Wiggins to share his story on MPB Radio

 

James Wiggins will be interviewed this morning (4/16/24) by Desare Frazier of MPB's Morning Edition, which is aired Monday through Friday at 8:30 a.m. 

Wiggins will talk about his new book, "Outliving the White Lie," and his April 23 lecture at the meeting of the Natchez Historical Society. I will post a link to the interview whenever it airs.

The meeting is free to the public and will be held at Historic Natchez Foundation at 108 S. Commerce St. It will begin with a social at 5:30 p.m. and the presentation at 6 p.m. Wiggins' book will be available for purchase at the meeting. 

Historian James Wiggins will discuss his new book at April 23 meeting of Natchez Historical Society

Historian James Wiggins

NATCHEZ, Miss. -- Historian and retired educator James Wiggins will discuss his new book, "Outliving the White Lie: A Southerner's Historical, Genealogical and Personal Journey" (University Press of Mississippi, 2024), at the Tuesday, April 23 meeting of the Natchez Historical Society. 

The meeting is free to the public and will be held at Historic Natchez Foundation at 108 S. Commerce St. It will begin with a social at 5:30 p.m. and the presentation at 6 p.m. Wiggins' book will be available for purchase at the meeting. 

"I am very much looking forward to my talk at the Natchez Historical Society," said Wiggins. "I certainly want to promote the book, but more, this is a vitally important topic that cries out for more discussion and greater understanding. I hope we can advance those goals on April 23rd."

Wiggins said his talk will focus on the lies often told about slavery and race in the nation's history, from colonial times to the present. 

Wiggins will discuss the "lies of commission, omission, and willful ignorance," while acknowledging his own "ancestors' participation in that process over time, as well as his own."

Wiggins is a retired instructor of History at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. He has published columns in The Natchez Democrat. Wiggins has spoken for the society in the past. 

The April 23 program 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 or call 601-492-3004. Emails may be sent to info@natchezhistoricalsociety.org

Sculptor Bob Willis receives Award of Merit for bust of Hiram Rhodes Revels

Natchez, MS, USA / ListenUpYall.com
Apr 12, 2024 | 10:33 PM

Dr. Roscoe Barnes III, right, cultural heritage tourism manager for Visit Natchez, recently presented Oklahoma sculptor Bob Willis with the Award of Merit on behalf of the Mississippi Historical Society. Barnes, who is vice president of the society, said Willis was honored for the bust he sculpted of Hiram Rhodes Revels for Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church in September 2023.

NATCHEZ, Miss. — Dr. Roscoe Barnes III, cultural heritage tourism manager for Visit Natchez, recently presented sculptor Bob Willis with the Award of Merit on behalf of the Mississippi Historical Society. Barnes, who is vice president of the society, said Willis was not able to attend the society’s annual meeting in February, where the award was formally announced.

“Willis’ work as a sculptor is simply amazing, and his talent is extraordinary,” said Barnes. “We could have mailed the award to him, but we thought it best to make a personal presentation. I was honored to make the presentation at the Visit Natchez office.”

Awards of Merit are presented annually by the society to individuals or organizations for their outstanding archival, museum, or media interpretation work. Willis was recognized for the bust of Hiram Rhodes Revels that he sculpted for Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church in September 2023.

Brother Rogers, the society’s secretary-treasurer, said Willis’ bust of Revels “is significant not just in Mississippi history, but in American history.”

Revels was the first African American to serve in the U.S. Congress. He also was an early pastor of Zion Chapel and the first president of what is today Alcorn State University.

Willis, who lives in Oklahoma, accepted the award with his wife, Lynn, by his side. He said he was “truly humbled” to receive it and that he was grateful to honor the legacy of Revels.

See more at this link:

https://listenupyall.com/2024/04/12/sculptor-bob-willis-receives-award-of-merit-for-bust-of-hiram-rhodes-revels

African descendants of Prince Ibrahima returning to Natchez

By Roscoe Barnes III, Visit Natchez
Natchez, MS, USA / ListenUpYall.com
(Apr 11, 2024 | 8:20 AM)

A group of elders from Timbo in West Africa met with Princess Karen Chatman of Natchez during her visit to the country in 2022. They are all descendants of Prince Abdul Rahman Ibrahima ibn Sori.

