Reflecting Mississippi

How do places marked by violence, oppression, and injustice become spaces for remembrance, learning, and healing? In this episode of Reflecting Mississippi, we explore the powerful role historic sites play in shaping public memory with two National Park Service leaders on the front lines of this work: Keena Graham, Superintendent of the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, and Kathleen Bond, Superintendent of Natchez National Historical Park, who is leading the interpretation of the historic Forks of the Road slave market. Together, they discuss the challenges and responsibilities of preserving difficult histories, centering the humanity of those who experienced them, and engaging communities in telling these stories with honesty and dignity. Whether you're passionate about history, museums, preservation, or the ongoing work of confronting America's past, this conversation offers thoughtful insight into why these places matter—not only for understanding where we've been, but for shaping where we're going.

In this episode, Shaniece Mabry, Dr. Christina Thomas, and Bently Cochran discuss the groundbreaking History Day program at the Youthful Offenders Unit (YOU) in Pearl, Mississippi. They’ll share about the program’s beginning, how it has evolved and expanded in the past three years, and the ways that the YOU students are studying and making history in our state.

We speak with filmmaker David Crews and Senator Hob Bryan about The Whiskey Speech, a documentary exploring one of Mississippi’s most memorable political moments. Together, they examine the historical context of the speech, its reflection of Mississippi’s political culture, and what it reveals about public debate, persuasion, and leadership in the state. The conversation also considers how stories like this endure in public memory and what they teach us about Mississippi’s social character, contradictions, and civic life.

Brother Rogers, Tim Kyle, and Tommeia Jackson reflect on the occasion of America250 and the impact of the state’s legacy grant program. Kyle, the mayor of Kosciusko, will discuss his town’s efforts to highlight its rich history, while Jackson will describe how the historical records of the Delta Burial Corporation offer a unique lens on the history of the region’s Black community.

In this episode of Reflecting Mississippi, we explore the story behind Mississippi: Conflict & Change—a groundbreaking textbook that didn’t just teach history, it challenged how Mississippi’s history was told. First published in 1974, the book offered a fuller, more honest look at the state’s past, centering the experiences of African Americans, Native Americans, women, and working people—voices often left out of traditional narratives.The conversation examines how the book became controversial, rejected by the state, and ultimately the subject of a landmark legal battle over what students should learn. What emerged was more than a textbook debate—it was a struggle over truth, identity, and who gets to shape the story of Mississippi.

In this episode of Reflecting Mississippi, we explore the powerful history of Black land ownership in Mississippi through the lens of the documentary Farming Freedom. The film highlights the deep connection between farming, freedom, and identity—showing how, for generations, working the land was a source of pride, independence, and community strength.The conversation also takes an honest look at how that relationship with farming has shifted over time. Because of the painful legacy of slavery and sharecropping, agriculture has, in some spaces, lost its sense of dignity—becoming something many distance themselves from rather than embrace. This episode reflects on how land, labor, and legacy are deeply intertwined—and why reconnecting with that history remains vital to Mississippi’s future.

In this episode of Reflecting Mississippi, we talk with historian Jim Giesen about his book The Land of Cotton and the deeper story behind one of Mississippi’s most defining crops. More than just an agricultural history, Giesen’s work explores how cotton shaped the state’s economy, environment, and social structure—leaving a legacy that still resonates today.Through this conversation, we examine the rise of cotton production, the systems that sustained it, and the lasting impact on land, labor, and communities across Mississippi. Giesen brings a thoughtful perspective to how this history connects to broader themes of industry, inequality, and change.This episode invites listeners to look beyond the familiar image of cotton and consider the complex history it represents—and how understanding that history helps us better understand Mississippi itself.

In this episode of Reflecting Mississippi, we look beyond Jubilee to explore the full legacy of Margaret Walker—poet, novelist, educator, and cultural historian. The conversation highlights her contributions as a scholar and mentor, including her work at Jackson State University and her role in preserving Black literary voices through teaching, archives, and research. From her poetry to her essays, Walker’s work consistently centers truth, memory, and the lived experiences of her community.This episode reflects on the enduring impact of her voice—how her commitment to storytelling and scholarship continues to inspire new generations to write, preserve, and understand their own histories.