Visit Natchez Announces Black History Month Programming for February 2026

ListenUpYall.com/Natchez, MS USA
Jan 29, 2026 | 12:57 PM

The Dr. John Bowman Banks Museum, which is commonly called The Dr. John Banks House, was the home of Natchez's first Black physician. The home was also the headquarters of the Natchez branch of the NAACP during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. It is located at 9 St. Catherine St. In 2023, the property became the site of the city's first Freedom Trail marker. (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. — Natchez, Mississippi, one of the oldest continuous settlements along the Mississippi River, announces a diverse lineup of events, exhibits, tours, and cultural celebrations planned throughout February 2026 in observance of Black History Month.

“As a city deeply shaped by African American history and culture, Natchez is proud to offer meaningful programs that honor the people, stories, and legacies that continue to define our community,” said Roscoe Barnes III, cultural heritage & tourism manager at Visit Natchez. “From faith-based traditions and youth programming to immersive cultural showcases and historic sites, these events invite residents and visitors alike to engage with Black history in thoughtful and inspiring ways.”

In addition to February programming and looking ahead to spring 2026, Natchez will dedicate a new historical marker honoring Prince Abdul Rahman Ibrahima, an African nobleman enslaved in the Natchez area for more than 40 years before regaining his freedom. The marker will be dedicated April 8, 2026, with a ceremony from 10 a.m. to noon on Silver Street near the Under-the-Hill docks.

The location was intentionally selected as the area where Ibrahima first arrived in Natchez as an enslaved man and later departed the city as a free man with his wife, Isabella. The dedication date marks April 8, 1828, the day the couple left Natchez following Ibrahima’s emancipation, creating what organizers describe as a powerful “full circle” moment in the city’s history.

Zion Chapel’s Founder’s Day

Sunday, February 8, 2026, 9:30 a.m.

The public is invited to attend the annual Founder’s Day program at Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church, located at 28 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. in Natchez. Presenters from the congregation will share the history of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and its founder, the Reverend Richard Allen (1760–1831), who was born into slavery and later became the denomination’s first bishop. For more information, call Norma West at 601-807-0454.

“For My People: A Celebration of African American Culture through Literature”

Saturday, February 14, 2026, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The NAACP Youth Council will host the second annual “For My People” celebration at the NAPAC Museum at 301 Main St. Designed for children ages four – 14, the program will feature storytelling, book readings, drawing activities, and interactive fun that highlights African American culture through literature. Donations are encouraged. Guests are invited to bring a friend and celebrate together. This program is organized by Angela B. Brooks. For more information, call 601-445-0728.

Greater St. James Baptist Church Annual Black History Program

Sunday, February 15, 2026, 3 p.m.

For more than two decades, Greater St. James Baptist Church has hosted annual Black History Month programs. The 2026 event will feature a guest speaker, music by the church choir, lessons on African American history, and refreshments. The program will be held at 549 Lower Woodville Road in Natchez and is free and open to the public. For more information, call Earline Kinnie at 601-392-9345 or Deacon Elbert Lyles at 601-597-9570, or email elbert.lyles@yahoo.com.

“Great Achievements in Education: Celebrating our Black Educators”

Thursday, February 19, 2026, 5:30 p.m.

The City of Natchez will host a Black History program that will celebrate education while honoring the retired Black educators over the age of 80. The program will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, February 19, at the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture at 301 Main St. Mayor Dan Gibson said the program will include a panel discussion moderated by NAPAC Executive Director Bobby Dennis to highlight the contributions of the retired educators and share stories of inspiration. “Our educators have helped shape the history of our community. It will be a great opportunity to highlight those who during difficult times contributed so much.”

The panel discussion will be followed by a presentation of an Angel Award to each of the senior retirees. For more information, call 601-445-0728

Reign of Royalty: A Celebration of African Kings & Queens

Sunday, February 22, 2026, 3:30 p.m.

