Plans underway for the 2024 Natchez Powwow

Event slated for March 23, 24, at the Bluff

By Roscoe Barnes III
Visit Natchez

A Native American performer greets the Natchez family of Annabelle Wilson, seated, at the 2022 Powwow. Her children, from left, are Adeline, Ty, and Alice. (Click on image to enlarge.)

NATCHEZ, Miss. – The 2024 Natchez Powwow will be held Saturday and Sunday, March 23 and 24, at 319 N. Broadway St., on the north end of the Natchez Bluff.
 
The popular event that draws hundreds of people from across the state and other parts of the country will give visitors two days of music, fun, food, crafts, and exciting events related to Native American culture, said Dr. Charles Borum, who chairs the event.
 
“These events are always exciting,” he said. “We have people who come every year and we have many who come for the first time. It’s a wholesome family event and a great opportunity to learn about the Native American culture.”
 
Borum said he has appreciated the music since he was a teenager, and he went to the dances when he lived in Oklahoma. Today, he travels throughout the country to participate in Native American powwows.
 
“I dance at many of the Osage and Ponca dances,” he said. “I love this music. As you learn and come to understand it, you develop a deeper level of appreciation for it.”
 
The Natchez Powwow is an annual event that celebrates the culture of Native Americans. It is popularly known for its dance, music, and the colorful Native American regalia worn by the participants. The event includes traditional food, arts, and crafts.

In 2018, the Natchez Powwow was listed as one of the top 20 events of that year by the Southeast Tourism Society. Borum, who started the Natchez Powwow in 1988, said someone from Natchez would need to travel a far distance to be able to enjoy live Native American music like we have at our Powwow.

 
He said one of the cool highlights last year was the “49 singing” event – an informal social celebration --held after the Powwow at 10 p.m. in the courtyard at Smoot’s at 319 N. Broadway St.
 
“This was a time to relax and to enjoy some fun songs,” Borum said.
 
Another highlight from last year was the game of stickball between high school students and members of the Mississippi Choctaw Nation and Natchez descendants. Borum said everyone enjoyed it. He encourages other athletes to come and participate in the game.
 
As in previous years, Native American crafts will be sold throughout the powwow. Craft and food booths will open at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, according to Borum.
 
In the event of rain, the event will continue in the multi-purpose room at Adam County Christian School at 300 Chinquapin Lane.

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Powwow Schedule

 
This year’s program participants will include Chris Bryant of Lynchburg, Va., as master of ceremonies; Darsh Desilva of Round Rock, Texas, as arena director; Chad Tahchawwickah, Comanche, of Cache, Okla., as head singer southern drum; Guy Ray Pocowatchit, Pawnee-Shawnee-Comanche, of Pawhuska, Okla., as head man dancer; Nazhoni Tsosie, Quapaw-Otoe-Navajo of Chelsea, Okla., as head leady dancer; and Kevin Pohawpatchoko, Comanche and retired U.S. Navy of Cache, Okla., as head gourd dancer.
 
Saturday’s schedule
 
9 a.m. -- Food and Craft and Farmer Market Vendors open
11 a.m. -- Traditional Stickball Game
1 p.m. -- Gourd Dance
2 :30 a.m. -- Grand Entry and Intertribal Dancing
4 p.m. -- Camp Feed for Singers and Dancers and family/friends
6 p.m. -- Gourd Dance
7 p.m. -- Grand Entry and Intertribal Dancing
9 p.m. – Closing
 
Sunday’s schedule
 
9 a.m. -- Food and Craft Vendors open
1 p.m. -- Gourd Dance
2:30 p.m. -- Grand Entry and Intertribal Dancing
 
Alcoholic beverages will be prohibited in the Powwow area, including those areas occupied by the traders and food vendors. Visitors are asked to bring their own lawn chairs. Benches will be available for the dancers.

Outdoor camping will not be available at the Powwow site on the Bluff, Borum said. However, he noted, camping in tents, campers, and RVs will be available at the River View RV Park at 100 River View Parkway, Vidalia.

