The Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum, a project of the Smithsonian Institute, curates exhibitions on soul music and social change. The museum "tells the story of musical pioneers who, for the love of music, overcame racial and socio-economic barriers to create the music that shook the entire world." At the link above, readers can enjoy a virtual tour of the museum led by Executive Director John Doyle. Along the way, Doyle emphasizes that Rock 'n' Soul is not just a music museum, but it is equally a civil rights museum. In particular, the museum explores how musicians in Memphis came together to fight segregation. Doyle's virtual walking tour of the museum makes several stops to describe exhibition items including outfits, musical instruments, handwritten lyrics, and audio equipment. Doyle concludes the tour by commenting that the museum provides resources for educators, too, which are freely available on the museum's website (linked in the video description). This virtual tour is made possible by cityCURRENT, a philanthropic catalyst in Tennessee looking to "power the GOOD."
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