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| Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., is the cultural heritage tourism manager for Visit Natchez. He will discuss Anne Moody and her memoir, "Coming of Age in Mississippi," at the Feb. 27 meeting of the Natchez Historical Society. |
NATCHEZ, Miss. — Dr. Roscoe Barnes III, cultural heritage tourism manager for Visit Natchez, will talk about civil rights pioneer Anne Moody and her memoir at the Tuesday, Feb. 27, meeting of the Natchez Historical Society. The meeting will begin with a social at 5:30 p.m. and Barnes’ presentation at 6 p.m., at the Historic Natchez Foundation at 108 S. Commerce St.
The event is free to the public. All are welcome, members
and non-members alike.
Barnes’ presentation is titled, “Anne Moody’s Coming of
Age in Mississippi: Why It Matters.” His talk will show that while Anne Moody
has not received the recognition she deserves, her memoir remains a significant
contribution to Mississippi history and has critical implications for race
relations, voting rights, human rights, and equality in today’s society.
“Anne Moody’s astonishing life history is one of a girl
who found grace and courage in the midst of poverty, bigotry and
discrimination,” said Barnes. “She overcame the devastating forces of racism,
suffered beatings and endured multiple incarcerations and even death threats in
order to help make the world – and the state of Mississippi – a better place to
live.”
In addition to being a civil rights activist, Moody was the author of “Coming of Age in Mississippi,” a gripping memoir that has remained in print since the day it was first published in December 1968, according to Barnes.
Moody died on Feb. 5, 2015, at her home in Gloster,
Miss., at the age of 74. She had been under the care of her sister, Adline, who
told the press that Anne had dementia for several years.
While referencing her book, Barnes noted Moody’s
sacrifice and many accomplishments in the 1960s. He said that she participated
in peaceful protests, marches, and sit-ins in an effort to desegregate
businesses, churches, and public facilities. Despite the dangers at the time,
she worked with several civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, CORE,
and SNCC, according to Barnes. He said that she also participated in voter
registration drives for Freedom Summer in 1964.
“Anne Moody and her book matter to us, and they matter in
many significant ways,” said Barnes. “I look forward to talking about the
impact of her life history and her literary contribution to American history.”
Barnes is the founding chairman of the Anne Moody History
Project, a public history endeavor started in 2017 at Wilkinson County
Correctional Facility, Woodville, to promote the legacy of Anne Moody and her
book. Barnes writes about Moody at RoscoeReporting.blogspot.com. His work on
Moody has resulted in national press coverage and citations in peer-reviewed
journals.
Barnes is a member of the boards of directors of both the
Mississippi Historical Society and the Natchez Historical Society. He holds a
Ph.D. in Church History and Church Polity from the University of Pretoria,
South Africa, and a Master of Arts in Religion from the Lutheran Theological
Seminary at Gettysburg. He earned his Bachelor of Science from East Coast Bible
College, Charlotte, North Carolina.
In addition to being an independent scholar whose
research focuses on Moody, F.F. Bosworth, and Ernest Hemingway, Barnes is an
award-winning newspaper journalist. He is the author of multiple books,
including “F.F. Bosworth: The Man Behind ‘Christ the Healer’” (Cambridge
Scholars Publishing, 2009) and “Off to War: Franklin Countians in World War II”
(White Mane Publishing, 1996).
Barnes’ articles have appeared in scores of newspapers,
magazines, and academic journals, including Corrections Today, Good Grit
Magazine, American Jails, The Journal of the European Pentecostal Theological
Association, The Arkansas Review, Africa Journal of Pentecostal Studies, The
Pneuma Review, Natchez Magazine, and Refleks Journal.
Barnes’ work is also published in Brill’s Encyclopedia of
Global Pentecostalism (Brill, 2021) and by the online encyclopedia,
BlackPast.org. His forthcoming articles will appear in the Mississippi
Encyclopedia and the Dictionary of Pentecostal Mission.
This Feb. 27 program held by the historical society is
funded in part by a grant from the Mississippi Humanities Council, through
funding by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
For more information, visit natchezhistoricalsociety.org, call 601-492-3004 or send email to info@natchezhistoricalsociety.org
Note: You can see this story on the ListenUpYall.com website by following this link:
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| Dr. John Banks House, Natchez, Miss. |
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| Robert Pernell, Chairman Natchez U.S. Colored Troops Monument Committee |
Presentation on the Natchez U.S. Colored Troops Monument Project at the Friday Forum, which is sponsored by the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce. Program was held Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. It was led by Robert Pernell, chairman of the Natchez USCT Monument Committee.
See the Facebook Live video at this link:
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| Dr. Carolyn Myers will host a Black History event that will honor the contributions of African American women at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Natchez City Auditorium. The program is titled, "Back Down Memory Lane: African American Women (Past and Present) who Changed History and Culture." |
NATCHEZ, Miss. – Dr. Carolyn Myers is organizing a
Black History program that will honor the contributions of African American
women at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Natchez City Auditorium, 207
Jefferson St. The program is titled, “Back Down Memory Lane: African American
Women (Past and Present) who Changed History and Culture.” It is free to the
public.
Myers said the program will feature local women of
various churches and organizations who will portray the women being recognized.
A special segment of the program will focus on Mississippians and Natchez
natives, she said.
The program is part of an on-going effort by Myers to
share the stories of African Americans each year during Black History Month and
throughout the year.