Pretty Girls with Brains, Inc. will present “Reign of Royalty: A Celebration of African Kings & Queens” at the historic Frazier Cultural Center. This immersive 75-minute cultural showcase celebrates Africa’s most influential rulers through dance, fashion, music, and traditional cuisine. The program highlights historic kingdoms including Mali, Egypt, Nubia, Ethiopia, and the Zulu Nation, offering audiences a vibrant exploration of the heritage that shaped the African diaspora. Families are encouraged to attend and wear African attire. For more information, contact Bettye Bell at 601-334-4104 or bcmbell@yahoo.com.

“Celebrating Black History: Honoring the Six Boys who attended the Steve Harvey Mentorship Camp”

Saturday, February 28, 2026, 3 p.m.

The public is invited to an exciting new program that celebrates the achievement of the boys who attended the Steve Harvey Mentorship Camp. The event is sponsored by Seeds of Change Resource Foundation. It will be held at the Natchez City Auditorium at 207 Jefferson Street. “It isn’t where you came from; it’s where you’re going that counts,” said Dr. Carolyn Myers, director of Seeds of Change. She calls on the public to “Come support these boys who made history.” This celebration is free. For more information, call 601-870-6343.

The Enslaved Journey by Rev’s Country Tours

Entire month of February 2026

In observance of Black History Month, Rev. Tracy A. Collins will offer cultural heritage tours throughout February focusing on the history of slavery and the path to freedom through the Civil Rights Movement in Natchez. Tours are available by request or appointment. For more information, visit www.revscountrytours.com.

Legacy of the Rhythm Night Club

Entire month of February 2026

The Rhythm Night Club Memorial Museum will offer tours throughout February highlighting the lives and legacies of African American club patrons affected by the tragic 1940 fire. In addition to these stories, visitors can view newly acquired artifacts, including an Acrosonic piano, vintage Coca-Cola memorabilia, and an original “Rhythm Nite Club” sign. Admission is half price during Black History Month. For more information, visit www.rnconsitemm.org.

New Vision Media Presents the 4th Annual Black History Art Exhibit

Entire month of February 2026

The 4th Annual Black History Student Art Exhibit will feature artwork by Natchez–Adams County students throughout February at the WTYJ Studio Lobby, located at 20 E. Franklin St in Natchez. Hosted by New Vision Media, the exhibit highlights African American lived experiences and contributions to history. The exhibition is free and open to the public. For more information, call Leon Hollins or Malcolm Inniss at 601-446-9911 or visit www.natchezradio.com.

Explore Natchez’s African American History Year-Round

Visitors are encouraged to explore Natchez’s historic sites, including the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture at 301 Main St., which tells the full story of African Americans in Natchez from slavery to the present. Guests can also visit the Dr. John Bowman Banks Museum, located at 9 St. Catherine St., a pivotal site in the local Civil Rights Movement and home to Natchez’s first Freedom Trail marker. In addition, visitors can view the site of Natchez’s first historical marker honoring Prince Ibrahima, unveiled in October 2025 near Historic Jefferson College. The marker commemorates Abdul Rahman Ibrahima, an African prince enslaved in the Natchez area for 40 years before gaining his freedom.

See more at this link:

https://listenupyall.com/2026/01/29/visit-natchez-announces-black-history-month-programming-for-february-2026/

Marker approved for civil rights leader

(Click on image to enlarge.)

This story about civil rights leader George Metcalfe appeared on Page 11A in the Wednesday, January 28, 2026 issue of The Concordia Sentinel (Ferriday, Louisiana).

Site where George Metcalfe’s car was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan will be memorialized with a historical marker

 

Triangle near Armstrong plant

George Metcalfe’s car was parked in this area between Kelly Avenue, Brenham Avenue, and South Concord Avenue, when it was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan on August 27, 1965, near Armstrong Tire and Rubber Company. The plant can be seen here in the background. Photo by Roscoe Barnes III (Click on image to enlarge.)

Photo of triangle

A new historical marker honoring civil rights leader George Metcalfe will be posted at this location between Kelly Avenue, Brenham Avenue, and South Concord Avenue, near the Armstrong Tire and Rubber Company. Photo by Roscoe Barnes III (Click on image to enlarge.)

New historical Marker approved for civil rights leader George Metcalfe

By Roscoe Barnes III 
Natchez, MS, USA / ListenUpYall.com
Jan 23, 2026 | 10:55 AM

Civil rights leader George Metcalfe will be honored with a new historical marker approved by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Photo courtesy of Ed Pincus Film Collection Amistad Research Center, New Orleans, LA (Click on image to enlarge.) 

