Tags
community service, get involved, Memphis, Soulsville Foundation, Soulsville USA, stand up Memphis, Stax Museum, Stax Records
I went to the Stax Museum yesterday because it was an assignment for class. Fortunately, I left with a great deal of culture. I know you are thinking “what does the Stax Museum have to do with community service, since this is a community service blog?”
Well, I went thinking that it was just a museum, but once I got there and actually started to look around I realized that it was so much more than that. When I think of a museum, I think of a place where a bunch of historical artifacts and fun facts are displayed. Stax was that and much, much more.
Stax records was a recording company that had a large impact on the Memphis community when it was established in the mid 1900’s. It took African Americans out of the surrounding community and help them find, or enhanced, their musical talent. It helped to integrate music and Memphis, because the time of it’s establishment was a time of segregation and discrimination.
In many of the videos at Stax that showed artist talking about the impact that the company had on them, it was mentioned that no one paid attention to the color of skin, but that they were all friends who loved having fun and making music together. That is such a powerful impact to have on people.
Stax is a part of the Soulsville Foundation that is even now still contributing to the community through a music academy for youth and a charter school that teaches children music as well. I played the violin in school, so I know first hand that music helps make you a well-rounded individual. Stax’s contributions to the community are non-profit, so help if you can because it supports a great cause.