Mississippi Humanities Council

Millsaps College Feminist Studies Colloquium Keynote Lecture
2018-04-20 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Millsaps College, 1701 N. State Street, Jackson, Mississippi, 39202
Lecture by Dr. Jaime Harker with reception to follow.
Jaime Harker holds a Ph.D. in English from Temple University. She is a professor of English and the director of the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies at the University of Mississippi, where she teachers American literature, gay and lesbian literature, and gender studies. She has published essays on Japanese translation, popular women writers of the interwar period, Oprah’s book club, and and Cold War gay literature. She is the author of America the Middlebrow: Women’s Novels, Progressivism, and Middlebrow Authorship Between the Wars and Middlebrow Queer: Christopher Isherwood in America, and the co-editor of The Oprah Affect: Critical Essays on Oprah’s Book Club and 1960s Gay Pulp Fiction: The Misplaced Heritage. She is on the editorial board of Pickering and Chatto Publishers Book Series “Literary Texts and the Popular Marketplace” (www.pickeringchatto.com/ltpm). She is currently working on a book on Southern lesbian feminism and feminist print culture.

Behind the Big House Program & Tour
2018-04-19 09:00 - 2018-04-22 16:00 | Hugh Craft House, 184 S. Memphis St., Holly Springs, MS, 38635

Dialogue on Race in Mississippi: Jackson County
2018-04-16 17:30 - 19:30 | MS
More information and registration here

Justice Everywhere: Teaching (in) and Writing (on) Prison in the American South
2018-04-16 16:00 - 18:30 | Mississippi College, 200 Capitol St., Clinton, MS, 39056

Speakers Bureau: Dispatches from Pluto: Lost and Found in the Mississippi Delta
2018-04-10 12:30 - 14:30 | Holmes Community College – Ridgeland Campus, 412 W. Ridgeland Avenue, Ridgeland, MS, 39157
In this presentation, the author of Dispatches from Pluto gives a behind-the-scenes account of researching and writing the popular book and explores the unique culture of the Mississippi Delta.
In his best-selling book, Dispatches From Pluto, he brings an incisive yet sympathetic eye to the culture of the Mississippi Delta. He now makes his home in Jackson, and continues to write about Mississippi for Smithsonian magazine, the New York Times, Garden and Gun and other publications.
Grant’s presentation will take place in the D.P. “Pat” McGowan Workforce Building on the Holmes CC Ridgeland Campus.

Through the Lens of Carl Brown: Processing, Developing and Exhibiting the History of Columbus, Mississippi, 1940s - 1950s
2018-04-09 17:00 - 20:00 | Columbus-Lowndes Public Library, 314 7th St N, Columbus, MS, 39701, United States
An exhibit titled “Through the Lens of Carl Brown: Lowndes County in the 1940s-1950s” will be on display at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library from April 9-27. An opening reception will be held Monday, April 9 at 5 p.m.
The exhibit represents the culmination of a year-long project undertaken by the library’s Local History Department (LHD) to process, digitize and exhibit the early work of local professional photographer Carl Eugene Brown (1918-1998).
The opening reception will feature David Wharton from the University of Mississippi who will present “Photographing Community: Carl Brown Looks at Lowndes County, 1940s-1950s.” Wharton is the author of two books, “Small Town South” (2012) and “The Soul of a Small Texas Town: Photographs, Memories, and History from McDade” (2000). He specializes in documentary photography, local history and small town culture.

Speakers Bureau: Southern Wisdom from Delta Church Mothers
2018-04-06 08:00 - 10:00 | New Albany Middle School, 400 Apple Street, New Albany, MS
Award-winning journalist Alysia Burton Steele’s Delta Jewels: In Search of My Grandmother’s Wisdom is a visual and lyrical tribute to African American church mothers from the Mississippi Delta. This groundbreaking collection of oral histories and photographs tells nationally and internationally significant stories rooted in the Mississippi Delta, a distinctive region called “The Cradle of American Culture” by the National Park Service and “The Most Southern Place on Earth” by historian James Cobb.The Mississippi Delta produced cotton, Blues music and the Civil Rights Movement. It shaped the lives and contributions of numerous cultural and social justice icons—black and white, women and men—including Fannie Lou Hamer, Eudora Welty, Emmett Till, William Faulkner, Medgar Evers, Richard Wright, Tennessee Williams…and the celebrated Delta Jewels church mothers. Come sit a spell and hear the revered voices of these living figures of history captured by Alysia Burton Steele.
Alysia Burton Steele is a visual educator at the University of Mississippi, with a focus on oral history and visuals. For this presentation, Steele shares her experiences finding and nurturing relationships to earn trust to collect stories and share them with audiences. She shares audio and video stores as part of her presentation.

