Bombed for a Petition: David Bacon Jr.

Top of the Morning column published in The Natchez Democrat (Wednesday, March 25, 2026, page 4A)  

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Top of the Morning

 

Bombed for a Petition: David Bacon Jr.

 

By Roscoe Barnes III

 

Paul Bacon says he was seven when his father's truck was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1955 in the driveway of their home at 12 Lincoln Street.

 
Paul and his family were in bed when they heard a loud explosion that shook their home and blew out windows in several houses.
 
The bombing came amid escalating intimidation following a petition to desegregate the local schools, according to Paul’s nephew, Willie J. Epps Jr., Chief Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Missouri.
 
No one was injured, and no one was ever charged. But the bombing and other threats by white residents opposed to integration caused a setback in the Black community’s fight for civil rights.
 
Paul’s father, David French Bacon Jr., was president of the Natchez NAACP. He was targeted by white supremacists because of his fight for civil rights.
 
After the 1954 Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education declared school segregation unconstitutional, the local NAACP circulated a desegregation petition in Natchez and Adams County.
 
When the petition appeared in The Natchez Democrat, the signers became targets of white racists. Some lost jobs, some fled town, and most of them withdrew their names under pressure.
 
The bombing was one of many stories Paul shared about his father's work when we met in October 2025. When he mentioned the petition, it triggered a memory.
 
"Wait," I said. "That was your father?”
 
I suddenly realized I had seen his name before.
 
Whenever I encounter names of local people in history books, I yearn to meet them and learn more about their stories. I also want to thank them for their sacrifice in the struggle for civil rights and share their stories.
 
Paul’s father is mentioned in Charles C. Bolton’s book, “The Hardest Deal of All: The Battle over School Integration in Mississippi, 1870-1980” (University Press of Mississippi, 2007). Bolton writes:
 
“In Natchez, although ‘enthusiasm was high’ within the black community as the local NAACP launched its school petition drive in mid-July, after the publication of the petition and its almost one hundred signers in the Natchez Democrat, three-fifths of the petitioners reconsidered their action. Requests poured into the offices of the newspaper and the school board asking that names be excised from the petition; many of the black parents claimed … that they had misunderstood what they were signing. David Bacon Jr., who worked for a white-owned business, renounced his endorsement of the document and quit the NAACP.”
 
He is also mentioned in Jack E. Davis’ book, “Race Against Time: Culture and Separation in Natchez since 1930” (Louisiana State University Press, 2001).
 
Davis notes David presented the petition to School Board President R. Brent Forman. When it appeared in the paper, Natchez whites organized a White Citizens’ Council to resist integration.
 
The school board rejected the petition. “Even David Bacon, apparently feeling pressure from his employer, withdrew his name and resigned as chapter president (of the NAACP),” writes Davis, adding, “the Natchez branch disbanded after the petition defeat.”
 
Paul says his father withdrew for the sake of his family. “There were five of us, and we were not affluent,” he says. “My father had been working at Armstrong Tire and Rubber Company, but he lost his job when his name was seen on the petition. He continued working at Cole’s as a utility man.”
 
Despite the petition’s defeat, Paul sees lessons in his father’s experience. “It shows that your integrity is most important, as is your history and your family.  Most essential is your faith in the Lord.”
 
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ROSCOE BARNES III, Ph.D., is the cultural heritage tourism manager at Visit Natchez.

Ser Boxley donates ‘Forks of the Road’ exhibition to Alcorn State University

Public lecture and exhibit set for March 27 in Port Gibson

Natchez, MS, USA / ListenUpYall.com

Mar 23, 2026 | 3:20 PM

 

Ser Seshsh Ab Heter-C.M.Boxley

PORT GIBSON, Miss. – Ser Seshsh Ab Heter-C. M. Boxley has donated his Forks of the Road exhibition to the Southwest Mississippi Center for Culture & Learning at Alcorn State University, Lorman Campus, announced the Center’s director, Dr. Garry Lewis.
 
“I am honored to entrust this research to Alcorn State University,” said Ser Boxley. “The Center’s commitment to cultural preservation ensures that the stories connected to the Forks of the Road will continue to educate, challenge, and inspire.”
 
