag windows!! My mom had an acquaintance who unfortunately became homeless. He thought it would be alright to sleep in our backyard and invite some junkie friends along with him!! It's creepy ASF because at night sometimes I can hear movement,coughing and talking nearly right outside my window. It ain't any animals cause I saw them leaving one morning at around 5am! I know Memphis isn't all bad, but this is just my experience

[@joelstalcup2464]

I have lived in Memphis since 2011 and have seen the city begin to undergo a renaissance of sorts. However we’re plagued by crime and economic disparity. Large swaths of the city look like a third world country. This city has the potential to be exponentially better. But you’re correct that Nashville is much better.

[@hoopty.]

And much more expensive. I have been in Memphis for 8 years. I just took advantage of the cheap opportunity that was here. They are not in overpriced Nashville. Remember a place is what you make it.

[@joelstalcup2464]

@@hoopty. you’re correct. I’m generally content and try to focus on the positives while I’m here. Like I said even with the city’s issues I recognize the huge improvements that have been made.

[@bmd1825]

Economic Disparity?........Fed-Ex, International Paper, Amazon, Williams Sonoma..etc The problem is this is a Democratic ran city and just like Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta it can’t focus on the issue’s. Too worried about political ideology instead of what’s actually wrong....it’s a chit hole.

[@donaldsawyer2618]

@@hoopty. I have Never been to Memphis but purchased some land. You have a good attitude. Once people begin to invest please believe me as a New Yorker, most Will Not be able to live there. People need to buy up as much as they can in Memphis

[@hoopty.]

@@donaldsawyer2618 I've been trying to inform people of this. It's already a lot of out of town investors buying up some apartment complexes, and the rent goes from 500, to 1,200 per month in a matter of months.

[@prophecydaprophet901]

I am Memphis born and raised straight from North Memphis and also lived in the East and the South but never the west since that's not even Memphis technically. But on my soul Memphis is still got the best food as far as barque and soul food goes and the civil rights museum is still the best in the country by a large scale I would say and even though the city has the bad crime rate it's still home and will always be for me. I have left Memphis several times and I swear to God there is no place like Home For Real For Real...

[@kaydod3190]

Memphis doesn’t have the best food… for real for real

[@antdjones05]

Big facts

[@ramencurry6672]

I see your point. I agree Memphis is special. However it is common for people to think their city is the most emotionally meaningful place. After all, your past memories are there. If you grew up in Chicago or Brooklyn you would probably have the same identical feelings…….People from those cities pretty much say the same exact emotional thing.

[@mwax3124]

I’ve lived near Memphis my entire life and I could never see why anyone would come here. The roads are bad, the drivers are bad, a lot of areas a fairly sketchy. Even the few tourist attractions we have a pretty lackluster, in my opinion.

[@judymarlar1949]

People did it. They can make or break a city . Neglect from it's leaders . Failure to uphold the law and the law not standing strong. Who wants to be in a ruthless , much lawless city?

[@boogitybear2283]

Memphis should be nicknamed “Music City” not Nashville. I always thought Nashville was extremely overrated and I’m originally from there. I hate hate hate that city with a passion.

[@HypnoSwag]

Nashville is paradise compared to Memphis, trust me.

[@reverietapes]

That's exactly what I was thinking. Memphis has contributed to a wide variety of music genres and Nashville is mainly country and gospel. I don't like Nashville.

[@DavidWilliams-so2dy]

Ya mean Murder City dontcha?

[@THEPATRIOT1000]

Don't come back

[@kjkegari]

Yet you like Memphis?

[@DH-mp6fg]

We all know what happened to Memphis. I won’t say it but we all know..

[@quentinhendrix2375]

W flight

[@MustangGuy112]

Imma say it. Over populated by blacks

[@royharper2003]

BLM

[@777macdude]

So blacks messed up Memphis???

[@cariemorgangraff4829]

Democrats messed up Memphis and many other places

[@rllapte]

@Forgotten Places, your summary was mostly accurate but it overlooks deeper dive explanations for why Memphis has never sucessfully claimed it's potential destiny. Here I will point out that I am a lifelong Memphian, now in retirement. My mother was a noted and published local historian and I share her interest in history. Memphis is recognized by historians as a significantly less affluent community from it's founding. Memphis has never enjoyed dynamic and visionary political leadership. Following the Civial War, the city commited itself in both the public and private sector to maintaining the cotton aristocricy. Doubling down on that imperative during the Crump era. Former Memphis mayor Edward "Boss" Crump was the dominant political figure through most of the first half of the 20th century. He was, by far, the most influential figure in Memphis and West Tennesse politics. You've overstated the breadth of the Memphis economy. Due to the Crump regime, the wealthiest Memphians have always and almost entirely been land owners/investors. Agricultural and commercial. Memphis' burgeoning distribution industry is a subset of that phenomenon. FedEx and founder Frederick Smith are at the top of the list of notable exceptions. A lesser factor but still noteworthy, beginning in the late 70s Memphis has spent hundreds of millions attempting to capitalize on the natural wonder of the Mississippi River waterfront. Mud Island Park & River Museum, The Pyraimd Arena, now Bass Pro Shops, and mutiple incarantions Beale Street River Landing. All of which enjoyed an inital bang and then faded rapidly. They faded because of, in most cases, compromises in the orignial developments and grave failures in maintaining these facilities. Most of all failing to invest and develop downtown Memphis as an enterprise zone. So yes, Memphis is now in decline and stagnant. Once a beautiful city that was a very comfortable place to live despite shortcomings, it is now a massively littered and decaying wasteland.

