These attributes of Mrs. Poe were not meant to minimize the contributions made by the Jubilee’s Founder and many of the members of the first Board of Directors in 1934. They were all professional men and women. Mrs. Poe was simply a member of the Jubilee that worked her way up to the board of directors by giving service. The Jubilee’s founder and members of the first board of directors were men and women that were well established and held high stations in the Memphis community. Mrs. Poe was simply willing to give of herself her time, energy, and family members in order to make the Jubilee’s programs a success. for not only himself and his family, but for all black people living in Shelby County. “I wanted to fight then,” said Reed talking about the racism he had faced both in and outside of Memphis. “But I had to fight the fight, not my fight. I had to fight the fight of the people. The fight of the Lord, Our Savior, Jesus Christ.” Reed knew what he had to do. He knew what had to been done. He was an instrumental force in organizing the Whitehaven Civic Club which was a member of the Bluff City & Shelby County Council of Civic Clubs that fought for civil advancement of all people. As a member of the Whitehaven Civic Club, Reed called a meeting with George H. Barnes who, at the time, was the Superintendent of the Shelby County Department of Education. “I was so angry,” said Reed. “I told the Board of Education that if they thought that their children were going to get a better education than my children, that I’d fight them until hell freezes over.” The next day the entire ordeal was written up in Introduction There are many short versions of the history of the Memphis Cotton Markers’ Jubilee, Inc., hereto referred to as MCMJ and/or Jubilee, that were prepared by persons from the outside looking in. These individuals had limited insight into the facts as they actually existed. As an official member of the MCMJ from (1966-2019). I felt compelled to document the history of the MCMJ to make sure there is one complete version on the rich history of this, one of a kind, organization and celebration. This is a documentary on who, how, and why the Jubilee was organized and what it took to make it great. At different times this documentary will refer to our race as, “Colored,” “Negroes,” “Black,” or “African American.” There is no actual correct terminology. However, there may be a politically correct terminology, depending on who is talking and to whom they may be talking to, or with. [This disclaimer is interjected at this point, so readers may understand the terminology used referring to people of African descent living in America, which will coincide with the terms commonly used during that era.] Additionally, it is my belief that the myth in the minds of many Black people, that their involvement in cotton, is something they should be ashamed and should be dismissed. Rather, the Black community should come to realize that cotton is a valuable product that is woven into the fabric of all communities in the world. I realize as a people, we were exploited and taken advantage of in the early years during the period of enslavement and the aftermath of that period. This should not mean the Black community should divorce themselves from such a valuable product. Cotton is referred to as “White Gold,” internationally because of its great value. Today, the Black community should put their heads together and devise plans wherein we, as a people, can reap the proper financial benefits from the production and marketing of cotton. The MCMJ was founded to seek dignity – today we should be seeking financial equity. Contrary to many beliefs, the MCMJ was promoted by people of color that wanted to uplift the sights of black people, both the youth and adults that needed to be inspired to see themselves as important to society and themselves. I hope this documentary will dispel the notion that the people that worked to promote the MCMJ, did not do so in hopes of personal financial gain. Rather, these spirited Negroes did so by devoting a lifetime, giving of their time energy, and money to perform a community good. Today we should give our time, energy, and resources directed toward performing a community well and receiving our fair share and our peace of the pie (from cotton). This documentary will also tell the story of the MCMJ, its good times, successes, bad times, and failures. 34 the paper and Reed began to pray to God to show him how to maneuver through this situation that was occurring in Whitehaven. These were the days when The Commercial Appeal was the morning paper & the Press-Scimitar was the evening paper. “The Press-Scimitar was very outgoing,” said Reed. “They weren’t as racially biased as The Commercial Appeal. The Commercial Appeal refused to call a black woman Ms. or Mrs. at that time. So being a member of the Bluff City & Shelby County Council of Civic Clubs we were able to take them on.” This was about the time that several young black lawyers: R.B. Sugarman, A.W. Willis, B.L. Hooks, H.T. Lockett, and J.F. Estes had passed the bar and were able to practice law in the city of Memphis. “They all worked for us pro bono,” said Reed. “We took The Commercial Appeal on during the time they refused to call black women Ms. or Mrs. When we got through boycotting the paper, The Commercial Appeal gave in and told us they would call black women anything we wanted, they just wanted us to buy the paper again! It’s been a situation where it just goes on and on and on.” The Board of Education was angry and they had joined forces with the Park Commission. The focus of this group was to stop Reed sooner rather than later, so they decided they would take the land belonging to all the Reed family members, the Hyman’s, Johnson’s, Sinclair’s, and other prominent black families residing in the area. By this time, Reed happened to be the Whitehaven Civic Club’s spokesperson. “I just praised those people for giving us a place because we didn’t want our children playing in the William Henry Reed and Leola Glover Reed were married In ???? The couple had 3 children (from left) Atwyn, Edwin, and William Bernard Pictured on their land in Whitehaven is a young William Henry Reed (center on George, the newly purchased mule) and William’s grandfather, William “Papa Dick” Henry Reed (front center) as he tugs at Dan the mule (on the left) and Lawrence “Bill” Johnson (far right) holds one of George’s reigns. 3
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