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## ? Norman Ray Redwing Jr.: A Minister of Memory, A Builder of Justice
**Norman Ray Redwing Jr.** is a lifelong resident of **New Chicago**, a historic Black neighborhood in North Memphis. He is a minister, museum founder, and community strategist whose work spans decades of advocacy, cultural preservation, and visionary planning. His leadership is not defined by titles—it’s defined by impact.
Redwing is the founder of **Citizens Against Jails in North Memphis**, a grassroots coalition that rose in 2025 to oppose the construction of a billion-dollar Shelby County jail on the site of the old Firestone plant. But his story goes far beyond resistance. He has long envisioned that same land as a space for **Black renewal**—a place where housing, history, and hope could flourish.
> “We want a beautiful, residential, historically Black community. That’s what we want.” — Norman Redwing Jr.
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### ??? Museum Founder and Cultural Steward
Redwing is also the founder of a **local Black history museum**, a lesser-known but deeply meaningful institution in North Memphis. His museum preserves the stories, artifacts, and legacies of African Americans in Memphis and beyond. While not as widely publicized as Dr. Carnita Atwater’s museum, Redwing’s collection reflects:
- A commitment to **community memory**
- A passion for **educating youth and elders**
- A vision for **cultural pride and continuity**
His museum stands as a quiet but powerful counterpoint to institutional erasure—a place where Black history is not just remembered, but revered.
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### ?? Ministerial Leadership Rooted in Justice
As a Christian minister, Redwing’s activism is grounded in moral clarity. He preaches not just from scripture, but from lived experience. His sermons and public statements reflect a theology of justice—one that demands investment in healing, not harm.
He has consistently called for:
- **Mental health clinics**
- **Youth programs**
- **Affordable housing**
- **Economic opportunity**
His opposition to the jail is not just political—it’s spiritual. He sees incarceration as a betrayal of community dignity, especially in a neighborhood already burdened by systemic neglect.
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### ?? Vision for the Firestone Site
Long before the jail proposal, Redwing had a plan. He envisioned the Firestone site as a hub for:
- **Mixed-income housing**
- **Community centers**
- **Green space**
- **Black-led development**
He saw potential for a **residential renaissance**—not a penal facility. His vision aligns with the broader movement to reclaim Black land, restore Black agency, and resist institutional harm.
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## ??? A Rally for Truth and Unity
Your *Rubber to Racism* Rally, held at **Dr. Carnita Atwater’s museum**, is a call to action. It’s a moment to bring together voices like Redwing’s, Atwater’s, and yours—to honor each leader’s unique contribution while building collective power.
This website is not just a digital archive—it’s a **movement hub**. It honors:
- **Dr. Atwater’s global museum and fearless truth-telling**
- **Norman Redwing’s local museum and grassroots organizing**
- **Your leadership in building bridges, rebuttals, and digital strategy**
Let it be known: the real enemy is not your neighbor—it’s the institutional betrayal represented by figures like **Kemp Conrad**, whose policies and proposals threaten the soul of New Chicago. This rally is not just about resistance—it’s about **restoration**.
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Would you like help formatting this into a rally announcement, digital exhibit, or homepage feature? We can build this together—layer by layer, truth by truth.
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Norman Ray Redwing Jr.: Builder of Afrikan Legacy, Defender of New Chicago
Norman Ray Redwing Jr. is a lifelong resident of **New Chicago**, a historic Black neighborhood in North Memphis. He is the **CEO of The Afrikan Village Institute**, a minister, museum founder, and community strategist whose work spans decades of cultural preservation, youth empowerment, and visionary planning.
Norman Redwing's leadership is rooted in faith, history, and action. He has built institutions, mentored generations, and stood firm against injustice—not for personal gain, but for the survival and dignity of his people.
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The Afrikan Village Institute: A Cultural Sanctuary
Located at **1225 Vollintine Avenue**, The Afrikan Village Institute is Redwing’s answer to institutional neglect. It is:
A museum and cultural center preserving African and African-American history A safe haven for youth, offering summer camps and educational programs A spiritual spacethat blends Biblical wisdom with Pan-African consciousness
Norman Redwing’s museum is a living archive—a place where Black children can see themselves reflected in greatness, and elders can pass down wisdom without distortion.
Norman Redwing has served as a **Christian pastor for over 20 years. However his ministry has evolved into a broader spiritual mission. He now leads with a theology of liberation—one that rejects ecclesiastical gatekeeping and embraces African identity, historical truth, and community healing.
His sermons are not just about salvation—they’re about sovereignty.
Vision for the Firestone Site: Housing, Not Handcuffs
Norman Redwing has long envisioned the 71-acre Firestone site as a space for **Black renewal** - **Affordable housing** - **Community gardens** - **Cultural and educational facilities** - **Black-led development**
When Shelby County officials—under the influence of **Kemp Conrad’s development agenda**—proposed building a billion-dollar jail on that land, Redwing didn’t just oppose it. He organized. He founded **Citizens Against Jails in North Memphis**, mobilized residents, and testified before commissioners.
“We want a beautiful, residential, historically Black community. That’s what we want.” — Norman Redwing Jr.
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From Rubber to Racism: A Rally for Unity
The *Rubber to Racism* Rally, is scheduled to beheld at **Dr. Carnita Atwater’s museum a date to be announced. This event is more than an just a rally it’s a convergence. It brings African/American together.
**Dr. Atwater’s global museum and fearless truth-telling**
**Norman Redwing’s Afrikan Village and grassroots organizing**and Linda Harris moving the event to national recognition challenges the Memphis White Supremacy, Racism and Black on Black Racism.
The event support a digital strategy, historical rebuttals, and movement-building.
Though each leader operates independently, their missions are aligned: to protect Black land, preserve Black history, and empower Black futures.
This website is the bridge—a digital sanctuary where every voice is honored, and every truth is amplified.
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We are using Kemp Conrad’s racist Jail Proposal as A Catalyst for Black Unity.
Let it be clear: **Kemp Conrad’s jail plan is not just a development—it’s a racist venture. It threatens to - Re-traumatize a historically Black neighborhood - Undermine decades of cultural and spiritual investment
Reinforce cycles of incarceration over opportunity.
But here’s the paradox: Kemp Conrad’s plan has unintentionally sparked a movement. It has brought together ministers, historians, mothers, youth, and elders. It has awakened a sleeping giant in Memphis—a coalition of truth-tellers who refuse to be erased.
This is our moment to turn pain into power. To transform betrayal into brotherhood. To build—not just resist.
