On April 17, 2021, Memphis unveiled two symbolic crosswalks in Overton Square, marking a historic first for Tennessee. One featured the Black Lives Matter message, while the other displayed the Inclusive Rainbow Flag, incorporating brown and black stripes to symbolize unity between the African American and LGBTQ+ communities. The initiative, spearheaded by Ray Rico, a Memphis-based entrepreneur and publisher of Focus Mid-South, was fully funded by Sowell Realtors, demonstrating community-led support for visibility and intersectionality.
The Black Lives Matter crosswalk was the first of its kind in the state, serving as a powerful statement of racial justice and solidarity with the broader civil rights movement. The Inclusive Rainbow Flag crosswalk honored Memphis’s LGBTQ+ history, reinforcing Overton Square’s role as a hub for both cultural and activist communities. The installations represented a commitment to fostering unity, ensuring that movements for social justice and equality remain interconnected in Memphis.
The project was not just an artistic addition to the city—it was a public statement of solidarity, reinforcing Memphis’s pledge to uplift marginalized voices and create visible, lasting symbols of inclusivity.