ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ in the 1970s and 1980s
Benjamin Hooks speaks at 67th NAACP Convention in ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ in 1976. Photo courtesy of University of ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Special Collections.
During the 1970s, African Americans shifted their strategies from protest to political
action. Black Memphians were elected at all levels of local, state, and national government
as an increasing number of whites left the city to reside in Shelby County's suburban
communities. In 1974, after serving two terms in the Tennessee House of Representatives,
Harold Ford, Sr. became the first African American from Tennessee elected to the United
States House of Representatives, serving from 1975-1997. Four years later, Willie
Herenton became the first African American to be appointed superintendent of the ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ
City Schools. Herenton held the position until 1991, when he became the first African
American to be elected mayor.
