ROOTED 2025: Memphis Freedom Routes

Experience Black Economic Power in Motion

Memphis, TN, is home to a legacy of Black resilience, economic empowerment, and cultural pride. From the historic streets of Orange Mound, one of the first Black-built communities in America, to the city’s thriving Black business districts, Memphis has long been a beacon of self-determination and collective progress. As part of ROOTED 2025’s nationwide movement, this Freedom Route will take you through Orange Mound and surrounding Black business corridors, celebrating the past, present, and future of Black economic excellence in Memphis.

April 19, 2025: Orange Mound Business District

• Explore Orange Mound, one of the first communities in the U.S. built by and for Black people, where the spirit of economic independence still thrives.

• Engage with Memphis’ dynamic Black business community, where entrepreneurs, creatives, and activists continue to shape the city’s economic landscape.