Gallery

  • Wells Fargo unveils a civil rights mural outside its Claybrook branch in Memphis, Tenn., on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014. The mural includes an image of three of the Memphis 13, the first elementary students to integrate the Memphis city schools. Attending the event were Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell, Dwania Kyles and Menelik Fombi of the Memphis 13, and a representative of the National Civil Rights Museum. The bank also presented a check for $7,500 to the National Civil Rights Museum. Photo by Lance Murphey
  • October 3, 1961 – Thirteen black first graders entered four of Memphis’ previously all-white schools including Bruce School these students were attending. It marked the beginning of the Board of Education’s “good faith” integration plan for the city’s public school system. The children transferred to Bruce were from left; Harry Williams, son of Mrs. Romanita Williams, Michael Willis, 5, son of Mr. & Mrs. A.W. Willis and Dwania Kyles, 5, daughter of Rev. & Mrs. Samuel B. Kyles. Some 200 police guarded Bruce, Springdale, Rozelle and Gordon schools as school officials surprised the city with the first black first-graders that October morning. Willis, son of prominent black attorney A.W. Willis, later changed his name to Menelik Fombi. (Fred Griffith / The Commercial Appeal)