[@allenuconn]

You left out the mass amount of violence that occurs in and around the city attractions. Tourists are not interested in getting shot on vacation or robbed by thugs. Solve that and Memphis can begin to be a serious destination again. Until then people prefer Nashville.

[@777macdude]

@@allenuconn bruh stop it you can get robbed anywhere. Go outside the Vegas Strip and see what happens... Don't make yourself a target. Nashville hoods is the same as Memphis hoods.🤷🏿‍♂️

[@777macdude]

New leadership in the local government now people. They are trying to undo things in the past.

[@rllapte]

@@777macdude I understand what you are saying and more signifacantly why you are say that BUT it's umimaginable that an honest and perceptive observer would come to that conclusion.

[@777macdude]

@@rllapte welp...it is true though rather we like it or not 🤷🏿‍♂️

[@loganshimko7484]

I live in Memphis and on the downtown riverfront there are many projects that will expand the downtown with over 5 billion dollars invested already and approved for construction.

[@louisskulnik7390]

I am from across the river. Memphis was THE trip. “We’re going to Jonesboro, get in the car” oh, ok. “Get in the car, WE GOING TO MEMPHIS.” Yaaaaay!! (Now I live in New Orleans, but will always love Memphis, Tennessee.)

[@kaydod3190]

@@louisskulnik7390 Shut Up 😂

[@DottyGreenee]

They closed down all the projects, added Secton 8 to 1/3 of the affordable apartments and housing making and spending crime all over.

[@kaydod3190]

@@louisskulnik7390 We know you love the ghetto Keisha/Tyrone

[@kaydod3190]

They aren’t building jack, and if they did, it’s going to be destroyed anyway by the Memphricans

[@stickman2012]

Lol you either love Memphis or you hate it. As a Memphian, I can't help but be on the defensive end.

[@IRgEEK]

Indeed!

[@777macdude]

Me 3 bruh 🙌

[@michaelhaile6371]

Totally agreed. Of course Memphis has its faults: crime, poverty, etc. but so does every big city. I happen to love Memphis, it is what you make it. The majority of my family is from or around Nashville and they aren't totally pleased with the growth and outrageous housing prices. You just cant please everyone.

[@Norwegian733]

As a Norwegian, Memphis is known for one person for me: Elvis.

[@impassable]

I just got back from Memphis..It was great, people were nice, lots of construction on the river

[@quentinhendrix2375]

Yeah but they only care about downtown while the rest of the city is crumbling

[@mentalchild360]

Oh yeah, the construction started recently. The development blueprints get my approval all day, especially if we get funding for the ferris wheel.

[@MassGainingGuy]

Awesome! Where did you go to eat BBQ?

[@impassable]

@@MassGainingGuy I ate at B B King's and saw the Jason Foree band which I liked a lot. I was only there one day so I wanted to do tourist stuff. I went to Beal Street and then saw the Mississippi river cause who knows I may never get back..I wish I would have had time to see Graceland

[@MassGainingGuy]

@@impassable Glad you had a good time! Come back soon, there's plenty of great things to see and do.

[@cravenmoorehead7099]

I live 28 miles from memphis. Memphis is a sewer. Everyone knows why its a sewer

[@777macdude]

Because of the colored people 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@kaydod3190]

Yep 🤣 we all know why 👩🏿👨🏿‍🦱🧔🏿‍♂️

[@davyboy9397]

I live in Arlington. The sewer is spreading here. Lakeland apart from the gated communities is already the new Cordova. Collierville is at risk. Millington is already in decline because of Frayser. Memphis and Jackson are a blight on west Tennessee

[@brotherskeeper2253]

Pool leadership Poor customer service Poor Law Enforcement Poor Politics. It's all about making money off of dysfunction. This city could easily thrive if the right leadership came in and didn't sellout for the money

[@FRANKSNAKE71]

I was stationed at The Naval Air Station in Millington in 1971. Memphis was a great place then with good food and plenty to do for servicemen on a very limited budget. I met Elvis coming out of a self defense class once with Priscilla. He was friendly and said hello. Last visit was in the 1990’s and it was a disappointment to see the decline. However the best place for ribs was still up and thriving The Rendezvous in the basement downtown 52nd Street 😃I hope to go back one last time🤔

[@grammgale58]

Let me guess. Master Kang Rhee! Thanks for your service. My grandson is now in the Navy in Japan. He was raised in Millington. Yes, I did martial arts there too! He died just a couple of years ago.

