Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Activist, civil rights leader and author Anne Moody honored

Front-page report from The Woodville Republican featuring 
coverage of the Anne Moody Day Celebration

#AnneMoody

Many thanks to Editor and Publisher Andy Lewis for this fine coverage. It is greatly appreciated. I'm also thankful to him for the early coverage of the Anne Moody Day Celebration. His paper ran two stories leading up to the event. -- Roscoe Barnes III, Chairman, Anne Moody History Project

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The Woodville Republican (Woodville, Miss.)
page 1 (above the fold) Thursday, Sept. 28. 2017

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For more on the Anne Moody Day Celebration,
visit the Anne Moody page here!


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The Woodville Republican (Woodville, Miss.)
page 1 (above the fold) Thursday, Sept. 28. 2017

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Would you like to know more about Anne Moody? 
Use this timeline to follow her life history.

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For more information: 
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, simply follow this blog or follow AMHP on Twitter (@AnneMoodyHP). #ComingOfAgeinMississippi

Anne Moody Day Celebration

A Program Held on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, in Centreville, Miss. 

#AnneMoody

This special program was held to honor the legacy of civil rights pioneer Anne Moody, author of Coming of Age in Mississippi. Centreville Board of Aldermen in Mississippi honored Moody on Sept. 15, 2017, by issuing a proclamation for Anne Moody Day and by unveiling the Anne Moody Street sign. The event was organized by the Anne Moody History Project of MTC/Wilkinson County Correctional Facility and the Centreville town officials. About 70 people attended the event. See the full handout/program here.

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People attending the historic Anne Moody Day Celebration on
Sept. 15, 2017, wore purple, Anne Moody's favorite color. Ribbons were prepared by WCCF employees Ruby Dixon, Jeanette Pointe, and Santhie Womack.

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For stories about the Anne Moody Day Celebration,
visit the Anne Moody page here!

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“Today’s event is about a number of things. It’s about education, history, and about attracting people here to see what Wilkinson County has produced. But that isn’t all. Today’s event is also about honor. It’s about giving honor to whom honor is due. It’s about recognizing the important sacrifice and literary contributions of the extraordinary woman, Anne Moody, who grew up right here in Centreville.” 
– Roscoe Barnes III, from the speech, "She was There: A Tribute to Anne Moody"

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For more information: 
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, simply follow this blog or follow AMHP on Twitter (@AnneMoodyHP). #ComingOfAgeinMississippi

Monday, September 25, 2017

She was There: A Tribute to Anne Moody

Speech delivered at the Anne Moody Day Celebration on Sept. 15, 2017


By Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D.
Chairman, Anne Moody History Project
Copyright© 2017

#AnneMoody

Today’s event is about a number of things. It’s about education, history, and about attracting people here to see what Wilkinson County has produced. But that isn’t all. Today’s event is also about honor. It’s about giving honor to whom honor is due. It’s about recognizing the important sacrifice and literary contributions of the extraordinary woman, Anne Moody, who grew up right here in Centreville.

As we participate in today’s ceremony, we can take pride in knowing we are part of history. Indeed, we are making history as we honor this champion of civil rights.

In an excellent opinion piece about Anne Moody, Kevin Cooper, the publisher of The Natchez Democrat, wrote: “While Moody is certainly worthy of honor, somehow it seems she deserves more than just a road sign.”

We agree. And I’m happy to announce that what you are witnessing today is just a start. It’s the beginning of something much bigger. This ceremony may be seen as a springboard for things to come.

She was there

Today, as we reflect on Anne Moody, we can honestly say that we are here because she was there. There is much that we take for granted today and important rights that we enjoy because of the sacrifices that she and others have made.

When we say “she was there,” we mean she was there in the thick of things. She was there when the going got rough and the journey got tough. She was there on the front lines. She was there in the heat of battle. Yes, she was there.

Think about it.

When Medgar Evers organized nonviolent protests in the heart of Jackson, Anne Moody was there. When students from Tougaloo College held a peaceful demonstration in the historic Woolworth sit-in, she was there.

She was also there in Canton, Mississippi, leading a voter registration drive as she fought for freedom and justice. She was there with the three civil rights workers of Philadelphia, Miss., one week before they went missing. She was also there for the March on Washington.

I am personally happy that she was there.

In a 1985 interview, Anne Moody said she wanted to become a doctor and was studying as a pre-med student at Tougaloo College.

