about heart of farish

The Redmond Building placed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 30, 2024, identifying it as one the nation’s cultural resources worthy of preservation. The National Register is administered by the National Park Service, which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.  Built in 1947 by Sidney Dillon Redmond, The Redmond Building is located at 505-507-509 North Farish Street in Jackson, Mississippi. The two-story brick structure was a residential, commercial and Civil Rights center through 1970.  The site was selected by the NAACP national officials as the first office for Field Secretary Medgar Evers. Offices for other organizations engaged in Civil Rights efforts also worked out of The Redmond Building including the National Lawyers Guild, the Medical Committee for Human Rights, the Commission on Race and Religion and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. The state’s first African American optometrist, Dr. David White, located his office at the site. 

A RiCH HISTORY WITH STORIES OF JUSTICE

Among those who occupied some of the rooms set aside for residential space were Blues Hall of Fame artist Sonny Boy Williamson II and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artist Elmore James. The two recorded their Grammy-winning hit “Dust My Broom” at nearby Trumpet Records while living at The Redmond Building. 

The Big Apple Inn has served its world-famous pig ear sandwiches and smokes at the location since 1949. During segregation, clothing stores like Lewis’s and Sander’s Millinery Shop allowed African Americans to shop with dignity in their own neighborhood.

The Redmond Building embodied a microcosm of African American life at the heart of one of the nation’s most iconic African American streets—Farish Street. Today, the site bears a rich history and holds stories of justice, achievement and excellence waiting to be told. 

the history of farish street

Farish Street’s history can be traced to the years just after the Civil War, making it one of the oldest African American communities in Mississippi and the nation.  This area, which before the war had been comprised of large estates, was set aside, surveyed and subdivided in the 1870s, becoming a segregated space built by and for the use of African Americans. 

In a time when the South’s legalized racial segregation practices, or Jim Crow laws, forced Blacks out of “whites-only” spaces, they found a place of their own.  Farish Street provided a home for Blacks to live, work and thrive.  This area became a business, social, cultural, residential and economic center from the 1880s through the 1960s. 

FARISH STREET WAS A SAFE HAVEN...

At the peak of prosperity and growth, Farish Street featured Black banks, restaurants, a hospital, drug stores, funeral homes, churches, clothing and furniture stores. When Blacks could not work in white areas, Black dentists, doctors and lawyers were able to practice their professions on Farish Street in safety and with dignity. Craftsmen used their skills to build commercial buildings as well as both modest and majestic homes. Restaurants and clubs drew top-tier national entertainers.  Residents were able to worship with their families and neighbors in their own churches.  In the shadow of Jim Crow, Farish Street evolved into an independent, self-sufficient area where Blacks could escape some of the racism and inhumane treatment that in other spaces dominated everyday life. During the Civil Rights era, Farish Street allowed a safe haven for the many activities and organizations that paved the way for voting rights, social equality and the end to legal segregation. 

ADDED TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

The contributions Farish Street made to Black professionals, culture, politics, businesses and economic growth are significant.  It is compared to similar areas like the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Rampart Street in New Orleans, Louisiana and Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee where segregation resulted in vibrant, prosperous economic and entertainment areas for Black residents. However, for Farish Street, integration, suburban growth and a lack of urban investment have left the area largely vacant and in disrepair.   

In 1980 the area was designated the Farish Street District and added to the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1995 it was added to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s list of Most Endangered Places.

how you can be involved

We would love to hear your stories about the Redmond Building and your images.  If you have something to share, you can upload it here.  We want to capture as much of this building’s rich history as possible.

our mission

Document, preserve and share the rich Civil Rights history and lasting cultural contributions that took place within The Redmond Building, representing nearly every aspect of African American life.

oUR vISION

Inspire and empower present and future generations with a broad and inclusive knowledge about important individuals and significant events, celebrating their role in shaping both Mississippi and U.S. history.

About Kimberly Sweet

Kimberly Sweet is an award winning journalist, published author and documentary filmmaker who believes in the power of storytelling to reveal truth, honor culture and change lives. She is a preservationist of African American history and properties as a means of illuminating the past, informing our present and charting a meaningful course for the future. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations from U.C.L.A. And a Master of Science degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She has worked as a Reporter, Anchor, Producer, Investigative Reporter and Managing Editor in television news. Kimberly’s work has received First Place Associated Press honors in the Investigative, Documentary, Public Affairs, Achievement and Sports Series categories.  Additionally, her investigative reporting earned an Emmy nomination, a National Association of Television Producers and Editors Award and both Gold and Best of Show designations.

contact us

@heartoffarish

www.heartoffarish.com
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