2018 Sammy O. Cranford Memorial History Lecture
2018-04-05 19:00 - 20:30 | Delta State University, 1003 W Sunflower Rd, Cleveland, MS, 38733, United States
The 2018 Sammy O. Cranford Memorial History Lecture will feature Dr. Stephen Berry, Gregory Professor of the Civil War Era in the Department of History at the University of Georgia. Dr. Berry’s lecture will explore his innovative digital history project, “CSI: Dixie.” https://csidixie.org/

The lecture will take place on Delta State’s campus in the Jobe Auditorium.

Socio-political research through government documents
2018-04-04 12:00 - 14:00 | J.D. Williams Library, 1 Library Loop, University, Mississippi, 38677
Dr. Becky Marchiel will discuss her research on urban history and capitalism and the important role government documents have played in her research process. Attendees will be able to browse related materials from our Federal Documents collection and Department of Archives and Special Collections.

Speakers Bureau: Shalom, Y'all: The History of Jews in Mississippi
2018-04-03 19:00 - 20:00 | South Mississippi Genealogy & Historical Society, 307 2nd Ave , Hattiesburg , MS
In the early 19th century, Jewish immigrants from Europe began to arrive in the Magnolia State, settling initially in towns along the Mississippi River. Concentrating in retail trade, these Jews became visible symbols of economic modernity and market capitalism in Mississippi. Throughout much of their history, Mississippi Jews have worked to lessen the cultural differences between themselves and their neighbors. In recent decades, due to region-wide economic and demographic trends, the Jewish population of Mississippi has declined and become concentrated in the state’s population centers.

Dr. Stuart Rockoff holds a Ph.D. in American History and is the Executive Director of the Mississippi Humanities Council.

Freedom of Information Act: Learn how researchers are using FOIA at the University of Mississippi
2018-03-28 12:00 - 14:00 | J.D. Williams Library, 1 Library Loop, University, Mississippi, 38677
Join this panel discussion and learn how researchers across the university use FOIA to access valuable government information for their research.

Delta State University's Winning the Race Conference 2018
2018-03-26 - 2018-03-27 | Delta State University, 1003 W Sunflower Rd, Cleveland, MS, 38733, United States
The Winning the Race Conference was developed with three overarching goals: engage in conversations with campus and community constituencies that will build an appreciation for diversity differences and a spirit of community through shared ideas; promote a broad discourse on race relations by building conversations to bring together diverse communities in the Delta through sharing of ideas and building cooperation; and to rekindle a hope that Delta communities will move toward greater equality and forward and open thinking while reducing racial disparities and tensions. Keynote speaker 2018: Kevin Powell.

Registration is FREE but required for all conference attendees. You can register here beginning February 1, 2018.

Problem Solving Charrette: Teacher Shortage in the Delta
2018-03-24 10:00 - 12:00 | I.T. Montgomery Elementary, 202 W M.L.K. Jr. Drive, Mound Bayou, MS, 38762

Ben Jonson, Our Contemporary
2018-03-21 16:00 - 20:00 | MS

25th Oxford Conference for the Book
2018-03-21 09:00 - 2018-03-23 18:00 | MS
Annual literary conference based on the University of Mississippi campus. The 2018 conference will explore a range of topics, from the desegregation of public libraries, the role of long-form journalism in our current news environment and award-winning poetry to the Latino experience in the American South.

Ideas on Tap
2018-03-20 17:30 - 19:00 | Hal & Mal’s, 200 Commerce Street, Jackson, MS, 39201, United States
Join the Mississippi Humanities Council, Rethink Mississippi, and the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi at Hal and Mal’s on March 20 for the third installment in our spring series “Emerging Mississippi.” Each month, we’ll look at areas in which young people are making a difference in Mississippi.
On March 20, we’ll focus on young people in arts and culture. Panelists include artist Ginger Williams Cook and DJ and Offbeat owner Phillip Young-venom Rollins. Garrad Lee will moderate the conversation.
As always, compelling conversation is on us, and drinks are on you.

NEH Grant Workshop
2018-03-20 09:30 - 12:30 | MS
Dr. Daniel Sack, program officer with the National Endowment for the Humanities, Division of Research Programs, will be visiting our region on Tuesday, March 20, 2018. Mississippi State University (MSU) is happy to be serving as the host institution for the NEH program officer to provide an NEH regional seminar. During his time at MSU, Dr. Sack will share special NEH initiatives, discuss grant-writing strategies, and provide mock panel sessions – all extremely valuable to all humanists interested in opportunities with NEH.
REGISTER HERE

