The Living Way

The Living Way

The Living Way was a community development corporation and social services organization founded in Memphis, Tennessee in 1968. Emerging in the wake of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., it became a significant vehicle for economic empowerment and social justice within the city's African-American communities. The organization channeled the energy of the Civil Rights Movement into practical programs aimed at addressing poverty, housing discrimination, and political disenfranchisement.

Founding and Purpose

The Living Way was incorporated in 1968 by a coalition of Memphis ministers and community leaders, most notably Reverend Garnett N. Brown and Reverend James L. Netters. Its founding was a direct response to the profound social upheaval following the Memphis sanitation strike and the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., which highlighted deep-seated economic inequality and institutional racism in the city. The organization's stated purpose was to improve the quality of life for residents of South Memphis through a holistic approach to community development. This mission was rooted in the Black church tradition of social ministry and the broader goals of the Civil Rights Movement, seeking to translate the fight for legal equality into tangible economic justice and community control.

Role in the Civil Rights Movement

While the classic phase of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)-led protests had passed, The Living Way represented the evolution of the Civil Rights Movement into a phase focused on community empowerment and institution building. It operated on the principle that political rights were hollow without economic security. The organization engaged in voter registration drives and political education, working to increase African-American political representation in Memphis and Shelby County. It also served as an advocate and service provider for tenants facing slumlords and housing discrimination, linking these local struggles to the national push for open housing and against redlining. In this way, it connected the daily battles of poor Black Memphians to the larger narrative of the ongoing freedom struggle.

Community Programs and Services

The Living Way implemented a wide array of programs designed to foster self-sufficiency. A cornerstone was its housing development initiative, which constructed and rehabilitated homes for low- and moderate-income families, directly combating substandard housing. The organization also founded a community development credit union, providing essential financial services and loans to residents often excluded from traditional banking. Other key services included a food cooperative to increase access to affordable, nutritious food; a legal aid clinic to assist with tenant rights and consumer issues; and job training programs. These interconnected efforts embodied a comprehensive strategy for community economic development, addressing both immediate needs and systemic barriers.

Key Figures and Leadership

The vision and operation of The Living Way were driven by committed local leaders. Garnett N. Brown, pastor of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, served as the organization's first president and was a central figure in its founding and fundraising. James L. Netters, pastor of Mount Vernon Baptist Church and a Memphis City Council member, provided crucial leadership and political connections. Other influential board members and supporters included Benjamin L. Hooks, a prominent Memphis pastor and later executive director of the NAACP, and Jesse H. Turner Sr., a local civil rights activist and businessman. The leadership exemplified the deep involvement of the Black clergy in the post-King assassination struggle for economic justice.

Impact and Legacy

The Living Way had a measurable impact on the South Memphis community throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. It developed hundreds of units of affordable housing, provided critical financial services through its credit union, and empowered residents through education and advocacy. Its model demonstrated how civil rights organizations could pivot to address the material conditions of poverty. The legacy of The Living Way is seen in the continued emphasis on community development corporations as tools for revitalization in Black communities. While the organization eventually dissolved, its work influenced later initiatives in Memphis and stands as an important example of the movement's shift toward Black economic empowerment. It remains a significant, though often under-recognized, chapter in the long history of the Civil Rights Movement in the urban South.