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Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
$1.5M donation given to rebuild Clayborn Temple
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A $1.5 million donation has been given to Clayborn Temple to be rebuilt after it was destroyed by fire that was intentionally set. The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund kicked off the fundraising campaign with a $1.5 million grant. A news conference was held marking a month since the Clayborn Temple fire. Fire destroys Clayborn Temple, historic Memphis church with ties to Civil Rights movement 'We have spent a month mourning, it's been a month of tears,' said Anasa Troutman, Founder and Executive Director of Historic Clayborn Team. Clayborn Temple was the launching point for a march for sanitation workers' rights that brought Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Memphis in 1968. The iconic 'I Am A Man' signs used in the march were printed there. Dr. King planned to march with sanitation workers from Clayborn Temple on April 8, before he was assassinated on April 4 on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. His wife, Coretta Scott King, led strikers and thousands of supporters in his place. The building dates to 1892, when it was originally Second Presbyterian Church. In 1949, the building was sold to the African Methodist Episcopal church and was renamed Clayborn Temple. Clayborn Temple fire ruled arson; person sought 'Just imagine what this is going to look like when it is complete,' said Martin Luther King II, Civil Rights Activist. 'This is a sacred place for our city, and as we talk about what's next, we want you to know that Memphis is going to be apart– that the city is going to play a role in what's next,' said Mayor Paul Young. People at Clayborn Temple have started design work, and new designs will be made for the remaining portions. 'Memphis is known for its grit and its grind, and because of that spirit, we are going to make Clayborn Temple what it was, make it even better,' said Congressman Steve Cohen. 'We might cry tomorrow, we might cry next week, but today, while we are together, we are going to rejoice in the beauty and the power and the possibility of what remains behind us, Clayborn Temple has been damaged, but it has not been destroyed,' said Troutman. There is a $10,000 reward for any information on the suspect who set the fire. If you have any information, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Calls grow to rebuild fire-damaged Clayborn Temple
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — It's been nine days since the historic, 133-year-old Clayborn Temple caught fire, and now there are calls from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to rebuild it. You can't talk about the history of Civil Rights in Memphis without bringing up the Clayborn Temple. 'It had become the epicenter for the Civil Rights movement and cultural activities in the city of Memphis,' said Dr. LaSimba Gray, an SCLC member. 'The signs 'I Am A Man' we're printed in the building by the pastor at the time, Malcolm Blackwell, so you have a lot of fond memories of this building.' Fire destroys Clayborn Temple, historic Memphis church with ties to Civil Rights movement And while ruins now stand in the place where history was made, Dr. Gray and his colleagues have a clear vision on what they'd like to see going forward. 'Restore it to its original grandeur, and continue programs that would continue the racial progress that were made during its tenure and existence,' Gray said. Fundraising efforts for the temple are led by Anasa Troutman and the Big We Foundation in Memphis, The SCLC is calling on federal funding as well. Could Clayborn Temple rise from the ashes? A preservationist weighs in While what's happened is nothing short of a disaster, Dr. Gray is inspired by the support for the landmark. 'The interest is growing and the better the weather gets the more support you will see for this project. Ms. Troutman is not in the by herself she has a whole community walking with her and the Big We Foundation will be supported by all of us,' Gray said. Dr. Gray asks if you'd like to donate, please visit the Big We Foundation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Clayborn Temple wall collapses due to strong winds: MFD
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Part of the fire-damaged remains of Clayborn Temple collapsed due to strong winds and severe storm conditions, the Memphis Fire Department says. At 9:30 Wednesday night, the Memphis Fire Department Incident Commander advised dispatch that the east wall of Clayborn Temple had collapsed due to strong winds and severe storm conditions. ORIGINAL Fire destroys Clayborn Temple, historic Memphis church with ties to Civil Rights movement The historic church at the intersection of Hernando Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue went up in flames around 1:30 a.m. Monday. Clayborn Temple was the launching point for a march for sanitation workers' rights that brought Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Memphis in 1968. The iconic 'I Am A Man' signs used in the march were printed there. Dr. King planned to march with sanitation workers from Clayborn Temple on April 8, before he was assassinated on April 4 on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. His wife, Coretta Scott King, led strikers and thousands of supporters in his place. ATF, MFD search for clues after Clayborn Temple lost to fire The building dates to 1892, when it was originally Second Presbyterian Church. In 1949, the building was sold to the African Methodist Episcopal church and was renamed Clayborn Temple. In 2018, the National Trust for Historic Preservation officially named the church a national treasure. In 2023, a $6 million restoration of the temple was completed and is the site of the I Am A Man Plaza. Mayor Paul Young visited the site Monday morning, saying that the work that went on in Clayborn Temple, one of Memphis's greatest treasures, will continue. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Black America Web
