After graduating from Booker T. Washington High School, he pursued his studies at LeMoyne Owen College and Lincoln University, before embarking on a career that would redefine music marketing. From promoting legendary artists like Sam Cooke, Nancy Wilson, and Earth, Wind & Fire, to helping launch hits like Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers’ Bustin’ Loose, Dr. Westbrooks’ influence reached far beyond Memphis. He became the first African American territory salesman at Capitol Records and later served as Director of Special Markets for CBS Records under Clive Davis—a role in which he expanded the reach of Black music globally and created opportunities for countless African American professionals in the industry.

But Dr. Westbrooks’ impact isn’t limited to music. He has always leveraged his success to give back to the community. From supporting youth programs and mentoring future leaders, to creating spaces for local artists to thrive, his work reflects a lifelong commitment to empowering others.

Most recently, Dr. Westbrooks returned to his hometown to celebrate the release of his book Lauderdale Sub at Crosstown Concourse’s Listening Lab. The event brought together local families, artists, and community leaders to honor the history and legacy of the Lauderdale Sub neighborhood. Guests shared stories, celebrated the contributions of families like the Westbrooks, Davenports, Pattersons, and more, and highlighted the importance of preserving and celebrating Memphis’ rich cultural history.

Dr. Logan H. Westbrooks embodies the spirit of Black excellence: a Memphis native who has left a global legacy, nurtured communities, and inspired the next generation of leaders, artists, and storytellers. His story reminds us that with vision, determination, and heart, one person can change an industry—and uplift a city in the process.

The post Black Legacy Lives Here: Dr. Logan H. Westbrooks appeared first on We Are Memphis.

For Brent Hooks, that legacy is both inherited and actively built. 

The native Memphian and regional vice president at Cornerstone Engineering recently became the first professional from Memphis and Tennessee to earn dual recognition on two of the nation’s most prestigious young professional lists in architecture, engineering, and construction: Engineering News-Record’s Top Young Professionals 40 Under 40 and Building Design + Construction’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2025. 

In an industry where representation shapes opportunity, Hooks’ achievement sends a clear message: Memphis produces leaders who shape cities across the country. 

Rooted in Memphis 

Born and raised in Memphis, Hooks’ leadership journey began early. He earned his degree in accounting and finance from the University of Memphis before completing an Executive MBA at Vanderbilt University, building a foundation that blends financial strategy with operational leadership. 

Before joining Cornerstone Engineering, Hooks served as Chief Administrative Officer at Allworld Project Management, helping guide the civil engineering and construction management firm through rapid growth. Under his leadership, the company earned recognition on Inc. Magazine’s Fastest-Growing Companies in America list in 2019 and 2023. 

Allworld played a role in several transformative Memphis developments, including Crosstown Concourse, the Fairgrounds redevelopment, Hotel Chisca, and The Citizen at Union and McLean — projects that continue to shape how residents experience the city. 

Today, Hooks leads strategic growth and operations for Cornerstone across the Southeastern United States, including Memphis, Atlanta, and Birmingham. His work drives business development while ensuring projects directly impact quality of life. His work increasingly intersects with large-scale redevelopment efforts, capital strategy, and public-private partnerships that influence how cities grow. 

“I view my work as an opportunity to make a positive contribution to my community,” Hooks has shared. 

Hooks has expressed long-term ambitions in real estate development and financial structuring, aiming to help shape the next generation of transformative projects in Memphis and beyond. 

A Legacy of Leadership 

Excellence for Hooks is generational. His great-great-grandmother, Julia Britton Hooks, was the first Black woman to attend Berea College. His great-uncle, Benjamin L. Hooks, served as Tennessee’s first Black criminal court judge and later as executive director of the NAACP. 

That legacy informs his commitment to access, opportunity, and civic investment. 

Beyond his executive leadership, Hooks serves on several boards, including the Downtown Memphis Commission, the New Ballet Ensemble & School, and the Chairman ACE Mentor Program of Memphis, supporting economic development and creative growth across the city. 

“This honor reflects the power of Memphis and what’s possible for our young people,” Hooks said of his national recognition. “I hope it inspires students across our city to explore careers in STEM.” 

Brent Hooks’ story is a reminder that Black legacy in Memphis isn’t just historical — it’s present, active, and building the future in real time. 

Because here, excellence doesn’t just live. 

It leads. 

The post Black Legacy Lives Here: Brent Hooks appeared first on We Are Memphis.

Yes, this is the city of barbecue and blues. Yes, it’s where Dr. King was assassinated. But to Carolyn — founder and social curator of A Tour of Possibilities — Memphis is a majority-Black city layered with history that’s often hidden in plain sight.

