Mississippi Delta Civil Rights Heritage Tourism Summit
wednesday, september 27, 2023
bb king museum and delta interpretive center, indianola, Ms
MS Delta Civil Rights Heritage Summit Video
Missed a session? Want to see see something again? Press play, then use the navigation panel on the right side of the video below to jump to a specific session.
MS Delta Civil Rights Heritage Tourism Summit attracts regional and national stakeholders
Recently, over 100 regional and national stakeholders attended the Mississippi Delta region’s first-ever Civil Rights Heritage Tourism Summit at the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola, MS. The Summit was free and open to the public with support from the National Parks Conservation Association in Washington, D.C.
The day-long Summit featured a variety of panel discussions and presentations collaboratively organized by the BB King Museum, Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area, Mississippi Heritage Trust, Mississippi Humanities Council, Mound Bayou Museum, National Park Service, and The Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University.
Summit feedback has been overwhelmingly positive with 100% of post-event survey respondents rating the event as “Excellent” or “Good” overall, and 97% indicating that the Summit addressed relevant topics for improving Civil Rights tourism development in the Mississippi Delta. Video footage from the Summit is available at www.msdeltaheritage.com/cr-summit.
“Local and national interest in Mississippi Delta Civil Rights heritage tourism has continued to grow over the years,“ said Dr. Rolando Herts, Director of The Delta Center and Executive Director of the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area. “The positive feedback that we have received from community stakeholders about the Summit suggests that our communities need more networking and information sharing opportunities like this.”
“I am proud of Delta State University’s role in the Mississippi Delta Civil Rights Heritage Tourism Summit,” said Dr. Daniel Ennis, President of Delta State University, who gave remarks at the event. “Through the connective work being done by The Delta Center, we are able to stay in touch with the leaders of significant cultural organizations in our region. Not only does this work help preserve our heritage, it supports the economy through tourism as well.”
“We were honored to host this historic event,” said Malika Polk-Lee, Executive Director of the BB King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center. “BB King supported the Civil Rights Movement, and that story is told in our museum, making this an ideal place to bring Mississippi Delta residents and visitors together for these conversations.”
The Summit opened with remarks from Chris Abbett, Associate Regional Director for Partnerships, Lands, Interpretation and Planning with the National Park Service; Kim Terrell, Vice Chair of the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area Board of Directors; and Dr. Herts, who facilitated Summit sessions throughout the day.
“In partnership with the National Park Service, National Heritage Areas collaborate with local communities to tell nationally important stories,” said Abbett. “With the recent designation of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument in the Mississippi Delta, Civil Rights heritage tourism is front and center. Hats off to all of the Summit partners for bringing communities together to have these important conversations. The National Park Service looks forward to working with the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area and partners throughout the delta to tell these important Civil Rights stories.”
“The work the MS Delta NHA has done and continues to do is so important to the Delta as well as many parts of the nation,” said Terrell. “We have had people coming from all over the U.S. to participate and learn from events like this Summit.”
The Summit’s morning sessions featured conversations about connections between Blues and Civil Rights tourism, interpreting Civil Rights heritage, and engaging Civil Rights storytellers from Mississippi Delta communities with special guest Charles McLaurin, an esteemed Veteran of the Civil Rights Movement representing We2Gether Creating Change in Drew, MS.
Afternoon sessions focused on tourism marketing/promotion and funding opportunities with representatives from the Mississippi Arts Commission and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. There was a special segment about Dr. Felicia King, owner of the Indianola Freedom House, working with Lolly Rash, executive director of Mississippi Heritage Trust to preserve the house. There also was a presentation about how communities can apply for a Mississippi Freedom Trail Marker through the Mississippi Humanities Council.
“The Mississippi Freedom Trail was established to preserve and commemorate Civil Rights heritage stories throughout the state,” said John Spann, Program & Outreach Officer for the Mississippi Humanities Council. “The Summit provided an excellent opportunity for us to share information about how Delta-based organizations can apply to get a Freedom Trail Marker in their communities.”
