Commentary
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Frustration is mounting in Black communities across the country as a wave of recent events calls into question long-standing efforts toward justice, equity and preservation.
In Memphis, jurors acquitted officers in the death of Tyre Nichols, despite widespread public belief that the evidence warranted accountability. Just as Clayborn Temple — a site deeply rooted in the Civil Rights Movement — was nearing completion of a major restoration, it was engulfed in fire. Across the country, diversity, equity and inclusion programs are being dismantled, and every day too many lives are being lost to gun violence despite continued efforts to turn things around.
These moments create a sense of loss, with many fearing that hard-won progress is eroding. Yet history reminds us that every era has faced its own setbacks, and the Black community has always responded with resilience. Time and again, we have refused to passively accept defeat, choosing instead to organize, preserve and build — even rebuild.
From the early 20th-century Rosenwald Schools — where Black communities raised $4.7 million to build schools for children during segregation — to today’s digital archiving efforts, Black people have continually found ways to protect their stories, spaces and institutions. In moments when justice feels out of reach, this enduring commitment to preservation becomes an act of resistance — an expression of restorative justice that reclaims the right to justice, freedom and self-determination.
In Memphis, Orange Mound stands as a living legacy of that resilience. As the first neighborhood in the United States built for and by African Americans, it has become the focus of local revitalization efforts aimed at reclaiming property, building economic strength and preserving cultural identity.
Across the country, historically Black colleges and universities have remained central to Black advancement, even as they face ongoing underfunding threats and accreditation challenges. One of the most enduring sources of support has come from the Divine Nine — the nine historically Black fraternities and sororities founded in the early 20th century. Through unified fundraising campaigns, scholarship programs and national awareness efforts, these organizations have collectively raised millions to ensure HBCUs continue educating generations of Black scholars. Their advocacy reflects a deep, shared commitment to sustaining institutions that have long served as pillars of leadership, empowerment and academic excellence.
Religious institutions have played a critical role in restorative justice, including building and supporting HBCUs. In 1882, the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church founded Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, securing land and leadership to educate newly freed African Americans. That support has spanned generations — not only through Lane, but also through Paine College in Augusta, Georgia, and Texas College in Tyler. Today, Black churches remain vital sources of funding, mentorship and community engagement in the ongoing fight to preserve and protect Black institutions.
Preservation efforts also extend into cultural and historical spaces. Since 2017, the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund has raised more than $150 million to restore and protect sites of Black historical significance — from churches and schools to homes and civic landmarks. These places serve not only as reminders of our past but also as anchors for future identity and belonging.
This work includes preserving the history of some of the most horrific chapters in Black history — particularly the stories of racial terror lynchings. The Lynching Sites Project, a Memphis-based organization, is committed to ensuring the painful legacy of lynching is never forgotten.
“If we in the Black community do not embrace our historical places and stories, I don’t think the generations following us are going to have a clue as to how to deal with institutional racism,” said John Ashworth, the Lynching Site Project’s former executive director and president, now serving on the board. “That is going to be true regardless of how much money or how much education. Knowing our history and knowing the stories will arm our youth to better navigate their way through institutional racism.”
By identifying, marking and sharing the stories behind lynching sites, the project helps communities confront the deep roots of racial violence and systemic racism, offering vital perspective on how these injustices continue to shape Black lives today.
“I believe there is a direct connection between lynching victims and what we are dealing with today. When all of us have a better understanding of what this culture is that we are in, if we truly understand things that happened, we will be able to forge a way. This is why it is important to know and embrace our historical places and stories.”
Elsewhere, national institutions like the Greenwood Rising History Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., stand as testaments to the Black community’s ability to turn frustration into mobilization. Through grassroots organizing and philanthropy, there is a relentless effort to restore, protect and overcome.
Despite today’s setbacks and frustrations — legal, political or cultural — the deeper story is one of recovering, restoring and reflecting on what matters.
To learn more about restoring the local Black landmarks sited in this story and others across the country, visit https://clayborn.org/, https://lynchingsitesmem.org/ and savingplaces.org/african-american-cultural-heritage.
