This documentary movie “200 years of Black Memphis History” was written, produced, directed, edited and narrated by Anthony “Amp” Elmore. Elmore is better know in Memphis as a “Five Time World Karate/Kickboxing Champion.” In 1983 Elmore was listed by Memphis Magazine as one of the most 100 influential Memphians. Elmore was the father of Kickboxing in the Mid-South and the 1st to bring E.S.P.N. to Memphis in 1981. Elmore is the 1st to produce an Independent Black Entertainment Television production to Memphis.

Elmore who was born in Memphis in 1953 brings a unique prospective to Memphis history, culture and filmmaking. Elmore is the 1st Independent 35 mm Filmmaker in the Mid-South meaning Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas. Elmore wrote, produced, starred, and directed in a Memphis produced film “The Contemporary Gladiator” filmed in Memphis in 1987.
Elmore born in the Jim Crow South as a youth was part of the civil Rights movement. Elmore as a student at Hamilton High School in Memphis lead the 1st 18 year old voter registration in Tennessee in 1971. From 1968 to 1970 Elmore was a lead singer in an all White Band and part of the Memphis music heritage.

From High school in 1971 to the beginning of college at the University of Memphis in 1971. Elmore quit college at the University of Memphis to join the join the Civil rights movement. Elmore was a delegate in the 1st Black political Convention in Gary, Indiana in 1972. From Memphis, Tennessee throughout America Elmore met many of the Black history makers.
Elmore has a more diverse background than most African/Americans. Elmore notes that I have spent nights at a Buddhist Temple in Japan, friends with the Black Dalits in India, the Massai in Kenya, the Ashanti in Ghana and with the Amhara in Ethiopia.

May 22, 2019 marked the 200th Anniversary of Memphis and Shelby County in Western Tennessee. Although Memphis is celebrating the 200th Anniversary Tennessee Legislators punished Memphis for moving Confederate monuments from Memphis that is almost 70% African/American.

In the 200 year history of Memphis or at no time in Memphis has anyone produced a documentary film of the Black history of Memphis nor has Memphis given a voice to Black Memphis. Elmore in the film “200 years of Black Memphis History” gives voice and a cinematic story lending to the spirit and history of the 200th anniversary of Memphis.

Elmore booked the “Malco Majestic Theatre” at 7051 Malco Crossing in Hickory Hill in Memphis to show the movie. The movie was a private booking one time showing.  While the Memphis Shelby County film and tape commission or the City of Memphis would not support the film Elmore not only made the film available on You Tube free on May 22, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. Elmore created this movie website whereas viewers can watch short segments of the film titled “Profiles in Black Memphis History.” Elmore notes below untold stories about Black Memphis history. Elmore was treated with White Supremacy, Racism and Black on Black Racism. Read how Black Shelby Mayor Lee Harris discriminated against  Elmore.    Learn how Tennessee State Representative G.A. Hardaway helped White Film Commissioner Linn Sitler and to date would not assist Black Orange Mound.

While Memphis lost its charter in 1879 a group 25 White Memphians via donations built the Grand Opera House at Main and Beale in 1880. This would later be known in Memphis and rebuilt as the Orpheum. While Black people saved Memphis during the Yellow fever Blacks still faced racism and discrimination in Memphis. In fact Blacks were not allowed to go to parks or segregated places in Memphis.

Please understand that Whites in Memphis fought tooth and nail to prevent Black people from achieving equality in Memphis. Let me explain while Robert R. Church is the most Significant Black man in Memphis history. Robert R. Church the South’s 1st Black Millionaire challenged White racism and inequality by using his money and power to make Black people equal to Whites in Memphis. When we look at 2023 there does not exist economic or cultural equality between Blacks and Whites in Memphis. Black culture and history is supressed in Memphis.

In 1899 Robert R. Church built at the Corner of Beale and 4th Church Park and auditorium. This was not just an ordinary Park this was a botanical garden with exotic plants, Banana Trees and Peacock gracing the ground. Robert R. Church Sr. built for Blacks was also an auditorium and park better than any place that Blacks were not allowed to attend. Memphis built it facility in 1880 it was in New York whereas they open Carnegie Hall.