“I was involved in the movement … and it gradually became very much a part of my consciousness that I was not cut out to be a doctor in Mississippi or anywhere else as long as I was a black person, and these black people didn’t have any basic rights in their country….

“So what’s becoming a doctor? It’s a prestigious thing to do. It would be fantastic if, here I am, the only black doctor in Centreville … or Woodville, and I just couldn’t do it. .. I became a full-time civil rights worker making $25.00 a week.”


This was one of many sacrifices that Anne Moody made in order to help others.

Think of her

With this in mind, I would ask that we think about her as we move forward. We should think of her when we see injustice, and when we stare down poverty.

We should think of her when we exercise the right to vote.
We should think of her when we see racism and confront bigotry and discrimination.

When we are thirsty and take a drink of water from a public water fountain, we should think of Anne Moody. When we walk into a restaurant and sit wherever we choose, we should think of her.

In closing, I want to encourage you to read this book, Coming of Age in Mississippi. This book can change your life and your world view. You cannot read it and not feel what she felt or see what she saw.

When the book was published in 1968, then-Senator Edward Kennedy, said it is “a history of our time, seen from the bottom up, through the eyes of someone who decided for herself that things had to be changed….A timely reminder that we cannot now relax.”

Thank you.

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For more information: 
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, simply follow this blog or follow AMHP on Twitter (@AnneMoodyHP). #ComingOfAgeinMississippi


Friday, September 22, 2017

Natchez Democrat reports on historic Anne Moody Day Celebration

Story and photos appear on front page

#AnneMoody

Note: I want to offer a big "Thank you!" to Photographer Nicole Hester and The Natchez Democrat (Natchez, Miss.) for their excellent coverage of the Anne Moody Day Celebration held Sept. 15, 2017. The historic event was held to honor the life history of Anne Moody (1940-2015), author of Coming of Age in Mississippi

It was during this special occasion that the town of Centreville, Miss., issued a proclamation for Anne Moody Day and unveiled the Anne Moody Street sign. The event was organized by the town officials and the Anne Moody History Project of MTC/Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF) in Woodville, Miss. Hester's write-up and photos from the event appeared on the front page of the paper on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017. (See link below)

A few days before the event, the Natchez Democrat published an exceptional news story and opinion piece about Anne Moody and what we're doing to honor her legacy as a civil rights pioneer. We sincerely appreciate the coverage.  -- Roscoe Barnes III, Chairman, Anne Moody History Project

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Photos of the day: Hometown Hero

By Nicole Hester
The Natchez Democrat
(http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/author/nicolehester/)
Email the author (nicole.hester@natchezdemocrat.com)

Published 1:10 am Saturday, September 16, 2017



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For more information:
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, simply follow this blog or follow AMHP on Twitter (@AnneMoodyHP). #ComingOfAgeinMississippi

Woodville newspaper publishes two stories leading up to Anne Moody Day Celebration

Clippings of the coverage

#AnneMoody

Note: The Woodville Republican (Woodville, Miss.) published two stories about Anne Moody leading up to the Anne Moody Celebration that was held on her birthday, Sept. 15, 2017. The event, the first of its kind, was held at 12 p.m. in her hometown of Centreville, Miss.

The first piece, “Ann Moody Day Celebration set in Centreville on Friday, Sept. 15,” ran in the paper on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017. It extends an invitation to the public to come and participate in the ceremony. The second story, "Centreville to name street in honor of Anne Moody,” appeared on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017. I was happy to see both stories on the front page.

We are grateful to Editor and Publisher Andy Lewis for his coverage of this historic event. It is always good when a hometown paper provides coverage of important people and events in the local area. – Roscoe Barnes III, Chairman, Anne Moody History Project

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The Woodville Republican (Thursday, August 31, 2017)

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"As a committee (Anne Moody History Project) we appreciate the value and historic significance of her legacy and what it means for this community as well as future generations." -- Roscoe Barnes III, Chaplain, Wilkinson County Correctional Facility

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The Woodville Republican (Thursday, September 14, 2017)
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Editor'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, simply follow this blog or follow AMHP on Twitter (@AnneMoodyHP). #ComingOfAgeinMississippi


MTC welcomes national news coverage of Anne Moody Day Celebration in Centreville, Miss.