“Each year we do something for Black History Month,” she
said. “Last year I did something on Emmett Till. We had two movie nights with a
free showing of the film, ‘Women of the Movement.’ The weekend following, I
took two buses of seniors to the Mississippi Delta to learn more about Emmett
Till and the civil rights movement.”
Myers and her traveling seniors were joined on the trip
by Mayor Dan and Marla Gibson, and Alderwoman Valencia Hall.
Myers’ travel group is called “Seniors on the Move.” The
group takes week-long trips to historical sites in Mississippi and other states
every year.
“This year I wanted to do something different,” she said.
“I want to let people know about a lot of women who became ‘the first person’
in their respective fields that many people do not know about. Some of them
have not received the recognition they deserve.”
Myers, a retired educator, said she “did a lot of
research on women all over the world, not just those in Natchez.”
“In 2019, I did a program recognizing the ‘50
Distinguished Men Across the Miss-Lou Area,” Myers said. “During that program,
the women presented the awards to the men. This time, the men will present the
awards to the women.”
Those attending the “Back Down Memory Lane” program are
asked to bring two canned goods or non-perishable items to donate to Stewpot.
This program is sponsored by Seeds of Change Resource
Foundation.
For more information, call 601-870-6343.
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| An art exhibit highlighting the story of slain civil rights leader Wharlest Jackson Sr. is featured in new exhibit. Pictured from left are Robert Pernell, in background, Malcolm Innis, and George Lee aka G.Lee. |
NATCHEZ, Miss. – The second annual art exhibit
featuring the works of African Americans is on display in the lobby of the WTYJ
/WMIS radio station at 20 E. Franklin St.
The event, which is called the Natchez Black History
Month Art Exhibit, is hosted by Malcolm Innis, owner of New Vision Media, and
is being featured for the entire month of February in recognition of Black
History Month. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. It is free to the public.
“I’m pleased to say that we have art work that is influenced by Natchez notables,” Innis said. “We have several artists participating in the exhibit, and their work speaks for them.”
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Malcolm Innis, owner of New Vision Media, reviews an exhibit of African American art on display in the lobby of WTYJ/WMIS at 20 E. Franklin St. |
On the wall is a framed collection of photos of historical African American sites by Natchez folk artist Debra McNeal. Her work presents images of the Forks of the Road slave market site, the Proud to Take a Stand monument, the William Johnson House, Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church, site of Wharlest Jackson Sr.’s bombing, NAPAC museum, Richard Wright’s childhood home, the Rhythm Night Club Memorial Museum, and Brumfield School.
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| This collection of photographs features some of the prominent historical African American sites in Natchez. |
A table in the lobby presents the art of Virgie Prichett
of Fayette who uses a bust, doll, and drawings to tell the story of Wharlest
Jackson Sr. Jackson was a civil rights leader who worked as a treasurer for the
NAACP in the 1960s. He died when his truck was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan on
Feb. 27, 1967.
Jackson became a target of the Klan because of his work
with the NAACP and his promotion at the Armstrong Tire and Rubber Company.
Other featured artists include Georgette Houston of
Fayette; Bradley Bruce of Woodville; Leon Hollins III, Mack James, and Diane
Penfield, all of Natchez.
Hollins, who works as a photographer and artist, created
a mixed media presentation of Richard Wright, the famous author of “Native Son”
and “Black Boy.”
“We’re trying to give the Natchez community and our core
radio listeners a taste of the beauty of art,” said Inniss. “We want to create
inspiration for people to come and see this important talent. We also plan to
reach out to schools and ask them to provide field trips to students.”
Additionally, Innis said, the exhibit is a great
attraction for tourists coming in off the boats. Wine and cheese will be served
every Saturday or Sunday.
For more information, call Leon Hollins at 601-334-0987.
Program will feature Jerry Jenkins and his drums
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| Jerry Jenkins will present a program on West African music at Alcorn State University at 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 13, in the Biotechnology Building Auditorium, on the Lorman Campus. |
LORMAN, Miss. – Alcorn State University will host a West African music program in recognition of Black History Month at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, in the Biotechnology Building Auditorium, on the Lorman Campus.
The program will feature Jerry Jenkins, a professional drummer, who will offer a historical look at African music and give demonstrations of how the music was played. He also will discuss its value as well as its impact on today’s culture in Southern Mississippi.
Jenkins’ presentation is titled, “A Look at Mande’ (West African) Culture through Traditional Music.”
The event is hosted by the Southwest Mississippi Center for Culture & Learning and Alcorn State University School of Arts and Sciences. Teresa Busby, the center’s executive director, said the program is part of the center’s Coffee & Culture series. The presentation is free to the public.
“We are delighted to host Mr. Jenkins at Alcorn State University,” Busby said. She explained that he uses music to tell an important story and to engage his audiences.
Jenkins is originally from Chicago. He grew up in Vicksburg, but now lives in Jackson. Jenkins is a member of the Mississippi Humanities Council’s Speakers Bureau. He also is listed as a performance artist on the Mississippi Arts Commission’s Artist Roster.
For more information on Jenkin’s presentation, call 601-877-6551. To request disability-related accommodations contact the Disability Coordinator at least five days in advance at 601-877-6460 (office) or email at disabilityservices@alcorn.edu
I’m happy to report that two women from Natchez, MS, were members of the Six Triple Eight. Their names are Gwendolyn F. Johnson (1924 – 20...