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Black America Web
Clayborn Temple, Historic Landmark In Memphis With Ties To Martin Luther King Jr., Catches Fire
Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE Source: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / Getty A historic landmark in downtown Memphis with ties to the Civil Rights movement tragically caught fire on Monday morning. According to WREG, the Memphis Fire Department and the ATF are still investigating what caused Clayborn Temple, a place of worship at the intersection of Hernando Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, to be engulfed in flames. In the meantime, community leaders in Memphis are left reeling over the destruction and hoping the temple will be restored. 'Clayborn Temple is more than a historic building. It is a sacred ground. It is the beating heart of the civil rights movement, a symbol of struggle, hope, and triumph that belongs not just to Memphis but to the world,' Memphis Mayor Paul Young said via press release. 'Clayborn Temple has seen struggle before, and it has always overcome. So will we.' Dr. Russ Wigginton, President of the National Civil Rights Museum, also lamented the tragedy, but, like the mayor, he expressed hope and optimism, declaring that the fire could take down the temple's walls, 'but it cannot destroy the spirit that built them.' 'The recent fire that consumed Clayborn Temple is a devastating blow, not only to Memphis but to the nation,' Wiggington said in a statement. 'This historic church, a nerve center of the Civil Rights Movement, was more than just bricks and stained glass; it was a beating heart of a community that chose unity over division, progress over fear, and community over chaos.' Here's a little more history on the temple via WREG: Clayborn Temple was the launching point for a march for sanitation workers' rights that brought Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Memphis in 1968. The iconic 'I Am A Man' signs used in the march were printed there. Dr. King planned to march with sanitation workers from Clayborn Temple on April 8, before he was assassinated April 4 on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. His wife, Coretta Scott King, led strikers and thousands of supporters in his place. The building dates to 1892, when it was originally Second Presbyterian Church. In 2018, the National Trust for Historic Preservation officially named the church a national treasure. It has been undergoing a multi-million dollar restoration and is the site of the I Am A Man Plaza. Fire Chief Gina Sweat reported that firefighters were still putting out hot spots around 9 a.m. Monday morning. It's unclear how extensive the damage is, but photos taken at the scene show a building consumed in flames and a building in ruin in the aftermath, indicating that any road to recovery will be a long one. SEE ALSO: Memphis Police Sergeant Under Fire For Suggesting Descendants Of Slave Owners Are Owed Reparations Candace Owens' MAGA Meltdown: The Hypocrisy, The Flip-Flop, and the Fallout SEE ALSO Clayborn Temple, Historic Landmark In Memphis With Ties To Martin Luther King Jr., Catches Fire was originally published on
Reuters
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Memphis church key to Martin Luther King's last campaign destroyed by fire
April 28 (Reuters) - A historic Black church in Memphis, Tennessee, that was an organizing point for Martin Luther King's last civil rights campaign caught fire early on Monday morning and was badly damaged. The inside of the Clayborn Temple was gutted by flames, leaving only exterior walls standing, Memphis Fire Chief Gina Sweat told a press conference. The Reuters Tariff Watch newsletter is your daily guide to the latest global trade and tariff news. Sign up here. Police were investigating the cause of the blaze reported at 1:39 a.m., she said. A monument with the words "I Am A Man" remained standing outside the church, marking its role as the headquarters from which Black sanitation workers marched in a 1968 strike to protest inhumane working conditions. Many carried placards bearing that slogan. King traveled to Memphis that year to lead a march and was assassinated the day before on April 4, 1968. "Clayborn is more than a historic building. It is sacred ground. It is the beating heart of the civil rights movement, a symbol of struggle, hope, and triumph that belongs not just to Memphis but to the world," Memphis Mayor Paul Young wrote on social media. At the time of the blaze the church was undergoing a $14 million restoration that included creation of a museum and a performance space, according to the Clayborn Temple website. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Romanesque Revival church was built in 1892 and originally served an all-white congregation. It was sold to the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1949 and renamed Clayborn Temple after their bishop.