Historic event organized by Anne Moody History Project of MTC/Wilkinson County Correctional Facility, Centreville officials

By Roscoe Barnes III
Chairman, Anne Moody History Project
Copyright (c) 2017


#AnneMoody

Note: Mr. Issa Arnita, communications director for Management & Training Corporation (MTC), shared this news on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017, on the company website. MTC, which is based in Utah, is a company that focuses on education, training and rehabilitation.

I serve as chaplain at Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF) in Woodville, Miss., which is privately run by MTC. It is through this prison that the Anne Moody History Project (AMHP) was formed earlier this year with the full support of Warden Jody Bradley. I am grateful to Warden Bradley and Mr. Arnita for their support and recognition of the work we're doing as a community service endeavor to promote and help preserve the legacy of Anne Moody, author of Coming of Age in Mississippi. I'm especially grateful to AMHP members Emma Taplin, Ruby Dixon and LaVern Taylor. -- Roscoe Barnes III, Chairman, Anne Moody History Project


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NEWS: Mississippi Hometown Honors Author Of Civil Rights Memoir


Published by the Management & Training Corporation (MTC) on September 21, 2017.

Led by Wilkinson County Correctional Facility Chaplain Roscoe Barnes, a group of MTC staff at the Wilkinson facility in Woodville, Mississippi recently set out to honor a civil-rights activist whose courage and determination had an impact on many people in the South and throughout the world. Anne Moody was honored by Wilkinson staff and the City of Centreville, MS where she was born. The mayor and city council issued a resolution renaming a street in Moody’s name and proclaiming September 15 as “Anne Moody Day”. The story was picked up nationally! Read the article below by the Washington Post.


The Washington Post

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FILE – In this May 28, 1963 file photograph, a group of white people pour sugar, ketchup and mustard over the heads of Tougaloo College student demonstrators at a sit-in demonstration at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in downtown Jackson, Miss. Seated at the counter, from left, are Tougaloo College professor John Salter,and students Joan Trumpauer and Anne Moody. Anne Moody, a civil rights activist who wrote about challenging segregation in the South is being honored in her hometown, two years after her death. (Fred Blackwell/The Clarion-Ledger via AP) (Associated Press)

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By Emily Wagster Pettus | AP September 16
JACKSON, Miss. — A civil rights activist who wrote about challenging segregation in the South was honored in her hometown, two years after her death.
About 70 people gathered Friday in the southwestern Mississippi town of Centreville — population 1,680 — to unveil a sign for the newly renamed Anne Moody Street. Moody was born in Centreville on Sept. 15, 1940.
Her memoir, “Coming of Age in Mississippi,” was published in 1968 and is required reading in some schools. It recounts her early life in a poor family and her participation in civil rights activities that put her in danger, including efforts to register black voters.
Roscoe Barnes III, who is chaplain at a prison near Centreville, helped organize the Anne Moody Day commemoration, held on what would have been her 77th birthday. He said her son, Sasha Straus, attended, as did some of her siblings and cousins.
     “Here’s a woman who literally put her life on the line in the fight for freedom and justice,” Barnes told The Associated Press. “We’re here because she was there. She survived threats, beatings, incarcerations.

On May 28, 1963, Moody was part of an integrated group of students from historically black Tougaloo College who staged a peaceful sit-in at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in Jackson, Mississippi. They had worked with Mississippi NAACP leader Medgar Evers to prepare for the protest.
White high school students, egged on by some adults, dumped ketchup and mustard on the heads of Moody and the other protesters. She wrote that after she and two other black students started praying at the counter, one white man slapped her and another threw her against an adjoining counter. One of the praying students was pulled violently from his seat.
Evers was assassinated outside his Jackson home two weeks after the sit-in.
After Moody graduated from college in 1964, she moved to New York, where she wrote her book. She returned to Mississippi in the mid-1990s but never felt at ease in the state, said one of her sisters, Adline Moody.
Anne Moody had dementia before she died at home in Gloster, Mississippi, in 2015. She was 74.
     Barnes does volunteer work for the Anne Moody History Project, which is based at the privately run prison where he works, Wilkinson County Correctional Facility. He said some inmates and have been reading and discussing “Coming of Age in Mississippi” as part of a book group. He said he also gives away copies of the book to people who live in southwestern Mississippi.
“I spoke to a woman in her 40s who grew up in this area,” Barnes said. “She said, ‘Who is Anne Moody?’ That broke my heart.”