[@FRANKSNAKE71]

@@grammgale58 yes it was master Kane Rhee now that you mentioned it! Blast from the past!

[@swinde]

The Rendezvous had the best ribs ever. It is in an alley way across Union Avenue from the Peabody Hotel.

[@ArkansasGals]

I absolutely love Memphis. It’s busting with fantastic activities for the whole family and sooo much history. . We vacation several times a year every year. We’ve never had Any issues with crime or feeling uncomfortable. You just have to know what areas to go to. Zoo. Pyramid. Pink museum. Civil rights museum. Botanical gardens. Childrens museum. Shelby farms. Graceland. Sun studies. Beale street. IMAX theatres. Orpheum theatre. New daisy theatre. Just to mention a few things off the top of my head. And the Foooodddddd. It’s a amazing city.

[@bobby12348]

The thing with Memphis is all the surrounding states that had ghetto people in it they move here from Chicago, New Orleans Florida to Memphis because of the low price here. They also brought crime with them. Now that the prices going up in Memphis a lot of them are leaving which I think is good because that will brings the crime down.

[@4pokketwalkerhomebaby153]

Exactly I love my City

[@nataliepratt6447]

I love visiting Memphis as well, though I think there's too many people of color for some groups of people, this is the reason we often hear or read them say "what happened to Memphis" Lol

[@kaydod3190]

Nothing to love about it

[@kaydod3190]

No it’s not an amazing city. Start traveling more

[@sarahjane2647]

i live here, you gathered all that by just one visit, wow! it has gotten bad here, the murders, carjackings, drugs ect........i loved memphis music, live entertainment, blues festivals,graceland ect. but now its like a real live violent video game. this is truly the home of the blues, we have the best music history all the way from muscle shoals, alabama to nashville,tn. i hate what people have done to the city i love,

[@777macdude]

Just stay out of certain areas. Don't make yourself a target either.

[@sarahjane2647]

@@777macdude i do, i always lay low and watch my 6.

[@bigpappa642]

@@777macdude there is no such thing anymore in Memphis. From Collierville to Wolfchase to Bartlett to Germantown the crime has no cretin area ANYMORE it's a city wide problem!!!

[@kaydod3190]

Memphis doesn’t have music history

[@bigpappa642]

@@kaydod3190 Memphis with all its good and bad DOES have a very long music history it has a very long history in many things from Health and Science to Historical Egyptology Discoveries to Music in every Genre

[@slatticus]

Was born in New York, moved to Memphis, TN when I was 8 and lived here ever since and I’m 22. I love this city and would never let anyone disrespect the city but when I say this is not a city you would want to stay in for a lifetime, it isn’t. This video is very true but in today’s day and age you have 10 year olds hanging with people who are 36 year olds stealing cars. Murder rate is so bad the people of Memphis brag about us being one of the top cities for it. Also, crime is only getting worse due to carjackings and A LOT more other crimes.

[@reality4434]

Chief of Police and City DA = Equity enforcement!

[@kaydod3190]

I disrespect the city all day everyday now do something about it

[@JusNoBS420]

I’m a new subscriber and think your content is great. Love your channels theme. Just wish they were longer. But that being said you pack a lot of information into a them and have a great speaking voice.

[@PrydeWater901]

The cocaine 80s and crack 90s played a pivotal role in the decline of Memphis. I graduated from Hamilton seeing administration turn a blind eye to inappropriate relationships with students. FedEx and temp agencies were the bulk of the “career” opportunities. I left multiple times, this time with no plans to return to live. The food is arguably the best in the country, though. Try Pirtle’s chicken and Dixie Queen burgers. Barbecue restaurants are plentiful and will suit just about any taste. Barbecue from any other region just won’t do. The soul is there, the heart is lacking. Long live Stax Records!

[@renealexander2703]

Some Dude Doing Stuff, that's not true. Memphis was nice in the 80s and 90s.

[@PrydeWater901]

@@renealexander2703 I think you may have misunderstood. Drugs were the catalyst.

[@renealexander2703]

@@PrydeWater901 , but there were drugs before the 80s. Memphis was still nice in the 80s and 90s. There were things that happened later that made the city go downhill.

[@PrydeWater901]

@@renealexander2703 I guess we lived in different parts.

[@renealexander2703]

@@PrydeWater901 , well, I didn't live there. But I do have friends who live there. However, I respect the way you feel. I guess I've just seen other parts of Memphis during the 80s and 90s that were still nice. Take care and good luck.