“The Tourism Summit was such a great way to showcase the importance of cultural tourism in the MS Delta. Also, it highlighted several entrepreneurial opportunities that exist,” said Abe Hudson, Mississippi & Arkansas Delta Program Officer with the Walton Family Foundation. “It was great to see so many funders in the room discussing ways for people and businesses to get in the game of tourism.”
The evening session featured dinner at Club Ebony with a screening of the film “Promised Land: A Story About Mound Bayou” followed by a panel discussion facilitated by Kendra Fipps Crowe from the Mound Bayou Museum. Panelists included museum co-founders Reverend Darryl Johnson, Hermon Johnson, Sr., Hermon Johnson, Jr., and former Mound Bayou mayor Dr. Eulah Peterson.
“Mound Bayou is the oldest Black town in the United States with critical connections to the stories of Civil Rights icons like Emmett Till, Mamie Till-Mobley, and Medgar and Myrlie Evers,” said Hermon Johnson, Jr., director of the Mound Bayou Museum. “The Summit provided a great opportunity for us to educate the public about these connections.”
Post-event survey respondents indicated that they would like to see the Summit happen annually.
“It was an honor to serve on the engaging community storytellers panel with Civil Rights foot soldier Charles McLaurin and others,” said Keith Johnson, a Delta-born blues musician and great nephew of legendary bluesman Muddy Waters. “When the audience was asked if they would like to see the Summit happen again next year, so many hands went up around the room. That response alone points to a need for this Summit to continue.”
Civil Rights Heritage Tourism Summit Agenda
Click on the names below to learn about our speakers.
MORNING SESSIONS - 8:00 am – 12 noon
8:00 AM: Breakfast and networking
9:00 AM: Welcome and greetings
Connections between Blues and Civil Rights heritage tourism - 9:15 am - 9:45 am
Malika Polk-Lee, Executive Director, BB King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center
Dr. Alphonso Sanders, Board Member, BB King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center
Interpreting Civil Rights heritage - 9:45 am - 10:45 am
Moderator: Keena Graham, Superintendent, Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
Panelists:
BREAK - 10:45 am - 11:00 am
Engaging Mississippi Delta communities with Civil Rights heritage tourism - 11:00 am - 12 noon
Moderator: Dr. Rolando Herts, Executive Director, Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area
Panelists:
Wayne Dowdy, Program Manager, Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area
Keith Johnson, “Prince of the Delta Blues,” Keith Johnson Enterprises, LLC
Charles McLaurin, Veteran of the Civil Rights Movement and Consultant, We 2Gether Creating Change (Watch "The Footsoldier" on PBS American Experience)
Layla Young, Hair-Itage Project Manager and Lead Teaching Artist, StoryWorks Theater
LUNCH AND VISIT MUSEUM EXHIBITS – 12:00 noon – 1:15 pm
AFTERNOON SESSIONS – 1:15 pm – 4:30 pm
Preserving Civil Rights heritage sites for tourism: Indianola Freedom House and Mississippi Freedom Trail - 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm
Marketing and promotion of Civil Rights heritage tourism sites - 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Moderator: John Spann, Program & Outreach Officer, Mississippi Humanities Council
Panelists:
Funding opportunities for Civil Rights heritage tourism - 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Moderator: Keena Graham, Superintendent, Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
Panelists:
Carol Andersen, Assistant Director, Mississippi Humanities Council
Kathleen Bond, Superintendent of the Natchez National Historical Park, National Park Service
Maria Zeringue, Folk and Traditional Arts Director, Mississippi Arts Commission
Summit closing: Reflections and wrap up - 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm
DINNER AND A MOVIE EVENT AT CLUB EBONY – 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Film screening and panel discussion: “Promised Land: A Story About Mound Bayou”
Moderator: Kendra Fipps Crowe, CEO, Achieving Higher Results
Panelists:
Civil Rights Heritage Tourism Summit To be held in Indianola
Published: September 5, 2023
A collective of regional and national partners are hosting a Mississippi Delta Civil Rights Heritage Tourism Summit on Wednesday, September 27 at the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola. The day-long summit will feature panel discussions and presentations on a range of topics including the Mississippi Freedom Trail, preserving Mississippi Freedom Houses, developing and engaging Civil Rights storytellers, tourism marketing/promotion, and funding opportunities… Read more