Literary Arts in the Delta Festival
2018-03-10 09:00 - 18:00 | MS
The Washington County Library System in Greenville, Miss., in partnership with the Greenwood, Miss.-based Turnrow Book Company kicks offl Literary Arts in the Delta Festival (Lit in the Delta Fest) March 10, 2018.
The free all-day Festival will convene during National Reading Month, at E. E. Bass Cultural Arts Center, 323 South Main Street and at 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and at William Percy Library, 341 Main Street in Greenville, Miss. Food vendors, art and books for all ages also will be available.
The Festival seeks to engage communities from 18 counties in the Mississippi Delta Region including: Bolivar, Carroll, Coahoma, DeSoto, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, Panola, Quitman, Sharkey, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Washington and Yazoo in the State of Mississippi; and the counties of Chicot and Desha in the State of Arkansas. A Young Authors Competition will engage 8th and 9th graders from these 20 invited Mississippi Delta Region counties.
The Festival will have more than 30 literary artists, including Internet and social media sensation, Officer Tommy Norman; comedian and film artist, Keith Morris, national best-selling author, ReShonda Tate Billingsley and the legendary songwriter, documentary producer, former owner of Memphis-based Stax Records and former president of Motown Records Group, Al Bell.Bell, a Delta native (Brinkley, Ark.) is a Lifetime Grammy Award recipient and will present a lecture on his literary works in entertainment and the music industry. He has written and promoted artists including Prince, the Staple Singers, Issac Hayes and countless others. Bell’s award-winning documentary, Wattstax, will be discussed.
Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Heifer International and Scholastic will be featured in a panel discussion on how books in the homes and hands of youth and families impact learning for a lifetime.
Dr. Maya Angelou’s film, Still I Rise will also be presented throughout the Festival day as well as art by ArtsPlace Mississippi. Still I Rise is directed by Bob Hercules and Rita Coburn Whack and chronicles the life of poet laureate and literary scholar Dr. Maya Angelou.
Tickets are free, register here by February 15!

Angie Thomas: "The Hate U Give: Finding Your Activism and Turning the Political into the Personal"
2018-03-01 10:00 - 12:30 | MS
Jackson State University welcomes Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give to speak in a community forum on March 1, 2018. She will engage her audience in dialogue on social justice issues presented in the novel that specifically address the audience, and will take place in the Jackson State University Student Center Theatre. Thomas will also lead a workshop with creative writing students, discussing the process for successful publication.

Engaging citizens: How you can participate in the legislative process using reliable information
2018-02-28 18:00 - 20:00 | Southaven Public Library, 8554 Northwest Dr., Southaven, Mississippi, 38671
Learn how a bill becomes a law, how to look up the actual text of bills by name, keyword, bill number, and even congressional representative using congress.gov.

"Mississippians Forever Free" Gallery Exhibit--Final Day
2018-02-28 08:00 - 17:00 | Library of Hattiesburg, Petal, and Forrest County, 329 Hardy Street, Hattiesburg, MS, 39401
Part of Library of Hattiesburg, Petal, and Forrest County’s “Celebrating African American History & Culture” series that will be on display during February, Black History Month, in the library galleries.

Ida B. Wells and the Campaign Against Lynching
2018-02-27 17:00 - 19:00 | Old Capitol Museum, 100 South State Street, Jackson , MS, 39201
Ida B. Wells was born into slavery in Holly Springs, Mississippi, and went on to become one of the highest-profile voices for civil rights in the nineteenth century. On Tuesday, February 27, biographer Paula J. Giddings will present “Ida B. Wells and the Campaign against Lynching” at the Old Capitol Museum.
Wells attended Rust College and became a teacher. In 1887, she won a lawsuit against the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad after being forcibly removed from a first-class car for which she had purchased a ticket. Wells purchased a stake in a small newspaper and began a public campaign against inequitable school funding, lynching, and segregation, and supporting economic boycotts and women’s rights. She eventually moved to New York City and then Chicago, where she continued to write exposes of lynchings in the South. In 1909, Wells helped form the NAACP, and in 1930 she became one of the first African American women in the nation to run for public office with an unsuccessful attempt at a seat in the Illinois legislature. She died in 1931. In 2016 she was elected to the state’s Hall of Fame.
David Levering Lewis, the Pulitzer Prize-Winning biographer of W.E.B Dubois, wrote that “Ida B. Wells was an inspired journalist, an uncompromising civil libertarian, and a woman far ahead of her patriarchal times–a ‘difficult’ woman. Paula Giddings’s monumental achievement restores this extraordinary contrarian to her place as one of the grand pace-setters of American social justice and female empowerment.”
Paula J. Giddings is the author of “Ida: A Sword among Lions,” which won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Biography and the inaugural John Hope Franklin Research Center Book Award presented by the Duke University Libraries. Giddings is Elizabeth A. Woodson 1922 Professor Emerita of Africana Studies at Smith College, where she edited “Meridians,” a journal for scholarship and creative work by and about women of color in U.S. and international contexts.
Giddings is a former book editor and journalist who has written extensively on international and national issues and has been published by the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Jeune Afrique (Paris), The Nation, and Sage: A Scholarly Journal on Black Women, among other publications.
A reception and book signing will begin at 5 p.m. in the Old Capitol rotunda, and the program will be in the historic House of Representatives Chamber at 6 p.m. This program is free and open to the public. For more information call 601-576-6920 or email info@oldcapitolmuseum.com.
This program is supported by the Mississippi Humanities Council through the “Democracy and the Informed Citizen” Initiative.”