NATCHEZ, Miss. — A new historical marker honoring civil rights leader George Metcalfe (1911-1989) has been approved by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Caleb Ellison, MDAH Program Manager, announced recently.

“The story of George Metcalfe is extremely important in the history of Natchez,” said Ellison. “This marker is a well-deserved tribute to his remarkable and enduring legacy.”

The marker will be installed in or near the triangle between Kelly Avenue, Brenham Avenue, and South Concord Avenue, which is the site where Metcalfe’s car was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan on August 27, 1965. This site is on the west side of the Armstrong Tire and Rubber Company, where Metcalfe was employed.

“George Metcalfe is representative of the thousands of Black World War II veterans who came home and launched the modern Civil Rights Movement,” said Michael Morris, historian, and director of The Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson. “He is more than deserving of a state historical marker, which will detail the horrific violence he faced as he led the Natchez movement in the 1960s.”

It will take at least six months for the marker to be manufactured and delivered to Natchez. Mayor Dan Gibson said he hopes it will arrive before August 27 – the anniversary of the bombing. He said it would be quite fitting to dedicate the marker on that date.

“I am so grateful to see the day that our city properly pays tribute to the legacy of Mr. George Metcalfe, a pioneer in civil rights history – a man who did so much to engage our Black citizens in the electoral process and bring needed change to our city and state,” Gibson said. “The cowardly attack upon his life only served to bring more attention to the need for change to happen. He and his family suffered greatly, and all who believe in freedom and justice should never forget the price he paid.”

‘A born leader’

Local historian Royal Hill Jr. said he is grateful to Metcalfe and others for their contributions to the Civil Rights Movement in Natchez.

“It’s due time for a marker honoring Mr. Metcalfe,” he said. “When we speak of ancestors, we often speak of their sacrifices as blood, sweat, tears, or death. Mr. Metcalfe and the NAACP created the model as to how to lead and get results during the civil rights era. He was an icon and a born leader, that truly sacrificed for our race of people.”

Metcalfe was a World War II veteran who worked multiple jobs leading up to his work with the Natchez branch of the NAACP, where he served as president. He and his wife, Adell, moved to Natchez from Louisiana around 1940. He worked as a truck driver for a sawmill and sold burial insurance. He also drew income from his rental property.

His work with the NAACP made him a target of the Klan. In addition to leading a successful voter drive that resulted in over 8,000 African Americans registering to vote, he and the NAACP called on the Natchez city administration to denounce white supremacist groups and to end police brutality, among other things. They also urged the city to hire Black employees and to desegregate swimming pools, parks, and other public facilities.

On one occasion, Metcalfe led a delegation that confronted the school board with a signed petition calling for the desegregation of the public school system.

The car bombing

On Friday, August 27, 1965, Metcalfe completed his shift around noon at Armstrong and walked outside the plant to his 1955 Chevrolet sedan. When he placed his key in the ignition and turned the switch, a bomb, planted inside the car by the Klan, exploded.

Metcalfe survived with severe injuries that included burns, glass lacerations, and a broken arm. His right leg was shattered in three places, and his right eye was permanently damaged, according to historians. No one was ever charged with the crime. Nevertheless, the bombing fueled the local Civil Rights Movement. Historians say it became a turning point in the movement.

Most notably, the bombing galvanized the Black community, prompting them to rise up and organize protest rallies. They marched, and they boycotted white-owned businesses. Many Blacks armed themselves and spoke out against the Klan violence.

In September 1965, the Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice organized to provide armed protection for Blacks and the civil rights workers against the Klan.

In December 1965, the city of Natchez conceded to the demands of the NAACP. Metcalfe, however, spent a year recovering from his injuries and eventually returned to work at Armstrong, alongside suspected Klan members and people linked to the attack, according to Stanley Nelson, author of “Devils Walking: Klan Murders Along the Mississippi River in the 1960s” (LSU Press, 2016).

Metcalfe eventually moved back to Monroe, Louisiana and died unexpectedly on April 21, 1989, in his home. He was 77.