Lewis emphasized the importance of Ser Boxley’s work. “Ser Boxley’s donation strengthens ongoing collaborations between Alcorn State University and regional heritage organizations committed to documenting African American history, preserving sacred sites, and expanding public access to historically grounded scholarship,” he said.
 
To recognize Ser Boxley’s decades‑long contributions as a preservationist and researcher, the Center will host a public lecture and presentation of the Forks of the Road exhibit from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, March 27, at the Claiborne County Welcome & Heritage Center, 210 Walnut St. in Port Gibson. The event is free and open to the public.
 
Dr. Roscoe Barnes III, cultural heritage tourism manager at Visit Natchez, will participate as a panelist and share remarks during the program.
 
Lewis applauded Ser Boxley for donating “his extensive artifact research and documentation on the historic ‘African/European Roots of the Underground Railroad and Forks of the Road’” to the Center. Lewis said the Forks of the Road slave market site is one of the most important locations tied to the domestic slave trade in the Deep Southwest.
 
For several years, the Forks of the Road exhibition was displayed at the Natchez Visitor Center on Canal Street until 2022, when the facility closed for renovation. The exhibition will have a new home with the Southwest Mississippi Center, according to Lewis.
 
In addition to his research, the donation includes Ser Boxley’s interpretive materials, historical analyses, and cultural documentation that illuminate the lived experiences of enslaved people trafficked through Natchez and the broader Mississippi region, Lewis said. He noted: “Ser Boxley’s work has been instrumental in shaping public understanding of the Forks of the Road as a site of memory, resilience, and truth-telling.”

In Lewis’ view, Ser Boxley’s contribution is more than a collection of research. “It is a gift of truth, legacy, and cultural responsibility. His dedication ensures that future generations can study, honor, and learn from the stories that shaped Southwest Mississippi and the nation.”
Lewis said the Center will preserve, curate, and integrate the donated materials into its educational programming, community partnerships, and student research initiatives.
 
“The collection will support Alcorn State University’s mission to advance cultural literacy, historical awareness, and community engagement across the region,” he said. “Ser Boxley, whose decades of research have helped illuminate the history of one of the most significant slave‑trading sites in the Deep Southwest, will share insights into his archival work, the importance of historical truth‑telling, and the ongoing efforts to preserve African American heritage across Southwest Mississippi.”
 
Lewis encourages Alcorn alumni, community members, visitors, and educators to attend Friday’s program and “engage directly with Ser Boxley’s scholarship and to deepen their understanding of the region’s cultural and historical landscape.”
 
See more at this link: https://listenupyall.com/2026/03/23/ser-boxley-donates-forks-of-the-road-exhibition-to-alcorn-state-university/
 

Cherokee Nation flutist Tommy Wildcat to perform at Natchez Powwow March 28-29

By Roscoe Barnes III
Natchez, MS, USA / ListenUpYall.com
Mar 23, 2026 | 8:25 AM

Tommy Wildcat
Photo courtesy of Tommy Wildcat (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. — Tommy Wildcat, a Cherokee Nation flute player, will perform at the Natchez Powwow on Saturday and Sunday, March 28 and 29, 2026, on the Natchez Bluff. Admission is free and open to the public.

Dr. Chuck Borum, who chairs the Natchez Powwow, said Wildcat is a great musician, and his performance will be an exciting and welcome addition to this year’s lineup. “Wildcat is extremely gifted as a musician and highly respected,” Borum said.

Wildcat, who hails from Tahlequah, Oklahoma, is a Cherokee Nation “National Treasure,” a title recognizing master artisans and tradition bearers who preserve Cherokee art, language, and culture. He has shared his work at cultural events and performances across the country.

Wildcat and his family were featured in the September 2005 issue of National Geographic magazine. In 1995, he appeared in the American Express “Charge Against Hunger” commercial.

Wildcat is a graduate of Northeastern State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Cherokee Cultural Studies. He won the 2002 Native American Music Award for Flutist of the Year for his album “Pow-Wow Flutes.”

Wildcat said performing in Natchez is a privilege he really appreciates. “I’m very grateful and honored to be at the Natchez Mississippi Powwow this year,” he said.