[@pastoryau2237]

We moved to Memphis in early 1993 and got stuck here. We didn't see anything changed for the better in the last almost 30 years. Reason? NO leadership at all. From the City to the County, it's all the same, lacking leaders with vision and strategy to bring the city back to her feet. We lost the international airport hub status to Nashville to become a regional one, with much higher tickets prices anywhere you want to go. It's sad that Memphis retains the title of "the worst crime city" in the nation. To tip the scale worse: We are one of the very few highest sales tax states in the nation at 9.75%. The only thing that is attractive: housing is cheaper here than many parts of the nation. Why? No one wants to move here.

[@howardkerr8174]

I was transferred (back) to Memphis in 1988 and stayed for 22 years. Absolutely everything you say is true. The city and county have fought consolidation for decades, and as a consequence the suburbs/unincorporated areas of Memphis have drawn the best and brightest of this end of Tennessee. The city itself is quite violent, the homeless population when I lived there were the most aggressive I have ever encountered, but for me, the cherry on the sundae was how proud most residents were of their 2nd or 3rd rate status as a large city. BTW, in the 22 years I lived there, my home was broken into twice, my cars, 4 or 5 times...maybe more, and by and large folks displayed an extremely twisted idea of " Southern hospitality. " Jacksonville, Florida has been better but seems to now have fallen into the same pit as Memphis in some areas.

[@Linkbetweenus27]

Tennessee has the highest sales tax in the country, but we also don’t have an income tax. It really offsets it.

[@Dea8769]

Guns and thugs…. That’s what happened..trash and abandoned buildings

[@Tatsunami_Studios]

Born and raised here in Memphis. All I can say is don’t visit. You are likely to get shot for driving too slow or your car broken into while you are out at a restaurant. Oh, and Graceland is in the hood.

[@Shadow-hv2vp]

Bruh I'm from St Louis , everything you just mentioned happens on the regular here😂 Shooting and acting a plum fool is what we known for.😂

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

Same. Born and raised and agree with everything you said. STAY OUT OF MEMPHIS

[@zilzainol]

I am from Malaysia. Want to travel to US someday. Memphis on my list..rooting for Memphis Grizzlies..

[@burttheman3697]

I was there last week, and Graceland was so busy! Beale street also very crowded in the evening. We noticed nothing of crime and had a great time. Tip: use Uber instead of regular taxis. We got scammed by a regular one.

[@MikaelFresco]

Its insane to think that this city was once bustling and a tourist spot because it was widely credited for the birth of the rock ‘n’ roll genre and the popularity of Elvis there in the 50s. Makes you think about the change that other cities will see later on in the future.

[@eddiejc1]

Detroit is also a city with a rich musical heritage that has also suffered a steep decline.

[@annawofford559]

CDC is corrupt. Don't need anymore corruption here

[@supersaturn956]

Detroit is rebuilding very well especially downtown.

[@kaydod3190]

Memphis isn’t the birth of rock’n’roll genre

[@MikaelFresco]

@@kaydod3190 Yes it is

[@hectorportillo4001]

You forget to mention that memphis has also very good hospitals

[@kaydod3190]

No it doesn’t

[@robertsmith1865]

No it doesn't

[@nick9602]

@@kaydod3190 Yes we do?😂

[@nick9602]

One of the only good modern things we have

[@kaydod3190]

@@nick9602 No

[@thejackrabbithole-5311]

Good analogy. Well said!

[@robertsmith1865]

The problem with this city it refuses to spread the wealth around. Memphis has always been known to be a boring town. The public transportation sucks, it was better in the 60sand 70s. The city keep cutting routes down. Ex Mayor Herreton tried to get city council to update public transportation with public train system like ATL. They refused. The power that be killed downtown in the 70s after closing off Main street Memphis believes in building new buildings and tourists will come. Refused casino, blues museum, let go of Libertyland. Puts more value on barbeque than education for school children. Beale street sucks. Cost too much to fly in and out of Memphis.

[@777macdude]

🤔 interesting,so you had a problem with the whole city of Memphis??? Wow 😳

[@robertsmith1865]

@@777macdude I have had a problem with the politicians that have and do run the town.

[@777macdude]

@@robertsmith1865 okay, I can agree with that. New leadership is in the local government now though

[@wwsciffsww3748]

Thank you for complimenting Atlanta on our public transportation, we don't get it often. Usually we are the laughingstock of large US cities in this regard (unless Dallas and Houston are involved, then we can pick on them lol)

[@kaydod3190]

💯 💯 💯

[@toddbowles8201]

I spent much of my life near Memphis and crime is s the main reason for the decline

[@perfumegoose]

Born in Memphis in 1959 and lived there until 1995, minus 6 years in the Navy. Moved to Nashville in 1995. been here every since. Nashville's potential was known in the 80's and you would here about in Memphis. Someone in the comments said leadership was the problem, and I agree. But I am almost ready to move back, as I think Nashville has too much going own. Housing is ridiculous, a shortage. The infrastructure is suffering and because of construction animals have no where to go. It still is an awesome place, but you better be somewhat well off, like all the Commiefornians that are moving here(I don;t blame them)

[@hoopty.]

