The question one may ask is “What is Orange Mound To Africa?” Orange Mound is the 1st planned community in America built for Blacks by Blacks. The history of “Orange Mound” begins with two Black Churches in 1879. In 1878 Memphis was plagued with the Yellow Fever and Whites fled Memphis.

Blacks remained in Orange Mound. In 1866 Blacks in Memphis experienced the “Memphis Massacre” whereas mobs of Whites Killed, raped, burned Black Churches and Schools. This area "Orange Mound was the “County” wheres Blacks felt safer and avoided contacts with Whites.

After the yellow fever Whites moved back and a White developer in 1990 sold plots of land to Blacks whereas Blacks built homes. We hold that the name “Orange Mound” came from Blacks in that Whites did not use the name “Mound.” In 1887 Blacks in Mississippi established a town called “Mound Bayou.”

At one point in American history as late as the 1970’s “Orange Mound” was the 2nd largest African/American community of homeowners in America. Anthony “Amp” Elmore moved to “Orange Mound” in 1972. The area was not the original Orange Mound whereas “Orange Mound” expanded whereas Semmes borders “Orange Mound” eastward.

Anthony “Amp” Elmore a resident of “Orange Mound” traveled to Nairobi, Kenya in 1990 to premier his 1988 Memphis made movie The Contemporary Gladiator. The beginning & much of the film was shot at Elmore’s home in “Orange Mound.” Elmore inadvertently took “Orange Mound to Africa.”

Unknown and untold Elmore 1988 film is not only the 1st Independent feature film produced in Memphis, Elmore’s film is the 1st Kickboxing film produced in America. Elmore’s 1990 film premier in Kenya was historic in that Elmore is the 1st African/American in Kenya history to arrange a formal African/American “Cultural Integration” between Kenya and African/ American.

While Elmore's film is historic Memphis White Supremacy, Racism and Black on Black Racism will not allow Elmore's film or the African/American Community to be acknowledged as "The Birthplace of Memphis Independent filmmaking."  African/American leaders are silent regarding this practice of not acknowleging Memphis Black History. Dr. Martin Luther King said "Silence is Betrayal."

Elmore is the 1st African/American to bring African/Americans via a Kenya Safari. Elmore introduced Kickboxing to Kenya and the 1st African/American to produce an African/Musical concert in Kenya. In 1995 Elmore married a Kenyan woman whereas they are no longer married at the time of this posting they have a son Anthony “Amp” Elmore Jr. who is 24 years old and 1/2 Kenyan who also lives in “Orange Mound” is a senior in college at the University of Memphis.

In October of 2019 Kisumu Kenya Governor Peter Nyong’o visited Elmore at his home in Memphis in “Orange Mound.” At the time of this posting Elmore is arranging a “Sister City arrangement between Orange Mound and the Kenya City of Kisumu Kenya.” Elmore is promoting the African/American community of “Orange Mound” and it dynamic history worldwide.

While “Harlem” is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan in New York City Harlem is famous worldwide whereas we read about “The Harlem Renaissance.” The Harlem Renaissance was an intellectual and cultural revival of African American music, dance, art, fashion, literature, theater, politics and scholarship centered in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, spanning the 1920s and 1930s.

Anthony “Amp” Elmore a Memphis 5 time World Karate/Kickboxing Champion is promoting and connecting his African experience and culture with “Orange Mound.” Elmore created the “Orange Mound to Africa Initiative” that connects the spirit, history and culture of bringing African/American and Africans together.

Elmore is arranging with Kisumu Kenya Governor Peter Nyong’o to formerly connect Kisumu, Kenya the third largest city in Kenya with the African/American community of “Orange Mound” in Memphis via not only a “Sister City” arrangement.  Elmore is  asking the Governor Nyongo to name a street or a community in Kisumu after “Orange Mound.”

Elmore is also asking the historic Melrose School Alumni to schedule a Class Reunion in Kisumu, Kenya. Elmore is also arranging to take “Orange Mound Youth to Kenya.”

Elmore is arranging for Shelby County Commissioner Britney Thornton who represents Orange Mound to meet with Governor Nyong’o via her upcoming trip to Kenya. We are arranging formal relationships between Kisumu, Kenya and “Orange Mound.”

Unknown and untold whereas we have not told her yet the Orange Mound Community in Memphis has adopted academy award winner Lupita Nyong’o whereas we are asking her to come to “Orange Mound” and eat with the Black Residence some Kenya food of “Ugali and Sukuma Wiki.”

We in Orange Mound have a plan for Lupita Nyong’o that no other Black Community in America have. We are going to give her and her family in “Orange Mound a “Marching Band” and some real Memphis down home Soul Music. While Lupita Nyong’o knows it or not we in “Orange Mound have adopted her whereas she will find in Orange Mound "Kisumu in America" via the Black Community of “Orange Mound.”

What is Orange Mound to Africa