The Natchez Powwow, held annually since the late 1980s, celebrates Native American culture through dance, music, crafts, and more. It is presented as a wholesome family-friendly event for local residents and visitors.

Program lineup

In addition to Wildcat, this year’s powwow will feature Eddie Yellowfish, Osage-Otoe-Comanche, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who will serve as the head singer of the Southern Drum.

Others featured include Frank Carson, Otoe-Pawnee, of Stillwater, Oklahoma, as master of ceremonies; and Darsh DeSilva of Round Rock, Texas, as arena director; and Free “Bird” Kasler, Otoe, of Chouteau, Oklahoma, as head man dancer.

The program will include Wonzie Kline Kole, Mescalero Apache-Comanche of Dallas as the head lady dancer; and James Barton of Summerville, South Carolina, as the head gourd dancer.

Oscar-nominated songwriter Scott George of Hominy, Oklahoma, will support Yellowfish on the drums. George composed “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People),” that was featured in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.” He and Yellowfish performed the song with the Osage Tribal Singers at the 96th Academy Awards in March 2024.

Powwow schedule

Saturday March 28, 2026

9 a.m. – Food, Craft, and Farmers’ Market Vendors open; 12:30 p.m. — Gourd Dance; 2 p.m. — Grand Entry and Intertribal Dancing; 4 p.m. — Camp Feed for Singers, Dancers, and Family/Friends; 6 p.m. — Gourd Dance; 7 p.m. — Grand Entry and Intertribal Dancing; 9 p.m. – Closing

Sunday March 29, 2026

 9 a.m. — Food and Craft Vendors open; 12:30 p.m. — Gourd Dance; 2 p.m. — Grand Entry and Intertribal Dancing

Alcohol is prohibited at the powwow. It is not allowed in the powwow area or in the trader or food vending area. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs for seating.

Borum said the powwow is financially supported by local Natchez businesses, individuals, and the Natchez Convention Promotion Commission/Visit Natchez.

For more information, visit https://www.natchezpowwow.com or email Powwow Chairman Dr. Chuck Borum at cborum@hotmail.com. 

See more at this link:

https://listenupyall.com/2026/03/23/cherokee-nation-flutist-tommy-wildcat-to-perform-at-natchez-powwow-march-28-29/

Anne Moody featured in Mississippi History Now

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I’m excited to share my latest article on Anne Moody, published by Mississippi History Now, a publication of the Mississippi Historical Society and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Titled “Anne Moody (1940–2015): Civil Rights Activist and Author of Coming of Age in Mississippi,” the piece explores the life and legacy of one of Mississippi’s most important voices of the Civil Rights Movement.

The accompanying lesson plan was written by Kari Baker and Seraiah Lodge.

#AnneMoody #ComingOfAgeinMississippi #CivilRightsMovement

Read the full article here: 

http://mshistorynow.mdah.ms.gov/issue/anne-moody-1940-2015-civil-rights-activist-and-author-coming-age-mississippi

MDAH’s Shelia Byrd to speak at Prince Ibrahima marker ceremony April 8

Event set for Silver Street near Mississippi River landing dock

By Mississippi Monitor | Mar 20, 2026 | Capital/River
and Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., Visit Natchez

Shelia Byrd is the deputy director of the Programs and Communication Division of Mississippi Department of Archives and History and a former Associated Press journalist. (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. -- Shelia Byrd, the deputy director of the Programs and Communication Division of Mississippi Department of Archives and History, will serve as guest speaker at a marker dedication ceremony honoring Prince Abdul Rahman Ibrahima (1762-1829).

The ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at Under-the-Hill on Silver Street near the Mississippi River landing dock. It is free and open to the public. This second marker complements one dedicated in October 2025 near Historic Jefferson College.

Byrd is a former Associated Press journalist who covered civil rights, politics and education.

"It is an honor to be included in a ceremony highlighting Prince Ibrahima, whose story is one of millions woven into Mississippi's history. His story ends in freedom, but only after enslavement, struggle, and loss," Byrd said. "It is fitting the marker unveiling comes while the country is marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence."

Byrd was an AP journalist for 17 years, covering stories that included the trial of Klansman Edgar Ray Killen for the 1964 murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner. She also wrote about the FBI's reopening of the Emmett Till murder case. Prior to MDAH, Byrd was the communications director at Mississippi Public Broadcasting, managing editor at the General Motors Story Bureau, and vice president for communications at Hope Enterprise Corporation.