For more information, visit https://www.natchezpowwow.com, or send email to Powwow Chairman Dr. Chuck Borum at cborum@hotmail.com. Follow Natchez Powwow on Facebook.
 

Scott George, a regular at Natchez Powwows, will perform live at Sunday’s Oscars

By Roscoe Barnes III, Visit Natchez
Natchez, MS, USA / ListenUpYall.com
Mar 7, 2024 | 10:01 p.m.
 

Scott George is pictured here with Lily Gladstone. She was nominated for Best Actress for her role as Mollie Burkhart in "Killers of the Flower Moon."

NATCHEZ, Miss. – A Native American song by Osage member Scott George, a regular performer at Natchez Powwow, is nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Original Song, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The song titled, “Wahzhazhe: A Song for My People,” is featured in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.” It was composed by George and is performed in the closing dance scene of the film by Osage tribal singers.

Winners of the 2024 Oscars will be announced on Sunday, March 10, during the 96th Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles. George and the Osage Singers will perform “Wahzhazhe” live at the ceremony, according to the academy website.

Dr. Charles Borum, chairman of the Natchez Powwow, shared the news of George’s nomination in a Facebook post, dated March 3, 2024.

“My friend Scott George has sung many times at the drum at Natchez Powwow … along with the Bighorse brothers and other great singers,” Borum wrote.

Scott George, third from left wearing white hat, is performing with the Bighorse brothers at a Natchez Powwow. They are all Osage.

The 2024 Natchez Powwow is set for Saturday and Sunday, March 23 and 24, at 319 N. Broadway St. George, a resident of Hominy, Okla., will not be attending this year, according to Borum.

“George and the other Osage singers have been in Natchez multiple times, and we hope to have them return soon,” he said. “It’s exciting for me to see people I know being recognized. George is one of the best singers I sat at the dances with.”

Scott George, center holding white cap, is joined by the Bighorse brothers at a Natchez Powwow. They are all Osage.

“Killers of the Flower Moon” is a 2023 movie that is based on David Grann’s 2017 nonfiction book of the same name. It tells the horrific story of the Osage murders.

The movie shows how the Osage people became wealthy after oil was discovered on their land in the early 20th century, “only to be exploited and murdered by their duplicitous white neighbors,” reported RTL Today.

The news outlet noted the Osage people played a significant role in the making of the movie. Various scenes were also shot in their heartland.

According to A.frame, the digital magazine of the academy, other nominees competing in the Original Song category include:

“The Fire Inside” from Flamin’ Hot with music and lyric by Diane Warren; “I’m Just Ken” from  Barbie with music and lyric by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt; “It Never Went Away” from American Symphony with music and lyric by Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson; And “What Was I Made For?” from Barbie with music and lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell.

Natchez resident David Kelley, who was officially recognized in 2023 as a member of the Osage Nation, said George’s nomination is an important accomplishment for the great Osage Nation and Native Americans in general.

“Since the first invasion of the Europeans on the Native American homeland, the Indian people have been thought of as less than human,” Kelley said. “Even in today’s society, where I believe a conscious effort is being made to overcome racism, there is still a great deficiency in the recognition of the Indian people and the respect for our customs and traditions.”

Kelley said the nomination shines a small spotlight on an artist and great talented man.

“Hopefully, it will in some way begin to change the way this society views the Indian people,” he said.

As for the movie, Kelley said it is a well-made depiction of a great tragedy that was inflicted upon the Osage people.

“It is a story of the greed and murderous spirit of the people trusted with the well-being of the Osage,” he explained. “Our story is worthy of tears. But, through it all the Osage people remain strong. We have not let this wrong-doing change our spirit. God is in control of all things and we are still alive, well and prosperous today.”