I am a Memphis native, and I thought about moving to Nashville. I see that it is a extremely bad idea, because it's way above my budget, and to me it's not worth it. I love Nashville, but if I'm going to pay those prices to live, I'd rather just move back to Dallas, or Houston.

[@mpskin49]

Bingo! Nashville is now experiencing a population decline because last year it reported more people leaving that moving there. One reason is, the people from California that moved there had disposable income of $136,000. Think about that. That drove everything sky high and it will not come back down. Eventually, the inevitable will happen

[@thejackrabbithole-5311]

Yes, empathize with transplants, however, they need to leave their politics back where they came from. Lest the place they fled to will become just like where they fled from.

[@777macdude]

Interesting 🤔

[@whbgegs5571]

@@thejackrabbithole-5311 PREACH IT!!!

[@jamesboyce9395]

politics, that's what happened to my city,

[@randyjowers6388]

Ding ding ding ding The only CORRECT answer.

[@arkennymoore3661]

Well said!!!!!

[@scottiedoesntknow9897]

After moving away to NY,MI,IL,CO,LA,KY I can attest Memphis is the best all around for living. Cost of Living is extremely low, what gets you a 1 Bedroom somewhere else will give you a house with a yard in Memphis. No Income Tax, crime is really only if you're running with people you shouldn't, the food and customer service is not to be taken for granted, and it has the biggest outdoor park in Shelby Farms. Plus cheap flights, live bands and sports. The only people who hate Memphis tend to be people who haven't experienced anything else.

[@jtommyprice]

You just better be careful and best to be armed.

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

Memphis is NOT the best for living. Look it up

[@memp6000]

Born, raised, and live in Memphis. I would say that this video is fair but also not in some ways. I’ll just say that the city has a lot more going for it these days than it did ten years ago. A lot more of amenities and development going on than previously. Crime is definitely a problem right now. But I also think comparing it to other cities in this series isn’t exactly fair.

[@kaydod3190]

It has absolutely nothing going for it

[@rameythe1]

Crime been a problem since the 90s mostly murders

[@sheaparkersp]

@@kaydod3190 you probably have never even lived here.

[@tcl_doctordull7028]

Yea I live in Memphis and it doesn't feel very "lively" you won't typically see people from another place here, especially where tourists would be like in Elvis Presley and other areas.

[@maryannemelenka9250]

There are other worse cities. Memphis is important for history. Birth of great music entertainers, historic tragedies which is still important. Civil rights, St Jude’s, Elvis good people came from here not just criminals. You have to see Memphis if you want to appreciate the poor and low economic s. Tv desensitizes you , but you learn from seeing this town. The good and bad that every city has . I loved the history of the city, Graceland , Mississippi. Glamor to

[@taiuqsab]

My prom was at mud island park 10 years ago. Such a beautiful place and view. Whenever I go back to visit, I go there to walk and clear my head. It’s one of the few places you can sit right on the edge of the river in solitude. Parking is cheap too.

[@kaydod3190]

You need to travel more if you think mud island is beautiful

[@taiuqsab]

@@kaydod3190 ok

[@taraputnam8390]

Big companies that think about coming here get scared off due to the unions, lack of work ethics, and high crime.

[@bobwallace9814]

Born in Memphis. Everyone keeps dancing around the elephant in the small room. Memphis suffers from the same affliction that other US cities do that share no common employers or industry. History and facts bear out the truth but no one wants to hear it. Memphis and others are now five generations into LBJ's Great Society program of the sixties. Black nuclear families were at over 80% and now? I would bet Memphis has fallen below 15%. Govt programs have become the "head of household". Five plus generations of baby mommas. Govt programs to insure the voting bloc for Dems. LBJ said it out loud to the press....."We'll have those N's voting for Democrats for the next 50 years". Was he wrong? This is what ails Memphis and all other cities. The Dems have created new era plantations to keep Blacks in.

[@njv1234]

Memphis is the Cleveland of the South

[@HypnoSwag]

More like the Chicago of the south.

[@kaydod3190]

The toilet bowl of the south

[@MATTNMEMPHIS]

Raised here and in Bartlett since 1973 and Memphis, aside from a brief uptick in the 80's, has been slowly dying and what we are seeing now is the decomposition of a dead corpse. The rot has now spread to Shelby County and I am looking to get out. In about 10 years, it will only be useful as an airport for people to get to Blue Oval City in Haywood County. Fayette, Tipton and the Northern Counties of Mississippi will be the new Metropolis. So Memphis is now just like Detroit. There, I said it.

[@LIFEWITHTHEJONESES1]

You should do a whole video on Nashville vs Memphis

[@nathanielh786]

All you have to look at is the demographics. It's really not hard. It's the same in every city plagued with poverty and violence.

