Letter to the Editor

*This letter was submitted to The Commercial Appeal on Friday, April 9. We'll update the blog if it is published.

As a great-grandson of E.H. Crump and a Memphian, I want to thank Pam and Rob Cooper and all the people who helped them create their new documentary, Citizens Not Subjects. On one hand it acknowledges the often celebrated achievement of Mr. Crump and his supporters as they brought about the incredible transformation of Memphis from a stunted, corrupt and often violent river town into a true modern city whose sense of community still survives and serves us today.

This powerful piece of historical film work goes on to tell what until now has been the untold story of the dark side of the Crump Machine and its 50 year domination of Memphis politics. The main theme of this labor of love for our city then reveals the fascinating, uncelebrated story of Edward Meeman, Lucius Burch and Edmund Orgill and the role their courage, intelligence, energy and integrity had in creating the progressive movement that stubbornly resisted and eventually unseated what had become a dysfunctional Crump machine more intent on preserving its own power and influence than serving the best interests of the City.

As the intention and Greek legend behind the name of Rob and Pam’s company, Verissima Productions, implies, we as people, families and communities cannot be whole, healed and healthy without the entire “truth, vitality and essence of the story” especially when it is our own. I personally encourage all the folks who loved these fine people and our city to watch this essential piece of our Memphis story when it airs Thursday, April 22, at 9pm on WKNO.

Stephan McLaughlin