See more at: https://listenupyall.com/2024/03/07/scott-george-a-regular-at-natchez-powwows-will-perform-live-at-sundays-oscars/

Anne Moody and 'Coming of Age in Mississippi'

Top of the Morning column published in The Natchez Democrat (Wednesday, March 6, 2024, page 4A)

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Top of the Morning

Anne Moody and 'Coming of Age in Mississippi'

By Roscoe Barnes III

This month, in recognition of Women’s History Month, I’d like to recommend a book by a woman who played a vital role in the civil rights movement in Mississippi. The book is, “Coming of Age in Mississippi,” and it was written by Anne Moody (1940-2015), who was born and reared in Centreville, Miss.

Moody attended Natchez College in the early 1960s before enrolling at Tougaloo College, where she became a civil rights activist. Moody died on Feb. 5, 2015, at her home in Gloster. She was 74.

On Tuesday, Feb. 27, I presented a talk on Moody at a meeting of the Natchez Historical Society. My topic was, “Anne Moody’s Coming of Age in Mississippi: Why It Matters.” Here, I want to give an overview of what I shared. Perhaps it will spark an idea, inspire, or maybe generate interest in Moody’s life history.

Moody’s story matters for many reasons, but in the interest of space, I will talk about three of them.
 
First, her story matters because of  her suffering, sacrifices, and achievements in the civil rights movement.
 
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “unmerited suffering is redemptive.” This was certainly true with Moody. When reading about her suffering, it’s important to see that she was far more than a victim. In fact, she was more of a warrior. Moody once said that she had planned to study medicine and become a doctor, but the needs of African Americans for freedom and civil rights moved her to make sacrifices in the movement.
 
As Moody came of age, she participated in peaceful protests, marches, and sit-ins in an effort to desegregate businesses, churches, and public facilities. She endured beatings and incarcerations. She also assisted with voter registration drives for Freedom Summer in 1964.
 
In May 1963, Moody joined students and faculty from Tougaloo College for a sit-in protest at the Woolworth’s lunch counter in Jackson. In the iconic photo of the scene, she is pictured with Joan Trumpauer as a mob of white racists assaulted them and showered them with condiments. But that wasn’t all. She recounted: “I was attacked with fists, brass knuckles and the broken portions of glass sugar containers, and was burned with cigarettes.”

Second, her story matters because of her literary contribution to Mississippi History.

Moody was a rare voice in Mississippi. Many fought in the struggle, but few wrote, and even fewer left a historical record in their own words that remains in print. Moody once said that she didn’t think of herself as a writer; instead, she saw herself as an activist.

Moody's book is a story of pain and poverty, racism, Jim Crow and racial violence by white supremacists. It is also a story of hope, persistence, and triumph against the odds. As “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” shed light on the horrors of slavery, Moody's book sheds light on the plight and horrific living conditions of many blacks in Mississippi, especially those who were poor.

Third, her story matters because of her relationships with key figures in the movement.

Moody was in all the right places at the right time, and she came to know many important people in the civil rights movement. Through her book, she highlighted their respective stories, and in doing so, she helped to cement their place in history. You might even say that she helped to immortalize some of these figures.
 
On the pages of her book, she gives the names and stories of many unsung heroes. The longevity of her memoir means their stories will not be forgotten. Whenever and wherever her story is told, their names will be noted along with hers.
 
In conclusion, I will note that while Anne Moody has not received the recognition she deserves, her story presents an important and compelling commentary on Mississippi history. It is a story of rage, race, injustice, and hope. Since it was first published in December 1968, it has remained in print to this day, and for good reason. Check it out.
 
---------------
 
ROSCOE BARNES III, Ph.D., is the cultural heritage tourism manager for Visit Natchez.

 

Visit Natchez’s Roscoe Barnes III elected vice president of the Mississippi Historical Society

Emily Williams

Natchez, MS, USA/ListenUpYall.com
Mar 1, 2024 | 2:30 PM
 

NATCHEZ, Miss. – Dr. Roscoe Barnes III, cultural heritage tourism manager for Visit Natchez, was recently named vice president of the Mississippi Historical Society. He was elected Thursday, Feb. 22, during the society’s annual meeting in Oxford.

