W E A L L B E Group Inc.
Presents
"UsINg Our Art To Tell Our Stories II: WE REMEMBER FORT PILLOW!!!"
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"Using our Art To Tell Our Stories II: We Remember Fort Pillow!" is the kickoff event prior to the National Fort Pillow Massacre Wreath Laying Ceremony in honor of United States Colored Troops, civilians and Unions soldiers that fought and died during the Fort Pillow Massacre on April 12, 1864. Due to COVID the events (wreath laying and art show) were rescheduled until June 2022. The wreath laying will be on Friday, June 17, 2022 at 10 am at the Memphis National Cemetery.
The art show will run from Saturday, June 11, 2022 through Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at Gallery on Main located at 350 South Main. The opening reception will be on Saturday, June 11, 2022 from 3 pm central- 8 pm central.
We wanted to create a story through the eyes of the artists to allow the audience to see the importance of knowing ones history. The theme of the art works will center around life after the end of slavery for African Americans that does not include Jim Crow, KKK, Segregation, Civil Right Acts, etc. In other words, we are offering an alternative Afro-futuristic spin/perspective on our history post-slavery.
Synopsis:
The original show was held in 2017 and was centered around Massacre of 1864 and its impact after slavery. This year's show will allow you to be a part of this history and to see the works that were created and designed by the artists. The works will show what life would have been like had the Civil War ended under fair circumstances. The works will be breathtaking! Each artist went beyond their objectives to make it moving and heartfelt.
This is also our form of repairing the breach and standing in the gap so that we will always honor those who died at Fort Pillow.
Live Entertainment: DJ Kai’yrs Slayer, Harriet Tubman Speaks, Authors (Angela Green, Esq, etc) and other entertainers.
Please join us on Saturday, June 11, 2022 from 3 pm central-8 pm central at Gallery on Main located at 350 South Main.
Upcoming Event:
Also, come be part of history at the 2022 National Wreath Laying Ceremony held on Friday, June 17, 2022 at 10 am central at the Memphis National Cemetery.
Background History on National Fort Pillow Massacre Wreath Laying Ceremony and Art show:
In 2017, the W E A L L B E Group Inc. (WeAllBe) decided to organize a grassroots Fort Pillow Massacre Commemoration & National Wreath Laying Ceremony from April 11-12, 2017. The Memphis branch of ASALH agreed to participate in the wreath laying portion of the event and helped co-sponsor the wreath with The W.E. A.L.L. B.E. Group, Inc. The commemoration included a memorial service at Christian Fellowship Church MB (old East Trigg Baptist Church) (Pastor Melvin Campbell and Pastor Beasley), wreath-laying ceremony at Memphis National Cemetery, Art Show entitled "Using Our Art To Tell Our Stories: We Remember Fort Pillow!"
While preparing for the 2017 ceremony, during December of 2016, I was contacted by Lyndon Comstock (a professional grave finder of African American soldiers during the Civil War) who provided me with the actual location of the 109 graves that represented the remains of the US Color Troops that were massacred at Fort Pillow on April 12, 1864.
We also had a historical marker revealed on June 19, 2018 at the Memphis National Cemetery. Below are details on the marker:
