When Carolyn Michael Banks talks about Memphis, she shifts the narrative away from the typical attention-grabbing headlines. While the city is renowned for its barbecue, blues, and the poignant history of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, Carolyn — founder and social curator of A Tour of Possibilities — brings to light the profound and often overlooked history of this majority-Black city. For her, Memphis is a treasure trove of stories waiting to be uncovered.
A Journey Rooted in Purpose
Carolyn’s connection to Memphis began far from the Heartbreak Hotel. Raised in Washington, D.C., she initially found her footing working for a national sightseeing tour company, where she climbed the professional ladder to become general manager. During her tenure, Carolyn noticed a glaring omission in the narrative of American history presented in these tours: the rich contributions of African Americans. Taking the initiative, she began weaving African American history into the tour scripts, a rare move at the time.
After further explorations through Savannah and Philadelphia, she faced the challenges of being downsized. Instead of seeking another corporate position, Carolyn decided it was time to carve her own path. Drawing from her wealth of experience in integrating Black history into public storytelling, she launched A Tour of Possibilities, envisioning it as a platform for illuminating untold histories.
When she relocated to Memphis, she quickly grasped that the city’s hidden stories demanded attention. “The amount of history that was hidden, often in plain sight,” Carolyn reflects, was the catalyst that compelled her to rebuild her tour within this culturally rich landscape.
It’s the Story in Between
A Tour of Possibilities is not your average sightseeing excursion. Spanning two and a half hours, this driving tour navigates Memphis through an African American historical lens, crafting a narrative that transcends the usual tourist experience.
As guests traverse the city, they pass by iconic landmarks like the National Civil Rights Museum and Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum. Yet, as Carolyn emphasizes, the tour’s essence lies not in merely visiting these historic sites but in the stories and lessons interwoven throughout the journey.
“It’s the story in between the landmarks,” she explains.
This narrative richness offers context often absent from traditional guidebooks. Carolyn artfully connects the dots between neighborhoods, streets, and spaces that many might overlook daily, highlighting their profound significance. This approach recalibrates visitors’ perspectives and ensures that Memphis remains a captivating narrative long after the tour concludes.
For Carolyn, the mission behind her work is about broadening the historical narrative to honor the depth, resilience, and contributions of Black Memphians that often slip through the cracks in mainstream accounts. Memphis, for her, is not just a city marked by historical events; it’s a vibrant, living entity brimming with stories waiting to be told.
Plan Your Visit
Are you ready to explore Memphis through a fresh lens? A Tour of Possibilities invites you to engage with the narrative of the city, whether you’re a first-time visitor or a lifelong resident. This two-and-a-half-hour driving tour offers an enlightening perspective that deepens your understanding of the history that shapes Memphis today.
To immerse yourself in this rich historical experience, learn more and book your tour at
A Tour of Possibilities