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Editor'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, simply follow this blog or follow AMHP on Twitter (@AnneMoodyHP). #ComingOfAgeinMississippi

Introducing the Anne Moody History Project

#AnneMoody


Members of the Anne Moody History Project
From left, LaVern Taylor, committee member; Emma Taplin, secretary; 
Roscoe Barnes III, chairman; and Ruby Dixon, vice chairwoman.

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“Keeping Her Legacy Alive”


About Us
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. The project has the full support of Warden Jody Bradley and Management & Training Corporation (MTC).

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 Members
The Committee for the AMHP was formed in March 2017. Its members include the Rev. Dr. Roscoe Barnes III, Ms. Emma Taplin, Mrs. Lavern Taylor, and Mrs. Ruby Dixon.

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.
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Editor'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, simply follow this blog or follow AMHP on Twitter (@AnneMoodyHP). #ComingOfAgeinMississippi

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Opening Prayer for Anne Moody Day Celebration 2017

By LeReginald Jones
Guest Post -- Copyright © 2017

#AnneMoody

Note: This wonderful and moving prayer was delivered by the Rev. LeReginald Jones during the Anne Moody Day Celebration held on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, in Centreville, Miss. Jones, who serves as pastor in Wilkinson County, is a true orator who speaks with eloquence and power. He blessed us with his presence and his words of inspiration during the ceremony which was held on Moody’s birthday. We were honored to have his participation with this historic event. Read on and be blessed! – Roscoe Barnes III, Chairman, Anne Moody History Project
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Opening Prayer for the Anne Moody Day Celebration 2017


By Rev. LeReginald Jones
Pastor, St. John #2 Baptist Church in Woodville
Assistant Pastor, Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church in Centreville 

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O Gracious Father, we come to you today in the name of Jesus. Just to say thank you. We thank you, dear Lord, for the providential orchestration of this day.

We come to honor one who is one of those hidden gems in the county of Wilkinson in the town of Centreville, who has made a difference in one of the most well-known struggles ever known to mankind, and that was the fight for civil rights.

Dear Lord, we thank you for her life and legacy. We ask that you would bless those who are here on today, and even as we unveil the sign on the street, that many will come to want to know who she is, that many will come to the realization that a great sacrifice was made, a great price was paid.

Let us never forget all of those who fought along beside Ms. Anne Moody. Oh God, let us never forget the struggle, let us never forget from whence we’ve come.

We ask that you would bless this celebration and that you shine upon us. We ask that you would let this ceremony be acceptable in your sight and that you will touch everyone that’s here, and that we will continue to keep struggling and continue to keep fighting for the struggle, O God. And that in the end we will give you all the honor and all the glory and all the praise.

We ask that you would bless this town and bless this county, and bless this nation. And may God bless us all, and the family of Ms. Anne Moody.

In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

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Editor'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, simply follow this blog or follow AMHP on Twitter (@AnneMoodyHP). #ComingOfAgeinMississippi

Monday, September 18, 2017

Town of Centreville, Miss., honors Anne Moody on her birthday

Ceremony includes proclamation for Anne Moody Day along with resolution for Anne Moody Street

By Roscoe Barnes III
Chairman, Anne Moody History Project
Copyright (c) 2017

#AnneMoody

Civil rights pioneer Anne Moody received a special gift for her birthday on Sept. 15, 2017, in her hometown of Centreville, Miss.

During a special Anne Moody Day Celebration, the town of Centreville presented a proclamation for Anne Moody Day and a resolution for renaming Fort Street, Anne Moody Street.

About 70 people turned out for the ceremony which was organized by the Anne Moody History Project of MTC/Wilkinson County Correctional Facility, Woodville, Miss., and the Centreville Board of Aldermen.

Moody, who died at the age of 74 in 2015, was the author of Coming of Age in Mississippi. She was known for her work as a civil rights activist who participated in historic peaceful demonstrations. She made many sacrifices in her fight for freedom and justice. 

Below are the two documents presented by Centreville officials on her birthday. They were given to Moody’s son, Sasha Straus, and her siblings, Fred Moody Jr., Adline Moody, and Ralph Jefferson. Larry Lee, former mayor of Centreville, was not able to attend the ceremony, but he said earlier: 


     “I think it’s a good thing to honor a person such as Anne Moody who was dedicated and made sacrifices for others. She fought for a good cause and she put her life on the line in the struggle for freedom and civil rights.”