Barnes will serve with the new president, Dr. Rebecca Tuuri, associate professor of history at University of Southern Mississippi. She fills the position previously held by Will Bowlin, instructor at Northeast Mississippi Community College, who completed his term in office.

“Roscoe Barnes III has been active in the work of the Mississippi Historical Society and cares deeply about the history of our state,” said Brother Rogers, secretary-treasurer of the organization. “We look forward to benefiting from his leadership.”

Barnes said he has enjoyed serving with the society and that the new appointment is an honor.

“I’m fortunate to be able to work with so many scholars, historians, and students of Mississippi History,” he said. “Thanks to the Mississippi Historical Society, I’m connecting with people throughout the state who love Mississippi. These are people who are helping to preserve our history while using multiple channels and resources to share this history with the public.”

Barnes joined the society’s board of directors in 2022. In 2023, he was named chairman of the Awards Committee.

New board members announced during the society’s 2024 meeting include Tony Bounds, Tougaloo College; Kasey Daugherty, The Max; Heather Denné, Jackson State University; Kristi DiClemente, Mississippi University for Women; Linda Fondren, Catfish Row Museum; and Malika Polk-Lee, BB King Museum.

See more here: https://listenupyall.com/2024/03/01/visit-natchezs-roscoe-barnes-iii-elected-vice-president-of-the-mississippi-historical-society/

 

Anne Moody’s Coming of Age in Mississippi: Why It Matters

A Lecture and PowerPoint Presentation

By Roscoe Barnes III

The Lecture

This is a presentation on the important contributions of Moody's book, Coming of Age in Mississippi (1968). It was presented at the Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, meeting of the Natchez Historical Society at the Historic Natchez Foundation in Natchez, Miss. It attempts to show, among other things, that while civil rights pioneer Anne Moody has not received the recognition she deserves, her memoir remains a significant contribution to Mississippi history, and it has critical implications for race relations, voting rights, human rights and equality in today's society.

Review the paper here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378547757_Anne_Moody's_Coming_of_Age_in_Mississippi_Why_It_Matters

The PowerPoint

This is a PowerPoint presentation for the paper of the same name. It attempts to show that while civil rights pioneer Anne Moody has not received the recognition she deserves, her memoir remains a significant contribution to Mississippi history, and it has critical implications for race relations, voting rights, human rights and equality in today's society. This is a presentation on the important contributions of Moody's book, Coming of Age in Mississippi (1968). It was presented at the Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, meeting of the Natchez Historical Society at the Historic Natchez Foundation in Natchez, Miss.

Review the PowerPoint here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378546561_PowerPoint_Anne_Moody's_Coming_of_Age_in_Mississippi_Why_It_Matters

 

More TV News Coverage!

Historic church that played big role during Civil Rights Movement receives grant money to preserve its rich history

Story by WLBT 3 News Reporter Quinton Smith

We’re still receiving TV news coverage of historical sites in Natchez. Below is a link to an excellent story on Beulah Missionary Baptist Church. It is presented by WLBT 3 News reporter Quinton Smith, who did an exceptional job. I told him that he knocked it out of the park. Check it out.

To see the full story, please visit this link:

 
https://www.wlbt.com/2024/02/21/historic-church-that-played-big-role-during-civil-rights-movement-receives-grant-money-preserve-its-rich-history/
 

Barnes to discuss Anne Moody at Feb. 27 meeting of the Natchez Historical Society

Emily Williams
Natchez, MS, USA / ListenUpYall.com
Feb 20, 2024 | 2:28 p.m.

Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., is the cultural heritage tourism manager for Visit Natchez. He will discuss Anne Moody and her memoir, "Coming of Age in Mississippi," at the Feb. 27 meeting of the Natchez Historical Society.

