Now’s your chance to see the Memphis Tyre Nichols loved so much.
Tyre Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, said nobody’s perfect, “but he was damn near” when describing her son. Loved ones say Nichols loved to skateboard and was an artist. The consensus from everyone who knew him says he taught them how to march to the beat of their drum.
Nichols was beaten to death by Memphis police officers for several minutes on Jan. 7 after they stopped him for alleged reckless driving. He went to the hospital in critical condition and eventually died on Jan. 10. He was just 29 years old.
As the world watched the horrific video of the officers’ physical assault on an unarmed Black man, his family and friends wanted to remember what they call a beautiful soul differently. Nichols was a photographer who took his pictures very seriously. He had a website dedicated strictly to his art form.
“Photography helps me look at the world in a more creative way,” he stated on his website. “It expresses me in ways I cannot write down for people.”
RELATED: How To Spend 48 Hours In Black-Owned Memphis
He loved action sports, rural photos and bodies of water, but his favorite was landscape.
“My vision is to bring my viewers deep into what I am seeing through my eye and out through my lens,” he added.” People have a story to tell why not capture it instead of doing the ‘norm’ and writing it down or speaking it.”
We want to honor his wishes here at Travel Noire. If you’re traveling to Memphis, here is how you can see the beautiful city through the eyes of Tyre Nichols.
Take In The Sunsets At Shelby Farms Park
According to his family, Nichols would frequent Shelby Farms Park. It’s located on the city’s eastern outskirts, where his mom said he would take in the sunset.
It’s approximately 4,500 acres, making it one of the largest urban parks in the country.
“The Park is both a vibrant community hub and a retreat from the hustle and bustle of urban life,” a statement on the website reads.
Unfortunately, this is where the BBC reports Nichols was driving from on the night he was beaten.
People Watch On Beale Street
Two photos on Nichols’ website pay homage to Beale Street. He called one shot “Beale Street Magic.”
The picture has A. Schwab is in the background, a store where you can find some old-school goodies, such as candy, art, books, clothing and more. It’s a unique store, just like Tyre himself.
“It reflects the delta, local music, local culture, and our own unique history,” the website reads.
This is a good starting point before venturing out to the rest of the city.
According to Tyre Nichols, The Best Views of Memphis Come From Bridges
There’s the Beale Street Bridge if you want to be in the mix during your visit to Memphis, and then there’s the stunning Big River Crossing Bridge.
At nearly a mile in length, the Big River Crossing is the longest public pedestrian bridge across the Mississippi.
It’s worth a visit it’s also the country’s longest active rail, bicycle and pedestrian bridge. That means there’s much to see and do on it.
According to city leaders, the bridge is the connection point of Main Street to Main Street, which means it’s a 10-mile, multi-modal corridor that takes you on a journey to various attractions throughout the Memphis, West Memphis, and delta region.
Tyre Loved To Skateboard. Visit This Skate Park In Memphis.
The Memphis Skate park offers a layout for all ages, regardless of skill set. If you want to skateboard, put on a pair of rollerblades, or use a scooter, it’s a great place for community and to remember the Black boy joy Tyre had when coasting.