Photo: Carlo Allegri / Getty Images News / Getty Images
The My History Lives Here Black History Month series continues with the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis, Tennessee — a cultural landmark dedicated to preserving the legacy of Southern soul and the Black artists who shaped it.
Located on the original site of Stax Records, the museum tells the story of a groundbreaking label that helped define the sound of a generation. Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records and later renamed Stax, the label became home to legendary artists including Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, and Sam & Dave — musicians whose work transcended race, region, and genre.
Opened in 2003, the Stax Museum stands as the world’s only museum devoted exclusively to American soul music. Through immersive exhibits, original artifacts, and interactive storytelling, it explores how Stax Records became a rare example of interracial collaboration in the Jim Crow South, producing music that reflected both the joy and the struggle of the Black experience.
More than a music museum, Stax is a reflection of cultural power — showing how Black creativity helped drive social change and bring people together during some of the country’s most divided moments. As part of My History Lives Here, BIN is spotlighting institutions like the Stax Museum that preserve not just history, but the heartbeat of Black culture.
Because Black history doesn’t just live in books. It lives in the music. And it lives here.