Church Park and auditorium was the largest facility built for Blacks by Blacks in the world. Please understand racism and White Supremacy. Whites were suppose to be Supreme, you had a Black man who built a place for Blacks superior to any White establishment. This effort lead America and the world to know about not only this Black Millionaire. It was because of Robert R. Church Sr. who made Beale Street the main Street of Black America.

White racism in Memphis caused White leaders to change the narrative about Beale. The White narrative that Whites teach about Beale Street one of the most famous streets in America it is taught that Beale street is Famous because it was the place whereas we find the “Birth of the Blues.”

Let us deal in the facts of History; W.C. Handy arrived in Memphis in 1909 he did not come to Memphis to play the Blues. He came to Memphis because of Robert R. Church He became an orchestra leader for Mr. Church. In 1912 he recorded a record called “Memphis Blues.” Which was his first successful song. Because of racism in Memphis and in the South Handy moved to New York where his work was appreciated.
 
He continued to promote blues to large audiences during the 1920s, editing the book Blues: An Anthology (1926)—which contained blues arrangements for vocals and piano—and organizing the first blues performance in New York City's Carnegie Hall in 1928. Handy continued working steadily throughout the 1930s, publishing Negro Authors and Composers of the United States in 1935 and W.C. Handy's Collection of Negro Spirituals in 1938.

A few years later, in 1941, he published an autobiography, Father of the Blues.  His life story played on the silver screen in theaters across the country in the film St. Louis Blues, which starred singer Nat King Cole as the legendary composer. If it were not for Robert R. Church and he making Beale Street the main Street of Black America Memphis would not have been the Birth place of the Blues

Let us deal in the facts of History; W.C. Handy arrived in Memphis in 1909 he did not come to Memphis to play the Blues. He came to Memphis because of Robert R. Church He became an orchestra leader for Mr. Church. In 1912 he recorded a record called “Memphis Blues.” Which was his first successful song. Because of racism in Memphis and in the South Handy moved to New York where his work was appreciated.

He continued to promote blues to large audiences during the 1920s, editing the book Blues: An Anthology (1926)—which contained blues arrangements for vocals and piano—and organizing the first blues performance in New York City's Carnegie Hall in 1928.

Handy continued working steadily throughout the 1930s, publishing Negro Authors and Composers of the United States in 1935 and W.C. Handy's Collection of Negro Spirituals in 1938. A few years later, in 1941, he published an autobiography, Father of the Blues.  His life story played on the silver screen in theaters across the country in the film St. Louis Blues, which starred singer Nat King Cole as the legendary composer. If it were not for Robert R. Church and he making Beale Street the main Street of Black America Memphis would not have been the Birth place of the Blues.

Elmore’s movie tells the unknown and untold story of Black Memphis history. While in 2023 there exist a 70% African/American population in Memphis and there is a “Cotton Museum” in Memphis there does not exist a museum of African or African/American culture and history in Memphis. In Memphis even in 2023 the Black voice is silenced.
 
This is part of the Memphis Culture of White Supremacy, Racism and Black on Black Racism.  While Elmore created the 1st Independent movie in Memphis history as well as the "1st Documentary Movie on Black Memphis History" Elmore's work is silenced in Memphis by both Whites and Blacks. In Memphis there exists a "Culture of Black on Black Racism" whereas Whites put Blacks in power who discriminate.  One has to look no further than "Liberty Park" formerly the Fair Grounds in Memphis whereas the City Invested a half of billion dollars for a sports complex whereas just a few hundred yards away in the African/American historic community of "Orange Mound" is the only community in America that has three Gold medal winners there is not a marker acknowleding Gold Medalist. 

The White Supremacist Racist Culture in Memphis has a culture and practice that attenuate Black achievement and stress African/American disparity.  What is noted about "Orange Mound" is a culture to promotes the negative.  In the case of Anthony "Amp" Elmore who lives in "Orange Mound" the City of Memphis via the Memphis and Shelby County Film and tape Commission used tax payer funds to rob Elmore and the community of "Orange Mound" as the birthday place of Memphis Independent filmmaking.  The Black Memphis leaders are silent regarding the history and discrimination in "Orange Mound."

The reason 5 African/American Police officers could killed a Tyree Nichols is part of the practice and culture of Memphis "Black on Black Racism" and Practice.