By Roscoe Barnes III,
Ph.D.
Chairman, Anne Moody History Project
Copyright© 2017
I recently shared this document on a couple of my academic web pages, including Figshare.com ( https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.5134810.v1 )
#AnneMoody
This is an overview of the
Anne Moody History Project (AMHP) and its plans to promote and help preserve
the legacy of Anne Moody (1940 - 2015). Moody was a civil rights pioneer and
the famous author of Coming of Age in Mississippi. She grew up in Centreville,
Miss., where she overcame poverty, racism, persecution, and the threats of
death. She became a respected leader in the Civil Rights Movement.
This document presents a
list of practical ideas adapted by AMHP for promoting Moody's history. The
ideas include promotional work through schools, churches, the local community,
government agencies, social media, and the news media. In addition to honoring
her with a street and highway bearing her name, AMHP plans call for having a
proclamation issued for “Anne Moody Day.”
As AMHP chairman, I have said
the promotional campaign is about “history, education and tourism.” Current and
future generations need to know Moody’s story.
Note:
Readers are encouraged to follow updates on Ms. Moody’s history by following @AnneMoodyHP on Twitter.
(1940-2015)
Promoting Anne Moody
A 21-Point Plan
for Sharing Her Story, Honoring
Her Memory, and Keeping Her Legacy Alive
The Anne
Moody History Project
“Keeping Her
Legacy Alive”
The Anne Moody History
Project (AMHP) was established in March 2017 by the staff of MTC/Wilkinson
County Correctional Facility (WCCF) as a community service endeavor in public history
for Wilkinson and Amite Counties. Its aim is to honor Ms. Moody by promoting
and helping to preserve her legacy as a noted author, civil rights pioneer, and
historical figure in Mississippi.
Ms. Moody, born Essie Mae Moody
on Sept. 15, 1940, was a civil rights activist and the author of Coming of Age in Mississippi (Dial,
1968). She was reared in Centreville, Miss., and later moved to Woodville, Miss. When she died on Feb. 5, 2015, she was living
in Gloster, Miss.
Our Mission
The AMHP’s mission is to
honor Ms. Moody’s memory and keep her legacy alive through programs and
activities that educate the public about her achievements as a civil rights
activist, her work as an author, and her life history as a native of
Mississippi. The AMHP seeks to be a source of learning for students, churches
(and other religious institutions), and the general public on the significance
of Ms. Moody’s historic contributions. In this capacity, it is believed, the
AMHP can help to foster a better understanding of race relations and diversity
in the south and other parts of the United States.
Honoring Anne Moody
The AMHP has outlined a
number of ways to honor Ms. Moody’s legacy. Below is the 21-point plan that it
intends to follow in order to achieve its mission in promoting -- and helping
to preserve -- her life history and her contributions as a writer and civil
rights activist. This plan will be revised occasionally as the need arises.
1. Have a
street and highway named in her honor
*
The Centreville street where she grew up (and where her family now lives),
could be named, “Anne Moody Street.”
UPDATE:
On Thursday, June 15, 2017, the Centreville Board of Alderman approved AMHP’s
request for a resolution to rename Fort Street, “Anne Moody Street.”
*
Highway 24 East from Woodville to Gloster could be named, “Anne Moody Highway.”
UPDATE:
On Monday, June 5, 2017, the Wilkinson County Board of Supervisors approved
AMHP’s request for a resolution to name a portion of Highway 24 East “Anne
Moody Highway.” The matter will now go to Mississippi State Rep. Angela
Cockerham for approval on the state level.
2. Have a day
named in her honor
*
A request for a proclamation for “Anne Moody Day” will be presented to the Centreville Mayor and Board of Aldermen.
UPDATE:
On Thursday, June 15, 2017, the Centreville Board of Aldermen approved AMHP’s
request for a proclamation to be issued for “Anne Moody Day,” which will be
observed on her birthday, September 15.
3. Erect or
post historical markers
*
The marker could present a brief statement about Anne Moody’s historic
achievements.
*
The marker could be located in a number of places in Centreville, including a street,
Highway 24, or near her family’s home.
4. Post a sign
or billboard in Centreville, Miss.
*
A sign could have the words, “Welcome to
Centreville, Home of Civil Rights Pioneer Anne Moody.”
5. Post a sign
or billboard in Woodville, Miss.
*
A sign could have the words, “Visit
Centreville, Miss., Home of Civil Rights Pioneer Anne Moody.”