NATCHEZ, Miss. — Twenty West African elders, all descendants of Prince Abdul Rahman Ibrahima ibn Sori, are planning a return visit to Natchez in May, according to Princess Karen Chatman, who is coordinating the event.

Princess Karen Chatman, a descendant of Prince Abdul Rahman Ibrahima ibn Sori, is pictured here with Elder Elijah Moody Berry in Timbo, Guinea, in West Africa, in December 2022.

The elders are from Timbo, Guinea, in West Africa. They are of the Official Royal House of Sori, said Chatman.  They will be in Natchez from Wednesday, May 8, to Saturday, May 11.

Their ancestor, Abdul Rahman (1762-1829), was an African prince from Timbo, who was captured in 1788 at the age of 26 and shipped to the United States where he was sold in Mississippi as a slave. He spent 40 years toiling on the plantation of Thomas Foster before he gained his freedom in 1848.

Abdul Rahman returned to Africa in 1829, but he died of yellow fever in Monrovia, Liberia, before he reached his home in Futa Jallon (now Guinea). He was 67.

Portrait of Prince Abdul Rahman Ibrahima ibn Sori by Henry Inman and engraved by Thomas Illman. Available through U.S. Library of Congress.

Abdul Rahman’s story is told in Terry Alford’s book, “Prince among Slaves: The True Story of an African Prince Sold into Slavery in the American South” (Oxford University Press). It is also dramatized in the film, “Prince Among Slaves” (Unity Productions Foundation), which is based on Alford’s book.

The Timbo elders visited Natchez for the first time in May 2023. During their stay, they met with their local relatives, also descendants of the prince, according to Chatman. On their next visit, they plan to meet with local leaders, historians, and dignitaries for the purpose of building and strengthening relationships, Chatman said.

“Now we’re looking for sustainable interaction,” she said, noting they hope to meet with changemakers, representatives from the Natchez Historical Society, Historic Natchez Foundation, African American Museum of History and Culture and Visit Natchez, among other groups,

“We want to experience the places that Prince Sori visited and review records related to his history and the people who knew him,” she said.

The theme for the next visit is “Walking in the Footsteps of a Prince.”

The elders of Timbo will hold a symposium on Thursday, May 9, at the Natchez Convention Center. In addition to leading discussions about the life history of Abdul Rahman, Chatman said she will debut the film “From PRINCE TO SLAVE” that was a collaboration between the elders of Timbo and the U.S. Embassy in Guinea. Its purpose is to share historical information about the prince’s departure from Guinea and the latest research on his life, Chatman said.

Additionally, Chatman said, the elders of Timbo are hoping to work alongside the community and the mayors’ office to have a road or street in Natchez “on the path to the Thomas Foster property” named in Abdul Rahman’s honor. It was on Foster’s land where the prince spent 40 years enslaved.

Chatman said her organization, The Natchez to Timbo Connection, has opened a local office in Natchez to facilitate ongoing efforts in the areas of  research, culture, education, and cultivation of relationships. The office is managed by Darrel White, the mayor-appointed volunteer liaison, and Kerri Lewis, the organization’s  director of History and Culture.

The elders of Timbo envision having university students from Timbo coming to Natchez and working with Alcorn State University and other universities within the United States. “We’re interested in collaborations that allow for shared experiences and the introduction of diverse cultures” Chatman said.

Chatman, a native of Natchez, is a direct descendant of Abdul Rahman and his wife, Isabella. She said her great-great-grandmother was the couple’s daughter. In recent years, her work on her ancestor has been supported by Mayor Dan Gibson and others in Natchez.

“Mayor Gibson is a catalyst for the sharing of culture,” she said. “He’s an advocate for inclusion. He’s also a leader, an innovative thinker, and a champion when it comes to democracy. He’s shown that every single time I’ve spoken with him.”

Gibson will join the delegation when they travel to Hartford, Conn., and Washington, D.C.

“I am honored to represent Natchez in these activities that highlight this significant chapter in American History,” Gibson said. “The story of Prince Rahman is like no other. His is a noble tale of tragedy intertwined with both the best and worst of humanity. I am so grateful to see his legacy being given the recognition so very much deserved.”

 Elders’ Itinerary

May 8: Welcome Lunch Meeting for the delegation hosted by Mayor Dan Gibson and the Natchez Board of Aldermen from 11 to 2 p.m. at NAPAC museum.