[@dknowles60]

and city that is dem run

[@cariemorgangraff4829]

Democrats

[@dknowles60]

@@cariemorgangraff4829 I think the dems have been in Charge of Memphis for at least 80 years

[@cariemorgangraff4829]

@@dknowles60 yes I know at least since the 70’s.

[@kaydod3190]

Exactly! 🧔🏿‍♂️👨🏿‍🦱👩🏿

[@birungisidahkizito5020]

I was in Memphis 3 weeks ago it was a nice experience and I'm looking forward to the next time ❤️

[@kaydod3190]

Lol 😂

[@alk61695]

Memphis also has The Peabody Hotel, which is known for the ducks in the main fountain.

[@reverend_wintondupree]

And is also on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places

[@jayyswrld2464]

That is so amazing

[@haywardgarner4850]

The Peabody went through a major renovation in the 80s. The workers followed the original blueprints to make sure they didn’t do unnecessary damage. Nevertheless, after tearing through a brick wall, they hit a large water pipe. It turns out the Peabody had two connections to Memphis City’s water, but only one was officially on the record. The Peabody had been stealing half its water for decades!

[@JaKingScomez]

@@jayyswrld2464 wow amazing birds flew into a water fountain

[@jayyswrld2464]

@@JaKingScomez it's a once in a lifetime experience

[@genebaket]

I am a lifelong resident of Memphis Tennessee, do I really have to spell out what the problem is?

[@kaydod3190]

Lifelong resident? That sounds so depressing

[@scottyt6024]

What happened to memphis? Mayor willie Herrington, that’s what. I was born and raised there.

[@COVID-cm4rn]

I just took a short trip with my wife to memphis last week and i thought it was cool. Beale st was soso but graceland was good and sun records tour was good also. I liked the bass pro shop and we did see the ducks at the peabody. My wife really loved gus fried chicken and said would go back just for that.

[@blancamiranda778]

Yea...I was there recently an enjoyed the same‼️ im im Chicago an Older so I would consider buying a little piece of land🏕

[@whbgegs5571]

Drive out to Mason next time to the original gus's... it's so good. no atmosphere, but you won't care

[@kaydod3190]

Whoopde Doo…. Soooo fun 🙄🤦🏻‍♀️

[@darlinee2911]

As far as I'm concern Willie Harrington should still be our mayor

[@leoncaples2947]

Can't go wrong with Gus's 😉

[@MrPAULONEAL]

It was originally named after the city in Egypt and was visited by royalties...

[@muchlovegambine949]

32 year old Memphis native. Had to move away but still love my city but it’s A lot of work need to be done

[@kaydod3190]

Not a flex you Memphrican

[@davejarvis7522]

Crime,crime,crime. That's why

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

#1 problem. No solutions in sight

[@monroetrotter1381]

Born and raised in Memphis. I remember how valiantly officials and developers struggled to market Beale St. as white as possible, employing tired, wholly inauthentic white “blues men” used to cement the image. It was racist,revisionist leadership way back in the 1980’s who lost out to Nashville, where they embraced, honored and monetized their culture and history. Memphis did not and still doesn’t. I will amend this post to say that Memphis has always been led by a coterie of good old boys with very small…minds. In their determined preoccupation to hold Black Memphis back from economic advancement, Cletus prevented the entire city from joining the 20th and the 21st centuries in a national capacity. Hardwood is an export commodity. Hate is not. The static Memphis skyline says it all…Wealthy, connected white men without vision. Poor, scraggly white ones with guns. These two groups established the social basis and economics of the city that remain to this very day. Mayor Herenton didn’t do this. Boss Crump did.

[@sameenergy9414]

Damn shame

[@krisstarring]

The legacy of the Boss Crump era is still there. Harold Ford's family had connections to the Crump political machine and well, you see where it went from there. I grew up in Memphis back in the early 90's but live in Atlanta now. Every time I go back, it's like nothing there ever changes. And if it does, it's almost never for the better. Around the millennium it seemed like the city was turning a corner but that all fizzled out after the Great Recession hit in 2008. All the places I used to go and hang out are hollowed out or gone. Mall of Memphis is wiped off the map. Hickory Ridge Mall which I lived behind is a zombie mall at best; open but nearly empty. Mid-South Coliseum is sitting in redevelopment hell. I used to go to many Memphis Riverkings hockey games there before they crossed the state line into Southaven. Libertyland and Adventure River waterpark are gone too. I lived in Hickory Hill which at the time was about 50/50 white and Black. I had many friends there as a kid and honestly, race never felt like an issue. But flash forward 25 years later, it seems like the city is more segregated now than it was then and quite honestly, it's depressing. I could go into the whole new "municipal school district" mania in Shelby County that started after SCS and Memphis City Schools were merged. They shoehorned in a bill made just especially for Shelby County through the Tennessee legislature to create that Balkanized mess. We all know why they did it despite whatever BS they want to say about it. To be clear, you visit the area now, you'd think Brown vs. Board never happened. But that's Memphis/Shelby County politics for you. Getting pissed on by good ol' boys that will tell you it's raining. I mean, metro Atlanta's got its own sort of problems, yes, but at least it doesn't feel like its stuck in the 1950's.

