Lynching Sites Project Memphis

In 2015, a group of Memphis citizens began a project called the Lynching Sites Project Memphis.  According to the group’s website, the Lynching Sites Project Memphis mission statement states that the group “partners with a growing network of organizations and congregations of faith in order to acknowledge our shared history of racial violence and our ongoing resolve for racial justice and racial healing.”  The organization has numerous stated goals, but it’s central mission is to map, locate, and commemorate each of the 4,000 known lynching’s that have occurred in Shelby County.  So far the project has mapped 24 sites on its interactive map, and has built up a solid base of community support for it’s efforts.  While the group’s goals are massive, it’s partnering with the more established Equal Justice Initiative, a group headquartered in Birmingham AL.

One interesting element of Lynching Sites Project Memphis is it’s religious affiliation.  Among the groups stated objectives is the desire “to remain grounded in prayer,” to “engage local religious leaders and congregations in this work,” and to “hold interfaith prayer services.”  As a historian who doesn’t identify with any religion or spiritual identity, this language leads me to question how this project can simultaneously focus on healing and accuracy.  Perhaps I’m just not giving the group enough credit, or maybe my past experiences with more biased projects have led me to question Lynching Sites Project Memphis’ ability to incorporate these two elements into a cohesive project plan.  The group sums up it’s approach with an Ida B. Well’s quote “The way to right wrongs is to shine the light of truth on them,” and her words seem to be a good summation of the project’s goals.  Regardless of my doubts, I hope to learn more about this project and become involved in this fascinating and important digital history project.