A graduate of Grambling State University with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication, Byrd is a multiple Lantern and Prism award winner, recognized for excellence in writing and integrated communications.

Natchez history

Mayor Dan Gibson said he is looking forward to the ceremony as a meaningful part of Natchez’s history.

“This ceremony is an important step in recognizing and telling the full story of Natchez,” Gibson said. “Prince Abdul Rahman Ibrahima’s journey is both powerful and sobering, and it deserves to be remembered and shared for generations to come. We are proud to commemorate his legacy here in Natchez.”

Lynsey Gilbert, interim director of Visit Natchez, said the ceremony is a celebration of Natchez’s history and a recognition of difficult truths in the nation’s past.

“We value the life history of Prince Ibrahima, and we’re excited to honor him with a new historical marker,” she said. “This marker will commemorate his arrival in Natchez as an enslaved man in 1788 and his departure with his freedom on April 8, 1828.”

The ceremony date was chosen to mark the anniversary of his departure in 1828.

Gilbert said the selected location is ideal for the marker. The area is visited by thousands of people each year, including those who travel on the Mississippi River cruise ships, she said.

The site for the marker was approved by property owner Denton Biglane, who said the marker “will be a much-needed and overdue addition to Natchez and Under-the-Hill.”

Program lineup

In addition to Byrd and Gibson, the program will feature Vickie R. Green, playwright and CEO of Behind the Walls Ministries, as the mistress of ceremonies. The Rev. Dr. Joan Gandy, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Natchez, will offer the invocation, and the Rev. Clifton Marvel Sr., pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church, will offer the benediction.

Tony Fields, soloist and minister of music at Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church, will provide special musical selections for the program. Gibson will deliver the opening remarks, followed by Roscoe Barnes III of Visit Natchez, who will recognize the guests and introduce the guest speaker. Remarks also will be shared by David Dreyer, local historian and genealogist.

Natchez High School students Ainsley Dupre and Halle Stamps will present excerpts from Dr. Terry Alford’s book, “Prince Among Slaves: The True Story of an African Prince Sold into Slavery in the American South” (Oxford University Press, 1977). 

Ibrahima was a Muslim prince from Timbo in the Futa Jallon region of present-day Guinea, West Africa. He was captured in battle in 1788 and sold into the transatlantic slave trade. He spent 40 years enslaved on Thomas Foster’s plantation near Natchez before gaining his freedom in 1828 with the help of Andrew Marschalk, the “Father of Mississippi Journalism,” and U.S. Secretary of State Henry Clay in President John Quincy Adams’ administration.

For more information, call 601-492-3004 or email Roscoe@visitnatchez.org.

See more at this link: https://www.themississippimonitor.com/mdahs-shelia-byrd-to-speak-at-prince-ibrahima-marker-ceremony-april-8-event-set-for-silver-street-near-mississippi-river-landing-dock/

Passing of the gavel

Keena Graham is the new president of the Mississippi Historical Society 

Roscoe Barnes III and Keena Graham
(Click on image to enlarge.)

On Friday, March 6, 2026, I completed my term as president of the Mississippi Historical Society. I passed the gavel to our new president, Keena Graham, superintendent of the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument in Jackson.

Photos by the Mississippi Historical Society and the Mississippi Department of Archives & History

Roscoe Barnes III and Keena Graham
(Click on image to enlarge.)

2026 Natchez Powwow to feature Eddie Yellowfish

He will perform as head singer of the Southern Drum

Eddie Yellowfish will serve as head singer at upcoming Natchez Powwow.
(Click on image to enlarge.)

Eddie Yellowfish, Osage-Otoe-Comanche, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, will serve as the head singer of the Southern Drum at the Natchez Powwow set for March 28-29 on the Natchez Bluff. He is pictured here as dancer at the 2016 Otoe Missouria Winter Encampment in Newkirk, Oklahoma.

Yellowfish was one of the Osage Tribal Singers who performed “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People),” at the 96th Academy Awards in March 2024. The song is featured in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, visit https://www.natchezpowwow.com/