Reflecting Mississippi

In this episode, we examine the creation and growth of the Mississippi Book Festival, the state’s literary lawn party. Holly Lange and Jere Nash discuss what inspired them to launch the festival in 2015 and share some of their favorite memories from its early years. Then, current festival executive director Ellen Daniels talks about the 2026 event, which will take place September 26th in downtown...

Today on Reflecting Mississippi, we’re joined by Chance McDavid, Brandi Turner, and Carlton Turner to talk about rural innovation happening across our state. Inspired by the Mississippi tour of "Spark!: Places of Innovation," a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street program, this conversation covers how we define innovation, the role that community plays in creating lasting...

More than 160 Black men served in public office during Reconstruction, helping shape Mississippi's future in the years following the Civil War—yet many of their stories remain overlooked. In this episode of Reflecting Mississippi, we are joined by DeeDee Baldwin, Engagement Librarian at Mississippi State University, author Jere Nash, and Michael Morris, Director of the Two Mississippi Museums, to...

Annalise Flynn, Yaphet Smith, and Allen Massey reflect on the life and legacy of artist L.V. Hull and the efforts to preserve her work through the L.V. Hull Legacy Center. They also discuss the importance of archives, community memory, and how exhibitions and film, including Love Is a Sensation, help bring Hull’s story to new audiences while honoring her place in Mississippi’s cultural history. Ho...

Dr. Elise Smith, Sarah Meeks, and Olivia Spann reflect on the history of Southern garden clubs and what they can teach us about people, communities, and the past. They also discuss how historic house museums like the Eudora Welty House & Garden and the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home help preserve this history while bringing people together through gardening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privac...

Dr. Ralph Didlake, Lida Key, and Dr. Jennifer Mack discuss the Asylum Hill Project and their efforts to uncover the stories of the Mississippi State Lunatic Asylum. We also explore the connections between science, archaeology, and the humanities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do places marked by violence, oppression, and injustice become spaces for remembrance, learning, and healing? In this episode of Reflecting Mississippi , we explore the powerful role historic sites play in shaping public memory with two National Park Service leaders on the front lines of this work: Keena Graham, Superintendent of the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, and Kathleen...

In this episode, Shaniece Mabry, Dr. Christina Thomas, and Bently Cochran discuss the groundbreaking History Day program at the Youthful Offenders Unit (YOU) in Pearl, Mississippi. They’ll share about the program’s beginning, how it has evolved and expanded in the past three years, and the ways that the YOU students are studying and making history in our state. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...

We speak with filmmaker David Crews and Senator Hob Bryan about The Whiskey Speech, a documentary exploring one of Mississippi’s most memorable political moments. Together, they examine the historical context of the speech, its reflection of Mississippi’s political culture, and what it reveals about public debate, persuasion, and leadership in the state. The conversation also considers how stories...

What kind of vision does it take to build a school when the world is determined to see you fail? In this episode of Reflecting Mississippi , we uncover the remarkable story of William Henry Holtzclaw, an educator whose courage and determination transformed Black education in Mississippi. Joined by Dan Fuller, former Humanities Chair at the Hinds Community College Utica Campus, and Jeanne Green, cu...

Brother Rogers, Tim Kyle, and Tommeia Jackson reflect on the occasion of America250 and the impact of the state’s legacy grant program. Kyle, the mayor of Kosciusko, will discuss his town’s efforts to highlight its rich history, while Jackson will describe how the historical records of the Delta Burial Corporation offer a unique lens on the history of the region’s Black community. Hosted on Acast....

In this episode of Reflecting Mississippi , we explore the story behind Mississippi: Conflict & Change —a groundbreaking textbook that didn’t just teach history, it challenged how Mississippi’s history was told. First published in 1974, the book offered a fuller, more honest look at the state’s past, centering the experiences of African Americans, Native Americans, women, and working people—vo...

In this episode of Reflecting Mississippi, we explore the powerful history of Black land ownership in Mississippi through the lens of the documentary Farming Freedom. The film highlights the deep connection between farming, freedom, and identity—showing how, for generations, working the land was a source of pride, independence, and community strength. The conversation also takes an honest look at...

In this episode of Reflecting Mississippi , we talk with historian Jim Giesen about his book The Land of Cotton and the deeper story behind one of Mississippi’s most defining crops. More than just an agricultural history, Giesen’s work explores how cotton shaped the state’s economy, environment, and social structure—leaving a legacy that still resonates today. Through this conversation, we examine...

In this episode of Reflecting Mississippi, we look beyond Jubilee to explore the full legacy of Margaret Walker—poet, novelist, educator, and cultural historian. The conversation highlights her contributions as a scholar and mentor, including her work at Jackson State University and her role in preserving Black literary voices through teaching, archives, and research. From her poetry to her essays...

In this episode of Reflecting Mississippi, we explore the importance of preserving the Choctaw language and the efforts to pass it down to future generations. As one of Mississippi’s original languages, Choctaw carries deep cultural knowledge, history, and identity—serving as a living connection between past and present. Through conversation and reflection, the episode highlights the work of educa...

In this episode of Reflecting Mississippi, we explore the life and legacy of Dr. Emmett J. Stringer and his connection to the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi. Through his story, we gain insight into the local leadership, quiet courage, and community efforts that helped drive change during one of the most pivotal periods in American history. This episode reflects on the power of local impact,...

In this episode of Reflecting Mississippi, we speak with Katie Blount, longtime director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, about her work preserving and sharing the state’s history. After more than three decades with MDAH—including ten years as director—Blount reflects on the agency’s role in protecting historic records, landmarks, and artifacts that help tell Mississippi’s st...

In this episode of Reflecting Mississippi , we explore the cultural ripple effects of the film Sinners —a story set in Clarksdale, Mississippi, a town deeply rooted in blues history and Southern storytelling. While the film draws inspiration from the atmosphere and legacy of the Mississippi Delta, it also raises an important question: what happens when Mississippi stories are told on screen but no...

The story of Mississippi’s Gulf Coast cannot be told without honoring the Vietnamese families who helped shape its seafood industry, faith communities, and cultural landscape. In this episode of Reflecting Mississippi, we explore the journey of Vietnamese immigrants who arrived along the Coast in the wake of the Vietnam War—seeking safety, opportunity, and a new beginning. Through personal reflect...

Beneath Mississippi’s familiar landmarks and well-known narratives lies a deeper layer of stories—unexpected, overlooked, and often untold. In this episode of Reflecting Mississippi , we explore the hidden corners of the state’s past, uncovering the people, places, and moments that challenge what we think we know about Mississippi history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...

In this episode of Reflecting Mississippi , B. Brian Foster joins Mississippi Humanities Council Executive Director Stuart Rockoff to discuss We Make , his documentary created with Ethan Payne about Siggers High School—an all-Black school that served the Shannon, Mississippi community from roughly 1940 to 1970, originally known as Shannon Colored School. Foster reflects on the power of preserving...