[@johnlockett9957]

That's ridiculous. Memphis is majority black constituency run by majority black/Democrat leadership since the 80's. Blaming all its problems on white people is intellectually dishonest, pure propaganda and divisive.

[@kenzoblytheproducertv4934]

Why was I just saying the same thang about Memphis Skyline good grief have you been to Nashville lately???Nashville skyline makes Memphis skyline look ancestral!!!

[@robertsmith1865]

@@krisstarring You can't tell the average Memphian this, they believe that Memphis TN is the fire

[@newwbein]

There’s a new $74mill project in construction turning north side high into a learning center, hospital, and job skill development. We are finally on the on up. Just give it some time💪🏾

[@kaydod3190]

😂😂😂 keep dreaming Laquan

[@newwbein]

@@kaydod3190 i don’t have to dream im driving past construction everyday. Why are you flooding this video with hateful comments? Is everything alright with you? You don’t seem to be doing too well.

[@Herecomesthethruth]

This video makes it seem like the decline of Memphis just happened.i moved to Memphis in 1991,in East Memphis off Ross road,it was so nice.long story short now that whole area,and most of all of east Memphis is a total dump.memphis is a gangland of thugs, crooks,and criminals.not many places you can live in Memphis now,oh and not to mention the people that have been put in charge, then we act like we're surprised.

[@jennyzubiri9312]

you have a completely different definition of East Memphis from normal people. East Memphis is still very nice. It's like Germantown but in the city

[@Herecomesthethruth]

@@jennyzubiri9312 .so you think the area around where central church used to be is nice?your comment speaks for itself

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

​@@jennyzubiri9312you must be newish to Shelby County. Gtown and East Memphis ain't what they used to be.

[@kaydod3190]

@@jennyzubiri9312 Not ALL of East Memphis is nice, half of it is the ghetto

[@savannakokitka601]

Nashville is pretty much the foothills of the Smokey mountains which are absolutely breathtaking. So there’s that.

[@Deleanredtiger]

I think you mean Knoxville

[@CometianGoddess]

I'm at home. Right now. On Ross and Winchester. I moved to Memphis from horn lake in 2004. Only a few minor issues since then. I've decided that I'm not going to let the masses tell me about my city. I get out and go to places! Some I know too stay away from.. but that's everywhere, every city, every state has places you should stay away from. Yes... you must protect your belongings. Sure.. you probably should have protection. But as i said, you gotta do that no matter where you go! There's tons to do. You gotta get up and get out to know! It's pretty quiet in my neighborhood and yea, my daughter's school sucks but I nor any parent I personally know go to school board meetings and such. I say that to say this, Memphis is a great city with many opportunities. You just have to put in work to find them!

[@daveburke8615]

you know what "they" say about following the masses...sometimes the "M" is silent...

[@CometianGoddess]

@@daveburke8615 good one! 😆😆😆😆😆😉

[@xaviernorman3059]

I grew up in north memhis in the early 2000' s. Remember my dad used to work at the Peabody and downtown was always a cool place to go to. Over the last few years even before covid, downtown has become a shell of what it once was. It's sad to see what memphis as a hole looked like growing up and how it looks now

[@777macdude]

They steadily building downtown,I'm in construction.

[@xaviernorman3059]

@@777macdude yea I I they tryna build it back up. But my hope is that I ain't gone be there for it

[@millychap7849]

All these jobs in Memphis and good paying easy jobs if you're young not retired and not working that's means you don't want to work

[@renealexander2703]

@@millychap7849 , that's not true. Just because there are jobs does not mean people can easily get them.

[@chrisj1265]

I go to college in Memphis and I promise talent flight is very real.

[@akwasiregister9529]

Favorable weather!?! When did you visit? January? From late June to late September, I wouldn't recommend anybody visit. It has above 90°F temperatures and 90% humidity everyday! I grow up there as a kid and now I'm stuck in Cleveland with you. If I was rich enough, Winters in Memphis and summers in Cleveland are the way to go. Can't beat either for cost of living in a large city in my opinion.

[@lilitharam44]

Truth. It's horrible here this time of year! We haven't had a real rain in over a month.

[@bagels7916]

I live here, too & was thinking the same. Favorable weather…nooooope not for half the year. 🤣

[@easylife6348]

Favorable weather as weather is under 100 degrees most of the time

[@akwasiregister9529]

@@easylife6348 your not from Memphis are you. I'll do 100°F in Las Vegas any day; not Memphis. The heat index and lack of wind will keep you in the house during the day and the mosquitoes will keep you inside at night.