May 9: A symposium with the theme “Walking in the Footstep of a Prince” at the Natchez Convention Center with guest speakers from the Office of the U.S. Secretary of State, along with Trinity College and Center Church of Hartford, Conn. The elders will also meet with Natchez leaders and history organizations, including representatives of the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians.

May 10: Tour of Natchez, including visits to antebellum homes and other historic sites.

May 11: Meeting with local family members. Meeting with Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba is also planned.

May 12: Travel to Hartford, Conn., the home of Thomas Gallaudet (1787-1851), developer of American Sign Language, who assisted Abdul Rahman in raising money for his return home. The elders will also visit Trinity College.

May 16: Travel to Washington, D.C., where Abdul Rahman briefly stayed and gained the support of President John Quincy Adams.

May 21: They leave the United States and return to Africa on Tuesday, May 21.

See more at this link: https://listenupyall.com/2024/04/11/african-descendants-of-prince-ibrahima-returning-to-natchez/

Thelma Newsome to speak at 84th commemoration of Rhythm Night Club Fire

By Roscoe Barnes III, Visit Natchez
Natchez, MS, USA / ListenUpYall.com

(Apr 8, 2024 | 9:34 PM)

Thelma Newsome is the guest speaker for the April 27 ceremony commemorating the Rhythm Night Club Fire of 1940.

NATCHEZ, Miss. – Thelma Newsome, a retired educator and former member of the Natchez-Adams School District Board of Education, will be the guest speaker for the 84th commemoration of the Rhythm Night Club fire of April 23, 1940.

This year’s event will be held at 12 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at the Rhythm Night Club (on site) Memorial Museum at #5 St. Catherine Street, Natchez. It is free and open to the public.

Monroe and Betty Sago, the museum’s owners, have been holding the annual ceremony for the past 16 years. The theme this year is “Your Journey, Your Success.”

According to Betty Sago, the commemorative event honors the 209-plus victims that died in the club fire in 1940, as well those who survived that “went on with their lives and made a life for themselves, even though they carried a burden for a number of years.”

The victims of the fire included Walter Barnes and members of his band. Woodrick McGuire, band director of Brumfield School, also died in the fire.

In addition to Newsome and the Sagos, this year’s program will feature soloists Janice Bernard Sago and Tonie Hunt, who will join others in providing music. Roscoe Barnes III will serve as master of ceremonies.

Monroe Sago is pictured with the historical marker that tells the story of the Rhythm Night Club Fire.

Monroe Sago said they are delighted to have Newsome as the guest speaker. Newsome is one of the managers of the Dr. John Bowman Banks Museum and the project director for the recently published booklet, “St. Catherine Street, Natchez, MS: Yesteryear through Today.”

During the ceremony, a $500 scholarship will be presented to a student who crafted a winning essay on the museum.

“We present a scholarship every year,” said Monroe Sago. “Last year the scholarship was matched by a donation of $500 from Magnolia Bluff Casino and Hotel. So we awarded the student a $1,000 scholarship.”

Last year’s winner was Charnecia Green, a student of Natchez Early College at Co-Lin, who plans to attend Alcorn State University School of Nursing in Natchez.

The ceremony will open with the siren blast of a fire engine from the Natchez Fire Department. As in previous years, door prizes will be given away, and refreshments will be provided.

At the end of the program, visitors are encouraged to tour the museum, which has acquired several new items in its collection. Those items include an Acrosonic piano, telephone, a Coca-Cola sign, a vintage tin Coca-Cola lunch box that advertises a six bottle carton for 25 cents, and a “Rhythm Nite Club” sign.

For more information, call 601-597-0557 or send email to bettysago@rnconsitemm.org.

See more here: https://listenupyall.com/2024/04/08/thelma-newsome-to-speak-at-84th-commemoration-of-rhythm-night-club-fire/

Natchez included in Freedom Summer Commemoration

Top of the Morning column published in The Natchez Democrat (Sunday, March 31, 2024, page 4A)

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Top of the Morning

Natchez included in Freedom Summer Commemoration

By Roscoe Barnes III

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History is launching an ambitious project this year to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Freedom Summer. Natchez and other cities across Mississippi will participate in this important event that recognizes a pivotal period in American history.

MDAH’s project, which is titled, “Freedom Summer: 60 Years Later -- A Landmarks of American History Teacher Workshop,” will be held July 8 to12 and July 22 to 26, 2024. It is funded in part by a major grant awarded to MDAH by the National Endowment for the Humanities to present two workshops on teaching civil rights history.