And she’s made it her mission to uncover it.

A Journey Rooted in Purpose

Carolyn’s path to Memphis began in Washington, D.C., where she worked for a national sightseeing tour company and eventually became a general manager. While there, she began adding African American history to tour scripts, something few national companies were intentionally doing at the time.

After stops in Savannah and Philadelphia, and eventually being downsized, she decided to build something of her own. Drawing from years of experience weaving Black history into public storytelling, she launched A Tour of Possibilities.

Memphis came later — and once she arrived, she quickly realized the city’s untold stories were too powerful to ignore.

“The amount of history that was hidden, often in plain sight,” she says, inspired her to rebuild the tour here in the Bluff City.

It’s the Story in Between

A Tour of Possibilities is a two-and-a-half-hour driving experience that explores Memphis through an African American historical lens.

Guests pass iconic landmarks like the National Civil Rights Museum and Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum. But as Carolyn explains, the heart of the tour isn’t just where you go — it’s what you learn along the way.

“It’s the story in between the landmarks,” she says.

It’s context you won’t find in a guidebook. It’s history woven into neighborhoods, streets, and spaces you might pass every day without realizing their significance. And it’s perspective that reshapes how you see Memphis long after the tour ends.

For Carolyn, this work is about expanding the narrative — honoring the richness, resilience, and contributions of Black Memphians beyond the moments most commonly referenced.

Because Memphis is more than a headline. It’s a living story.

Plan Your Visit

Ready to experience Memphis from a different perspective?

A Tour of Possibilities offers public and private two-and-a-half-hour driving tours throughout the city. Whether you’re a visitor or a lifelong Memphian, you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of the history that shaped the place we call home.

Learn more and book your tour at
A Tour of Possibilities

The post A Tour of Possibilities: Reframing Memphis Black History appeared first on We Are Memphis.

From the students who first integrated the University to the civil rights leaders and student organizations shaping campus today, generations of courage and commitment have defined what this institution stands for.

The Memphis State Eight

In the fall of 1959, eight African American students quietly changed the course of Memphis history.

Known as the Memphis State Eight, Bertha Mae Rogers (Looney), Rose Blakney (Love), Marvis Kneeland (Jones), Luther McClellan, John Simpson, Ralph Prater, Eleanor Gandy, and Sammie Burnett (Johnson) became the first Black students to integrate then-Memphis State University.

Their enrollment came with restrictions. They were barred from the cafeteria and student center, prohibited from ROTC and physical education classes, escorted by police to morning-only classes, and required to leave campus by noon. Separate lounges and restrooms were designated for them. Though they did not face physical violence, they endured isolation and public taunting.

Still, they persevered.

Their presence set the University on a path toward greater equality and inclusion. In 2009, the group received the Arthur S. Holman Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of their historic impact.

Because of them, access expanded. Because of them, opportunity grew.

The Leadership of Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks

That commitment to justice found powerful expression in the life of Benjamin L. Hooks.

Born in Memphis in 1925, Hooks served in World War II before earning his law degree and returning home to challenge segregation in Tennessee. He became the first African American criminal court judge in a court of record in the state, later the first Black appointee to the Federal Communications Commission, and in 1976, executive director of the NAACP.

Under his 15-year leadership, the NAACP regained national momentum and expanded its membership by hundreds of thousands. In 2007, Hooks received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his lifelong commitment to fairness and opportunity.

His legacy continues through the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis, founded in 1996 to advance social change and strengthen democracy through research, community engagement, and historical preservation.

Now celebrating 30 years in 2026, the Institute partners across sectors to address disparities in education, economic mobility, health, and civic life — ensuring that scholarship and service remain connected to real community impact.

Changing the Game in Athletics

Progress also took shape on the field.

In 1968, Glenn Rogers Sr. became the first Black football player at Memphis State after joining the team as a walk-on. Alongside teammate Stan Davis, he later became one of the first Black players to appear in a game for the Tigers.

In 2024, the City of Memphis honored Rogers by renaming a street near the stadium where he once played — a tribute to the courage it took to step onto that field more than five decades earlier.

His legacy paved the way for generations of student-athletes and reflects the broader evolution of the University itself.

A Legacy That Lives On

Today, that history is not simply remembered — it is lived.

The University’s National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) serves as the governing body for its traditionally African American fraternities and sororities. Originally formed in 1930 at Howard University, the NPHC unites historically Black Greek-letter organizations founded during a time when African Americans were denied equal rights and access.

At the University of Memphis, chapters including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc continue that tradition through scholarship, service, leadership, and civic engagement.

