By Lee Eric Smith
You ever have a moment where you recognize a name, but don’t know exactly why? And then, when you figure it out, it blows your mind?
I had one of those moments Friday, when I met acclaimed author Preston Lauterbach. Lauterbach was the featured guest at a lunchtime event hosted by Kudzukian Networks at the Paradise Entertainment Center on Georgia Avenue. Dozens of people turned out for the occasion, which doubled as a chance for the Memphis Heritage Trail to share updates on efforts to promote the South City part of Memphis, just south of downtown.
Anyway, I’d read this brilliant piece about Memphis segregation several months ago, but forgot the author’s name. Turned out, of course, that it was Lauterbach, who unearthed lost Memphis history with his book “Beale Street Dynasty.” Another book, “Chitlin’ Circuit” features Memphis’ role in American music as well.
Anyway, to hear him talk about Memphis history is powerful and fascinating by itself. But as a bonus, Lauterbach, who hails from Charlottesville, Va., also talked about the recent racial strife there and the importance of symbols. And he pitched the fascinating idea of an Ida B. Wells statue strategically placed directly opposite the controversial Nathan Bedford Forrest statue at Health Sciences Park.
“What if you put a life-size statue of diminuative, humble Ida B. Wells right in his face? Like standing up to this larger than life figure?” Lauterbach said. “To me, that’s power. That’s REAL power.”
That clip and a couple others below . . . Enjoy!