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Proclamation for Anne Moody Day-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“We came from a very poor family, and when (Anne Moody) joined the movement, she did it because it was something that needed to be done. She wasn’t out there just to be there. I’m very proud of her for what she did. She made it better for me.” – Adline Moody, sister of Anne Moody, in interview with the Associated Press (Feb. 7, 2015)

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Resolution for Anne Moody Street

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“Coming of Age was a big deal when it came out, and it’s still a big deal now, nearly fifty years later. It is read in literature and history classes in high schools, colleges and universities throughout the country, indeed, around the world. It is one of those rare sorts of books that has never gone out of print. It is a modern-day classic.” -- M. J. O’Brien, author of We Shall Not Be Moved: The Jackson Woolworth’s Sit-In and the Movement It Inspired

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For more information:

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, simply follow this blog or follow AMHP on Twitter (@AnneMoodyHP). #ComingOfAgeinMississippi

A Reflection on Anne Moody Day Celebration 2017

By Jasmine Morris
Guest Post -- Copyright © 2017

#AnneMoody


Note: This guest post is a presentation that was given by my friend and colleague, Jasmine Morris, during the Anne Moody Day Celebration 2017. The event, the first of its kind, was held at 12 p.m., on Sept. 15, 2017, in Centreville, Miss. Anne Moody was born on Sept. 15, 1940. She grew up in Centreville, and she passed on Feb. 5, 2015, in Gloster, Miss.

It was during this ceremony that the town of Centreville honored Anne Moody by issuing a proclamation for Anne Moody Day and by renaming Fort Street, Anne Moody Street. The event was organized by the Anne Moody History Project of MTC/Wilkinson County Correctional Facility in Woodville, Miss., and by the Centreville Board of Aldermen. We were all delighted and more than a little pleased with Morris’ presentation. She delivered it with passion, clarity, and enthusiasm. Below is her reflection of the event and a copy of her Welcome address. Enjoy and share! – Roscoe Barnes III, Chairman, Anne Moody History Project 

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A Reflection on Anne Moody Day Celebration 2017



By Jasmine Morris

This was a glorious moment in history and I was proud to be a part of it. Paying homage to Anne Moody was the least that I could have done. I want to thank the committee who came up with this idea and turned it into reality. And I want to challenge you all to research and learn who Anne Moody was and her courage to change a government that she saw fault in.

I remember in high school when my JROTC teacher, Major Golliday, asked us to research Black History icons outside of Martin Luther King Jr., Medgar Evers, Malcom X, Rosa Parks, etc., because to all, these were the norms. Recently, however, I got to learn about a civil rights activist who did just as much as the aforementioned icons, but was rarely mentioned through history. I wish I had known of her legacy before now. But better late than never. Below is the Welcome I presented at the start of the Anne Moody Day ceremony.
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Centreville officials honored civil rights icon Anne Moody on
Sept. 15, 2017, with a street sign bearing her name.
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Welcome to the Anne Moody Day Celebration

Good Evening,

To the city officials, great leaders of this community, family, friends, and all assembled here today.

It brings me great honor to stand before you all and welcome you to this Anne Moody Day Celebration and the unveiling of the new Anne Moody Street sign.

I know many of you have gathered here today in great hopes of an event-filled program to obtain new knowledge, but most of all, to be a witness to a momentous moment in history.

This is a proud occasion, one that I myself and all witnesses standing here today, shall and will remember for a lifetime.

This moment will help you to envision the journey of Anne Moody’s life, her greatest accomplishments, and the legacy she has left behind, but most importantly to recognize Anne for her courageous acts of kindness to bring about change.

I want each of you to feel a warm welcome and a friendly environment. I want you to enjoy yourself, but most of all, I want you to take pleasure and savor this great moment.

After reading Anne Moody’s best-selling book entitled Coming of Age in Mississippi, I would like to close my welcome with a quote stated by the great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that described Anne to me. And the quote reads, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenges and controversy.”

THANK YOU!
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Jasmine Morris is a graduate of Alcorn State University. She works as Deputy Warden Secretary at MTC/Wilkinson County Correctional Facility.
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For more information: 
See the Anne Moody page here.
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, simply follow this blog or follow AMHP on Twitter (@AnneMoodyHP). #ComingOfAgeinMississippi


Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Moody, others made the world better

#AnneMoody

Note: Kevin Cooper, publisher of The Natchez Democrat (Natchez, Miss.), has written a powerful op-ed piece on Anne Moody and the #AnneMoodyDay Celebration set for noon Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, in her hometown of Centreville, Miss. Cooper captures both the essence and pathos of what we're trying to do in honoring Anne Moody and keeping her legacy alive. He correctly notes that sadly her name is not as well known as it should be. But we at the Anne Moody History Project are hoping to change that with help from Moody's family, the community, the press, and elected officials. 