Academic spaces also carry the work forward. The University’s African and African American Studies program offers an interdisciplinary major grounded in history, theory, research, and a culminating capstone experience. Students explore the African and African American experience through coursework in the humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and the arts — with opportunities for global study that connect Memphis to the wider diaspora.

Black Legacy Lives Here

The story of The University of Memphis is one of resilience and forward movement — shaped by students who endured isolation, leaders who challenged systems, athletes who broke barriers, and organizations that continue building community.

Black legacy at the University is not confined to the past.

It lives in classrooms and research institutes.
On the yard and in service projects.
In scholarship, leadership, and everyday courage.

And it continues to shape the future of Memphis.

The post Black Legacy Lives Here: The University of Memphis appeared first on We Are Memphis.

She was in fourth grade when her teacher assigned the class to memorize a poem. Sabrina chose Langston Hughes’ “Mother to Son,” a reflection on perseverance — a reminder that life “ain’t been no crystal stair,” but you keep climbing anyway.

At that moment, Sabrina’s own climb had already begun.

In the spring of 2009, her grandmother noticed a lump on Sabrina’s cheek. Within days, a series of tests led her to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, where she was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer that develops in soft tissue.

Even at nine, Sabrina understood the gravity of her diagnosis. Cancer was not abstract. Her aunt had died of breast cancer just months earlier, and another uncle had worked decades before at St. Jude as one of its first Black pharmacists.

“I was very aware of what cancer was — and what cancer could do,” Sabrina has said.

A Little Soldier With a Notebook

Sabrina endured surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. After a tracheotomy, she woke unable to speak, terrified as she tried to communicate with her grandmother. She spent weeks hospitalized and nearly a year in intense treatment.

Through it all, Sabrina carried notebooks with her everywhere.

Writing became the one thing she could do entirely on her own. While her body was exhausted — often nauseous, weak, and in pain — poetry gave her a place to pour out fear, grief, and confusion.

“It’s an interesting feeling,” she later reflected, “to know that you are simultaneously growing, but also in the process of dying. I could feel my body at war with itself.”

As she recited Hughes’ poem again and again for homework, Sabrina began to fall in love with the way words worked — their rhythm, their weight, their ability to hold emotion without explanation. It was then that she knew poetry would always be part of her life.

Growing Beyond Survival

At ten, Sabrina had her first poem published in her school’s literary magazine. She kept writing as she navigated survivorship — learning that the impact of cancer does not end when treatment does.

At fourteen, she celebrated five years of clear scans, a major milestone for childhood cancer survivors. That same year, she learned radiation therapy had damaged her hearing in one ear. Years later, vision complications surfaced — another late effect of treatment.

Still, Sabrina thrived.

She excelled academically, joined honor societies, ran cross-country, fenced, performed in theater, and eventually became editor-in-chief of the same literary magazine that first published her work. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and creative writing from Washington University in St. Louis, joined Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.®, and returned to Memphis to pursue her Master of Fine Arts at the University of Memphis.

Now 25, Sabrina teaches freshman composition and prepares to defend a thesis exploring grief, Black womanhood, the South — and poetry.

“I love sharing my words,” she says. “Creating connections. Making people feel something.”

A Legacy Larger Than One Story

Sabrina’s journey is deeply personal, but it also reflects the foundation St. Jude was built upon.

When St. Jude opened in Memphis in 1962, it became the first fully integrated children’s hospital in the South — treating patients regardless of race, religion, or ability to pay, and hiring Black doctors, nurses, and researchers at a time when segregation was still the norm.

That commitment shaped lives.

Early research at St. Jude included studies on sickle cell disease, a condition disproportionately affecting Black communities and long neglected elsewhere. Physicians like Dr. Rudolph Jackson, one of St. Jude’s first Black doctors, helped pioneer treatments that would be shared worldwide.

This legacy of equity and inclusion is what allowed children like Sabrina not only to survive, but to imagine a future beyond illness.

“St. Jude Lays Stones for Streets of Safe Passage”

In 2022, Sabrina returned to St. Jude not as a patient, but as a poet. She performed an original spoken-word piece titled “When I Was Nine,” reflecting on fear, faith, and the fragile courage of childhood.

The poem ends with a line that captures both gratitude and legacy:

“St. Jude lays stones for streets of safe passage
so kids like me can grow up to be adults like me.”

Sabrina credits the village that carried her — her mother, aunt, grandmother, and the institution that refused to turn her away.

“I’m not who I am today without St. Jude,” she says.

A poet. A survivor.

A living reminder that Black legacy lives here — in resilience, in care, and in the power of words.

The post Black Legacy Lives Here: Finding Power in Poetry at St. Jude – We Are Memphis appeared first on We Are Memphis.