Memphis, Tennessee has a rich and complex history in Black history. The city played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement and was a key cultural center for African Americans in the South.

One of the most prominent events in Memphis's Black history is the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968. Dr. King was in Memphis to support striking African American sanitation workers when he was tragically killed at the Lorraine Motel. This event had a profound impact on the Civil Rights Movement and on the city of Memphis.

Memphis was also home to influential figures in Black history, such as Ida B. Wells, a renowned journalist and civil rights activist who led the anti-lynching movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Additionally, musicians like B.B. King and Aretha Franklin helped shape the city's rich musical legacy in genres like blues and soul.

In more recent history, Memphis has seen the rise of prominent Black leaders, such as Mayor Willie Herenton, who was the city's first African American mayor, serving from 1992 to 2009.

Overall, Memphis has a complex and storied history in Black history, with a legacy of activism, culture, and resilience that continues to shape the city today.