The WPA Slave Narratives: Giving Voice to Freedom
2018-02-26 18:00 - 19:30 | Library of Hattiesburg, Petal, and Forrest County, 329 Hardy Street, Hattiesburg, MS, 39401
Part of Library of Hattiesburg, Petal, and Forrest County’s Celebrating African American History & Culture Series.

Jackson Africana Drum and Dance Symposium
2018-02-24 10:00 - 2018-02-25 18:00 | F.D. Music Hall, Jimmie James Recital Hall and Art Gallery, JSU, 1400 John R. Lynch Street, Jackson , MS , 39217
This two-day symposium will engage the community and scholars on the performance and preservation of African music and dance expressions in Africa and in the diaspora as well as to see the connection between the “traditions” and the contemporary “remembered” elements in diaspora forms. Specifically, traditional African music and dance will be discussed in relation to its use to assert identity among Americans, its role in “Southern” culture development, and contemporary popular music and dance forms in the South such as hip-hop, blues, and folk, This Symposium will include twp panel discussions, breakout sessions with panelists to discuss their traditions in relation to those that symposium attendees are a part of, and hand on workshops of drumming, dance, and emceeing/storytelling.
Saturday, February 24 will feature panel discussions and breakout sessions dealing with African music on the continent and in the diaspora as manifested in community drum and dance classes, drum circles, and the roles the art plays in rites of passage, mental health, and African retention in African American music. Dr. Nzinga Metzger will provide the keynote address. All panels are free and open to the public! There will also be a free head wrapping presentation.

"Back in the Day" Black History Celebration
2018-02-22 18:00 - 21:00 | MS
Annual ecumenical Black History Celebration. The 2018 celebration features Greenwood native, Dr. Tonea Stewart, actress and dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Alabama State University. Stewart will talk about the importance, as a black actress, of choosing her roles carefully to provide positive representations of African American characters on film and on stage.

29th Annual Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration: Southern Gothic
2018-02-22 08:00 - 2018-02-24 17:00 | MS
Annual literary and cinema festival. The 2018 festival will focus on “Southern Gothic” elements in scholarly literature, popular fiction, biography and history.

Ideas on Tap
2018-02-20 17:30 - 19:00 | Hal & Mal’s, 200 Commerce Street, Jackson, MS, 39201, United States
Join the Mississippi Humanities Council, Rethink Mississippi, and the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi at Hal and Mal’s in Jackson on February 20 for the second installment in our spring series “Emerging Mississippi.” Each month, we’ll look at areas in which young people are making a difference in Mississippi.
On February 20, we’ll focus on young people in business and enterprise. Panelists include Candie Simmons, Senior Vice President and Regional Marketing Director at Regions; Lauren Rhoades, owner of Sweet & Sauer; and Mary Claire Parrish, Manager of Talent Strategies at C Spire. The conversation will be moderated by Kim Burke, Dean of the Else School of Management at Millsaps College.
As always, compelling conversation is on us, and drinks are on you.

Monday Night Book Club: "Sing, Unburied, Sing"
2018-02-19 18:30 - 20:00 | Library of Hattiesburg, Petal, and Forrest County, 329 Hardy Street, Hattiesburg, MS, 39401

2018 Public Humanities Awards Gala
2018-02-16 17:45 - 20:00 | Old Capitol Museum, 100 South State Street, Jackson , MS, 39201
The Mississippi Humanities Council will present its 2018 Public Humanities Awards at the Old Capitol Museum in Jackson. The Public Humanities Awards recognize outstanding work by Mississippians in bringing the insights of the humanities to public audiences. Details about this year’s award recipients and ordering tickets can be found here.

Bringing Forward the Past: Art, Identity, and the American South
2018-02-16 08:00 - 2018-02-18 17:00 | MS
A day-and-a-half long interdisciplinary symposium that will convene artists, curators, scholars, and the public to explore issues related to identity, race, indigeneity, trauma, and memory. Occurring February 16-18, Bringing Forward the Past will intersect several concurrent projects and its local community, with deep ties to national conversations about these issues. Speakers include historians Dr. Sarah Lewis and Dr. Gwendolyn Dubois Shaw. Updated speakers and panelists to come.
You can see a full schedule of the symposium and also register by visiting the event website here.