6. Acquire Anne
Moody Collection
*
The family of Anne Moody will be asked to donate some of her personal property
to the African American Museum or Woodville Public Library, both in Woodville,
Miss., for special exhibits.
7. Establish
online presence
*
A website will be created as the home base and central hub for all things
related to Anne Moody’s history.
UPDATE:
The AnneMoody.org domain was acquired on April 17, 2017.
*
Accounts will be opened for social media websites, such as Twitter, Facebook,
Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc. Accounts may include academic websites.
UPDATE:
Account for Twitter was opened on May 4, 2017. Twitter handle is: @AnneMoodyHP
* A blog will be used to
post news, updates, photos, and commentary.
8. Have her
childhood home listed as historic property
*
The building, located on the corner of Fort Street and Hospital Road, may be listed
on the National Register of Historic Places.
* Meetings will be held
with the Moody/Jefferson family members to determine their interest in placing
the home on the national register.
9. Record oral histories
* Audio and video
recordings will be made of Anne Moody’s immediate family members and friends.
* All recordings will be
preserved.
10. Create historic monument/plaque for Centreville
Park
* Monument will be made of
brick or stone, etc.
* Monument will include an
image of Anne Moody and her book, along with a brief biography.
11. Create portrait (painting or drawing) of Anne Moody
* The art work may be done
by a student, offender, or professional artist.
* The art work may be done
in oil, watercolor, pencil, charcoal, or pen and ink.
* The art work will be
donated to a government facility, library, school or museum.
12. Work with elected officials and government
agencies
* Advice and ideas will be
sought for effective ways to share Anne Moody’s story using government
resources.
* Funding/grants will be
sought for various aspects of the project.
13. Work with the news media
* Stories/press releases
will be shared with the press (local, regional, national)
* Interviews will be given
to the press (local, regional, national)
* Photographs and videos
will be share with the press.
14. Establish education outreach
* Syllabus based on Coming of Age in Mississippi will be
created and shared with classroom teachers/professors.
* Representatives of AMHP
will visit schools K-12
* Representatives of AMHP
will visit colleges and universities.
* Schools will be asked to
include the book, Coming of Age in
Mississippi, in their classroom discussions.
* Copies of the book will
be donated to selected schools.
15. Distribute promotional products
* Various products, such
as pens, caps, key chains, T-shirts, bumper stickers, etc., will be used to
share and promote Anne Moody’s history.
* A logo will be designed
using Anne Moody’s name, her image (or something related to her history) and
her favorite color.
16. Create Anne Moody calendar
* A chronological timeline
based on Anne Moody’s life history and other key moments in Black History will
be used to identify important dates for the Anne Moody Calendar.
* Images of Anne Moody and
events related to her story will be sprinkled throughout the calendar.
17. Hold Anne Moody Tours
* Key places/sites in Anne
Moody’s life history will be identified in Woodville and Centreville.
* The tours will be held
during special events in Natchez and Woodville and other selected times during
the year.
* A van or other suitable
vehicle will be used to provide tours to the key sites. A fee may be charged.
18. Engage Academic Community
* Research on Anne Moody
will be on-going.
* Efforts will be made to
present papers at academic conferences.
* Efforts will be made to
publish books and articles in academic journals.
19. Release publications
* Popular books will be
written and published about Anne Moody’s history.
* Brochures and booklets
will be written and published, and distributed as promotional tools.
20. Participate in prison outreach
* Special Anne Moody
program will be held at least once a year in jails and prisons.
UPDATE: Special Anne Moody
program was held on June 12, 2017, at Wilkinson County Correctional Facility,
Woodville, Miss.
* Anne Moody book club
will be organized for offenders and/or correctional staff.
UPDATE: Offenders at
Wilkinson County Correctional Facility began reading Coming of Age in Mississippi in May 2017.
21. Work with restaurants and eateries
* Promotional table mats
will be created for special occasions or on-going events related to Anne Moody.
* Establishments will be
asked to serve her favorite meal (red beans and rice with fried chicken) on
Anne Moody Day.
----------------------------------------------------------
Author’s Note:
Questions about the Anne
Moody History Project may be directed to Roscoe Barnes III via email at doctorbarnes3@gmail.com or roscoebarnes3@yahoo.com For updates on Anne Moody history and the on-going
work of this community service project, please follow AMHP on Twitter
(@AnneMoodyHP). Ideas and suggestions are also welcomed.
