Until then, let's brush up on our Memphis knowledge. According to Wikipedia, Memphis was first occupied by the Mississippian people over 10,000 years ago. The Chickasaw Indians (Chickasaw Gardens anyone!?) then kicked them out and ruled the land until the Spaniards took over in the 1700s. In 1819, Memphis was founded by Andrew Jackson, John Overton, and James Winchester. Memphis grew quickly as a transportation hub on the Mississippi River and became a center for the cotton business. In the 1870s, a yellow fever epidemic ravaged the city. Luckily there were some pretty cool nuns by the names of Constance and Hughetta who sacrificed their lives to help the sick. (I think they also founded some school on Perkins and Walnut Grove too.) Today Memphis has a population of around 650,000. That means we are the 19th largest city in the United States! The city is well known for many things including Elvis, Beale Street, the Memphis Grizzlies, the Blues, and the Civil Rights Movement.
Some of my high school teachers might not be so keen on the use of Wikipedia here, but I bet you know more about Memphis than you did a few minutes ago!
Oh, and on a totally different note, who the heck knew there was a music video for Walking in Memphis!? Marc Cohn does a fabulous job of making the city look like a quaint country farm where little children run around barefoot singing Gospel hymns, but it's whatever. Hey, as long as he shows Sun Studio and sings his heart out whilst staring out windows, it is all good! Probably wouldn't have helped to include Beale Street...
Also, exciting news! Obama announced today that Booker T. Washington won the "Race to the Top Commencement Challenge," meaning he will be delivering the school's graduation speech. Well done Booker T!
On that note I best go and finish cleaning my room. Feel free to come help if you'd like!
Until tomorrow, BELIEVE MEMPHIS.