According to MDAH, the project is part of the National Endowment for the Humanities Landmarks of History and Culture Grant program. Its goal is to bring 70 teachers from across the nation to Mississippi to attend one or two of the weeklong workshops. They will start at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson, and from there the teachers will travel to the parts of the state that played a major role in Freedom Summer.

Al Wheat, MDAH director of education, is spearheading the project. “This grant is an incredible opportunity for us to show how this landmark event goes beyond Mississippi history; it's truly a national event,” he said. “Bringing teachers from across the country to Mississippi to see our sites, analyze our primary sources, and visit locations where the history actually happened will make a positive impact not just on workshop attendees, but on their students." 

I’m happy to report that MDAH has enlisted me to participate here in Natchez. I will lead two workshops and guided tours on the second and fourth Thursdays of July 2024. The specific dates are July 11 and 25. The workshops will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on both days at Historic Natchez Foundation.

Think about it. Educators from across the country will come here to learn about the role that Natchez played in the history of Freedom Summer and the civil rights movement. As teachers, they will take what they learn and carry it back to their respective schools and communities. This means that their students, with their young and fertile minds, will become empowered with lifechanging history about the struggles in Mississippi.

Freedom Summer was a 1964 initiative that sought to increase Black voter registrations in Mississippi. At the time, more than 700 volunteers, most of whom were White, worked with Black communities to help them overcome voter intimidation and discrimination at the polls, among other things.

These volunteers included teachers, ministers, lawyers, and students. They created Freedom Schools and helped communities with research and training. Leaders of the movement believed the work of the White volunteers would help bring national attention to their struggle.

The activists had previously suffered beatings, threats, incarcerations, murder, and other violence at the hands white supremacists, Ku Klux Klan, racist police, and hate-filled Whites throughout Mississippi. Unfortunately, these acts did not generate the national attention that they needed.

The work of the Freedom Summer activists eventually made a significant impact on the state of Mississippi. Not only did it result in national awareness of the struggle, but, as many believe, it was one of the factors that led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

It was during Freedom Summer that activist Dorie Ladner and other workers descended on Natchez to help increase voter registration in the Black community. Dr. Stuart Rockoff, executive director of the Mississippi Humanities Council, has correctly observed that “Ladner was a vital part of the grassroots effort to change Mississippi and America.” Unfortunately, Ladner passed on Monday, March 11, following a long illness.

Ladner was one of the first workers to come to Natchez in 1964 to help register Black voters, according to Bobby Dennis, executive director of the NAPAC museum. That was at a time of heightened violence by the KKK, he said.

From every indication, it seems that the impact of this Freedom Summer project will be felt for a long time. MDAH has noted: “Teachers will collaborate to develop inquiry-based classroom activities and lessons about Freedom Summer using primary sources found in MDAH’s archives and experiential, site-based learning at the Two Mississippi Museums and key civil rights sites across Mississippi.”

This is great news for Natchez and the entire state of Mississippi.

---------------

ROSCOE BARNES III, Ph.D., is the cultural heritage tourism manager for Visit Natchez.

Alcorn to host art exhibition and forum on race and history

Mikael Levin

NATCHEZ, Miss. – An art exhibition and conversation on race and history will be held Wednesday, April 3, at Alcorn State University, Lorman, in Belles Lettres Hall. 

The program is hosted by the Alluvial Collective, Mississippi Humanities Council, and Alcorn State University’s Southwest Mississippi Center for Culture and Learning. It will start with the launch of Mikael Levin’s exhibition, “Critical Places: Sites of American Slave Rebellion,” from 1 to 3 p.m.

Following the exhibition, guests will be asked to join a facilitated dialogue circle from 3 to 4:30 p.m. to discuss their thoughts, according to organizers. On Thursday, April 4, another dialogue will be held at the same time and place. The event is free to the public.

Levin’s exhibition, which is touring the South, features compelling photographs of historic landscapes that were once the sites of slave rebellions, raising important questions for viewers about the history of race in America, said Teresa Busby, executive director of Alcorn’s Southwest Mississippi Center for Culture and Learning.

“Critical Places” will be on display until May 31. For more information, call Teresa Busby at phone 601-877-6551 or visit https://alluvialcollective.org/.