NATCHEZ, Miss. — Dr. Roscoe Barnes III, cultural heritage tourism manager for Visit Natchez, will talk about civil rights pioneer Anne Moody and her memoir at the Tuesday, Feb. 27, meeting of the Natchez Historical Society. The meeting will begin with a social at 5:30 p.m. and Barnes’ presentation at 6 p.m., at the Historic Natchez Foundation at 108 S. Commerce St.

The event is free to the public. All are welcome, members and non-members alike.

Barnes’ presentation is titled, “Anne Moody’s Coming of Age in Mississippi: Why It Matters.” His talk will show that while Anne Moody has not received the recognition she deserves, her memoir remains a significant contribution to Mississippi history and has critical implications for race relations, voting rights, human rights, and equality in today’s society.

“Anne Moody’s astonishing life history is one of a girl who found grace and courage in the midst of poverty, bigotry and discrimination,” said Barnes. “She overcame the devastating forces of racism, suffered beatings and endured multiple incarcerations and even death threats in order to help make the world – and the state of Mississippi – a better place to live.”

In addition to being a civil rights activist, Moody was the author of “Coming of Age in Mississippi,” a gripping memoir that has remained in print since the day it was first published in December 1968, according to Barnes.

Born in 1940, Moody grew up in Centreville, in Wilkinson County. After completing high school in Woodville, she enrolled at Natchez College, where she attended the school from 1959 to 1961 on a basketball scholarship. After graduating from Natchez College, she began her studies at Tougaloo College, where she became a civil rights activist.

Moody died on Feb. 5, 2015, at her home in Gloster, Miss., at the age of 74. She had been under the care of her sister, Adline, who told the press that Anne had dementia for several years.

While referencing her book, Barnes noted Moody’s sacrifice and many accomplishments in the 1960s. He said that she participated in peaceful protests, marches, and sit-ins in an effort to desegregate businesses, churches, and public facilities. Despite the dangers at the time, she worked with several civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, CORE, and SNCC, according to Barnes. He said that she also participated in voter registration drives for Freedom Summer in 1964.

“Anne Moody and her book matter to us, and they matter in many significant ways,” said Barnes. “I look forward to talking about the impact of her life history and her literary contribution to American history.”

Barnes is the founding chairman of the Anne Moody History Project, a public history endeavor started in 2017 at Wilkinson County Correctional Facility, Woodville, to promote the legacy of Anne Moody and her book. Barnes writes about Moody at RoscoeReporting.blogspot.com. His work on Moody has resulted in national press coverage and citations in peer-reviewed journals.

Barnes is a member of the boards of directors of both the Mississippi Historical Society and the Natchez Historical Society. He holds a Ph.D. in Church History and Church Polity from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and a Master of Arts in Religion from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. He earned his Bachelor of Science from East Coast Bible College, Charlotte, North Carolina.

In addition to being an independent scholar whose research focuses on Moody, F.F. Bosworth, and Ernest Hemingway, Barnes is an award-winning newspaper journalist. He is the author of multiple books, including “F.F. Bosworth: The Man Behind ‘Christ the Healer’” (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2009) and “Off to War: Franklin Countians in World War II” (White Mane Publishing, 1996).

Barnes’ articles have appeared in scores of newspapers, magazines, and academic journals, including Corrections Today, Good Grit Magazine, American Jails, The Journal of the European Pentecostal Theological Association, The Arkansas Review, Africa Journal of Pentecostal Studies, The Pneuma Review, Natchez Magazine, and Refleks Journal.

Barnes’ work is also published in Brill’s Encyclopedia of Global Pentecostalism (Brill, 2021) and by the online encyclopedia, BlackPast.org. His forthcoming articles will appear in the Mississippi Encyclopedia and the Dictionary of Pentecostal Mission.

This Feb. 27 program held by the historical society 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, call 601-492-3004 or send email to info@natchezhistoricalsociety.org

Note: You can see this story on the ListenUpYall.com website by following this link:

https://listenupyall.com/2024/02/20/barnes-to-discuss-anne-moody-at-feb-27-meeting-of-the-natchez-historical-society/