Who We Serve
We partner with tenants, homeowners, and home seekers, as well as professionals, companies and social agencies, to ensure they understand their fair housing rights and responsibilities, as well as those of the individuals they serve.
Counties Served
Tennessee
- Fayette
- Shelby
- Tipton
Mississippi
- Benton
- Coahoma
- DeSoto
- Marshall
- Tate
- Tunica
Arkansas
- Crittenden
- St. Francis
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Fight for Fair Housing in Memphis
In the spring of 1968, Memphis became a battleground for civil rights as sanitation workers, predominantly African American, went on strike to protest deplorable working conditions and low wages. The tragic deaths of Echol Cole and Robert Walker, two sanitation workers crushed to death by a malfunctioning garbage truck, ignited the strike and drew national attention to the plight of African American workers in Memphis.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. heeded the call to support the striking workers, recognizing their struggle as a microcosm of the broader fight for racial and economic justice. His arrival in Memphis marked a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement, as he stood in solidarity with the sanitation workers and called for an end to the systemic oppression that perpetuated poverty and inequality.
But the sanitation workers’ strike was not just about fair wages and safe working conditions—it was also about the right to live with dignity and respect. Housing segregation was rampant in Memphis, with African Americans facing discrimination in housing, education, employment, and virtually every aspect of life. Dr. King understood that housing discrimination was a form of structural violence that denied African Americans their basic human rights.
The effects of this strike were keenly felt in the predominantly African American neighborhoods, where garbage piled up for days, underscoring the stark disparities in treatment and resources between black and white communities.
Dr. King’s vision of fair housing was deeply intertwined with his broader civil rights agenda. He believed that true equality could only be achieved when every individual had the freedom to choose where to live, regardless of race, color, religion, or national origin. His assassination on April 4, 1968, just one day after delivering his iconic “Mountaintop” speech in Memphis, was a stark reminder of the sacrifices made in the struggle for justice.
Today, the Fair Housing Council of Metropolitan Memphis (FHCMM) continues Dr. King’s legacy by advocating for fair and equal housing opportunities for all residents. Through education, outreach, and advocacy, FHCMM works to dismantle the barriers of discrimination and segregation that still persist in our communities. As we honor the memory of Dr. King and the sacrifices of those who fought for civil rights, let us recommit ourselves to building a society where everyone can live with dignity, equality, and justice.