Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Thomas Moss ~ Calvin McDowell ~ William Henry Stewart
The Lynching at the Curve
Memphis was thrown into a state of shock. Moss, McDowell, and Stewart were part of a thriving black community at "the Curve," where most attended the same church and belonged to the same lodges. Twenty-one-year-old Calvin McDowell was a member of the Tennessee Rifles, a black military organization respected for its service protecting the city during the virulent Yellow Fever epidemics of the 1870s.
Thomas Moss was one of the first black postal carriers in Memphis. Activist Mary Church Terrell, deeply affected by his murder, described "Tom Moss" as one of her best childhood friends. Thomas and his wife Betty were Ida B. Wells' closest friends. She was the godmother to their three-year-old daughter Maurine. Betty was at the time, expecting the family's second child.
The funerals of the three young men were held at Avery Chapel Church. Over 2,500 attended the services. Afterwards, all three victims were interred at Zion Cemetery. Betty Moss fainted at the graveside of her husband.
Trying to make sense out of the horror, journalist Ida B. Wells traveled the South investigating reports of racial violence against blacks. Wells found that the real motivation for white mob violence was not rape but black economic progress. She first published her research in the pamphlet, Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases, 1892.
Zion Cemetery was founded by the United Sons of Zion in 1873. The last burials took place during the 1970s. The cemetery is the resting place for over 30,000 members of the historic black community in Memphis Overtime Zion was abandoned and neglected. In 1990 the Zion community project was established to restore and administer the site. Numerous organizations have contributed to its restoration: students from Kent State University in Ohio; Rhodes College and LeMoyne Owen College in Memphis; Sheffield High School in Memphis; and several local church and community groups like Fellowship Bible Church and Hands on Memphis.
The National Park Service marker is in keeping with the movement to document the history of lynching in America.
Erected 2018.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Civil Rights • Industry & Commerce • Law Enforcement • Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and the Mary Church Terrell series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1892.
Location. 35° 6.572′ N, 90° 0.85′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. Marker is on South Parkway East, 0.7 miles east of South Willett Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1426 South Parkway East, Memphis TN 38106, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Zion Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); Chew C. Sawyer (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); G. P. Hamilton (approx. 0.3 miles away); Calvary Cemetery (approx. 0.6 miles away); Tennessee Williams’ First Play (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Memphis 13/Rozelle Elementary School (approx. 0.7 miles away); Stax Recording Studios (approx. 1.1 miles away); Marion Scudder Griffin (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 17, 2019. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2019, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 909 times since then and 111 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 17, 2019, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.