[@easylife6348]

@@akwasiregister9529 my guy I’m living in memphis right now, Im living in memphis since I was 8 months old

[@johnm.515]

Liberal policies and corruption.

[@Babyface6200]

I would like for this video to come down. As someone who sits on the council meetings of Memphis I would like to announce that Memphis has a lot of infrastructure that is coming to the city soon. Quite possibly in the next 10 years this city will look a lot different than it was plenty of years ago. Many companies are moving their industry to the Memphis metropolitan area which is improving our economy. Now I may agree with you that our crime rate is horrible however the city initiative to tackle crime Is on the way.

[@kaydod3190]

Shut Up

[@davyboy9397]

I'll believe it when I see it

[@allenatkins2263]

The same thing that happened to Detroit.

[@yolandas.6193]

Lots of temp agencies in Memphis. When my friend first moved there he exclaimed that there was nothing but low wage staffing agencies. And lots of factories and low wage jobs. And lots of wage Theft. Yes. The companies steal wages from those at the bottom. Also, Memphis was one of the only places where I saw children working in a warehouse. Kids that appeared to be as young as 7.

[@GBlevins]

A well presented and accurate accounting of Memphis' past and current state. Though, I would be curious what your thoughts are effect the assassination of Dr. King had on Memphis' trajectory. It is my opinion this was a major turning point for the city. I'm not sure they ever really recovered.

[@ManeManStan]

Memphis needs to aggressively commit to it's 3.0 plan and increase density. Density will raise the necessary tax revenue to tackle it's crime, poor education, and aging infrastructure. The city has good bones so a come back this century should, hopefully, be expected.

[@swinde]

Memphis is denser than Nashville (davidson county) in Shelby county by 200,000 people. We need industry to come back. This problem is prevalent to almost all of the cities in the central part of the US. Little Rock, Louisville, Chattanooga, and cities in Ohio that lost many manufacturing jobs over the last 60 years.

[@bobbyjustin8691]

Lie if it ain’t jobs here !! FedEx is hiring every day !! Memphis is a beautiful city, it’s the people that give it a bad rep ! I lived here for the last 8 years and I love it , the women are absolute and the food is A1

[@forgottenplaces9780]

I never said there were no jobs

[@kaydod3190]

Beautiful city? Have you ever been to Vancouver?

[@aarronfleming2375]

“Its own version of barbecue” You mean the only place in America that has real barbecue

[@magicalmissmothieakamothmo2521]

Now the main attraction is some drag queen and her show at Black Lodge. Catch Rainbow Rumble every month at BL!!! Cleveland and crosstown area! $15 for the best drag show in the country!!!

[@magicalmissmothieakamothmo2521]

“Put that in your drag pipe and smoke it!” -Crystal Jo Casino

[@extendedarms]

Hope everyone day is going as planned. Be Safe ❤️

[@Zeakthecat]

i remember when my dad told me this story, from when he lived in memphis with his greedy father, his kind mom, and his 3 slibings, 2 brothers 1 sister: "after martin luther king jr got assassinated in that hotel room, mom and dad would go outside with shotguns in hand to protect the house from rioters and looters that had plagued the city. it was a scary time for me and my brothers and sister, and it wasn't safe." suffice to say, memphis since his death, turned into what we call here in the south as "little africa", its where the perceived majority is black or half black. after 1988 my father moved out of memphis to jackson tn to be safe from the rising crime memphis was having. while the term "little africa" is borderline racist in nature, it is revealed in the statistics tho, that almost 65% of memphis' population is black, and over 27% is white. with the broken family in the black communities, it stands to reason that you ain't gonna have peace in a majority population of black people in a city, its gonna be gang wars and criminal activity galore. unfortunately black people in this country has been harshly hit by anti family polices of the 20th and 21st centuries.

[@Kass1no]

They set Black folk up

[@kaydod3190]

It’s Memphganistan now

[@davyboy9397]

You are one of the very few people that are willing to address the elephant in the room. I live in Arlington but my family has deep roots in Memphis... Everyone making excuses for the poor state of Memphis on here are pathetic

[@Zeakthecat]

@@davyboy9397 never lived there, but I would hear stories from dad and my uncle. Nothing good I assure you. Went down there to drive for doordash, got flashed by a black toddler and I never went back.

[@rackss1661]

Memphis is 65 percent Black

[@michaelcavallaro5064]

do you want the real reason or the PC reason ???

[@hudsondean2812]

the real reason

[@777macdude]

All the black people in Memphis f*cked it.... supposedly. Even though racist whites put these plans in place. Y'all forgot about racist mayor Crump.

[@daniellereid7576]

Memphis looks like it’s in 1992 compared to nashville that’s advance and thriving but Memphis it’s slum looking ragdy streets crime poor living everywhere sum places upscale jus look like 1992 there

[@kaydod3190]

No it looks like it’s in the 50s/60s