When Cooper writes that "somehow it seems she deserves more  than just a road sign," we totally agree. In fact, we have outlined some of the steps we're taking to honor her name and contributions as a noted author, citizen, and civil rights pioneer (See Promoting Anne Moody). We intend to use every available resource, including libraries, museums, and social media, to tell her story so that future generations will know of her sacrifice.

We are grateful to Cooper and The Natchez Democrat for their coverage of this historic event. What Cooper has shared in this moving article is highly significant and should be passed on to people everywhere. He has successfully and powerfully captured in a few words a story that should never be forgotten. And for that, we say, thanks! -- Roscoe Barnes III, Chairman, Anne Moody History Project
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Moody, others made the world better



 By Kevin Cooper
The Natchez Democrat

Published 11:36 pm Saturday, September 9, 2017
More than 50 years after she was mocked and demoralized for having the audacity to question a fundamentally wrong status quo, civil rights activist and author Anne Moody will be honored Friday in her hometown of Centreville.

The town plans to name a street after Moody and hold a ceremony to commemorate the event on Moody’s birthday. She died in 2015 at age 74.

While Moody is certainly worthy of honor, somehow it seems she deserves more than just a road sign.

For many Americans, her name may be unfamiliar, but for Mississippians her name should be familiar, but sadly it’s not as well known as it should be.

Her 1968 book, “Coming of Age in Mississippi,” was a raw look at her life as a black person living in the Jim Crow era of Mississippi.

Aside from her landmark book, Moody may be most well known for something that today seems unbelievably common — she sat at a lunch counter at Woolworth’s store in Jackson during a May 28, 1963, sit-in protest.

Moody was one of three black students from Tougaloo College participating in the sit-in. The others were Memphis Norman and Pearlena Lewis.

The three prayed at the counter. Their action was part of a wider move to protest mistreatment of black people in Jackson — and the greater South as well.

Because the students were black and the lunch counter was segregated, a mob of white teenagers and young men began harassing them.

The trio was joined at some point by freedom rider Joan Trumpauer.

The participants were simply sitting quietly, trying to protest the racial segregation without violence, when the mob took matters into their own hands.

A newspaper photographer, Fred Blackwell, captured what became an iconic image showing the utter depravity of Mississippi’s racial problems.

Mob members look on smugly, some smiling, while others poured items on the trio of protestors trying to degrade them enough to make them leave.

“The mob started smearing us with ketchup, mustard, sugar, pies and everything on the counter. Soon Joan and I were joined by John Salter, but the moment he sat down he was hit on the jaw with what appeared to be brass knuckles. Blood gushed from his face and someone threw salt into the open wound.”

The three sat still, trying to avoid further conflict.

When the mob realized their humiliation effort had not worked they resorted to more violence.

“I was snatched from my stool by two high school students,” she wrote, recounting the experience. “I was dragged about 30 feet toward the door by my hair when someone made them turn me loose.”

The visuals — both the famous photo of the abuse at the sit-in and the word pictures Moody’s descriptions provide — are difficult to comprehend.

The South operated under a system of institutional bullying.

Sadly, Moody was one of literally thousands of Americans who were abused by the morally warped system of segregation.

Fortunately for our country, Moody and others had the courage to stand up against the wrongs of society. Their efforts ultimately led to a nation of improved equality.

America certainly is not perfect, but through the efforts of heroes such as Anne Moody, Memphis Norman, Pearlena Lewis, Joan Trumpauer and John Salter our world is better than it was for past generations.

For that we should all be grateful. 

Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3539 or kevin.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com 
COPYRIGHT © 2017, Mississippi's Best Community Newspaper
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Editor'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, simply follow this blog or follow AMHP on Twitter (@AnneMoodyHP). #ComingOfAgeinMississippi 

VIDEO: Flags from Mississippi Gallery Talk - USCT invited guests Roscoe Barnes III and Dr. Albert Dorsey

  To view the video, please follow this link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSTjD0PeDes   This is a video of a fascinating and insightful...