Mississippi Civil Rights Museum

At noon on Wednesday, July 15, as part of the History Is Lunch series Scott Barretta will present “Music on the Gold Coast during Prohibition.” The presentation is in conjunction with the opening of the new Mississippi Distilled exhibit at the Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.

Located in Rankin County just across the Pearl River from downtown Jackson, the Gold Coast was infamous for bootlegging from the 1930s through the 1960s.

“The strip of nightclubs along Fannin Road run by and catering to African Americans, who referred to the district as ‘across the river,’ is lesser known,” said Barretta. “That area was particularly active from the late '40s to the mid '50s, when the chitlin’ circuit—the national network of African American clubs—was taking off, and alongside the venues catering to larger acts were dozens of local clubs and bootlegers.”

Eventually much of the nightclub activity in the region moved to Highway 49 north of the city limits, where enforcement of alcohol laws was likewise lax.

A resident of Greenwood, Barretta is a writer and researcher for the Mississippi Blues Trail, the host of Highway 61 on Mississippi Public Broadcasting, and a sociology instructor at the University of Mississippi. He was a recipient of a Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2016.

This program is made possible by the Mississippi Historical Society. Learn more about the group at mississippihistory.org.

The streaming-only program will take place at noon on Wednesday, July 15. It will be shown live on the Mississippi Department of Archives and History’s Facebook page— https://www.facebook.com/MDAHOfficial —and uploaded afterwards to the MDAH YouTube channel— https://www.youtube.com/MDAHVideo, as well as being available here.

On June 30, 2020, Governor Tate Reeves signed House Bill 1796, which establishes a commission to redesign the Mississippi state flag. According to the legislation, the removal of the former official state flag shall take place not later than fifteen days from the effective date of this act.

On Wednesday, July 1, Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann and House Speaker Philip Gunn presented MDAH with the last flags to fly over the state capitol. The flags will be added to the permanent collection.

The Mississippi Code does not provide guidelines for flag retirement ceremonies, but according to Mississippi Code Section 3-3-15, “The state flag shall receive all of the respect and ceremonious etiquette given the American flag.”

Organizations that receive flags for dignified and respectful removal include local fire departments, American Legion posts, Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, and the Boy Scouts of America. In some cases, local history museums may accept donations of flags.

On Tuesday, July 7, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) will reopen the Eudora Welty House & Garden, Museum of Mississippi History, Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, and William F. Winter Archives and History Building in Jackson, and the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians in Natchez.

“We are excited to reopen our museums and welcome the public at this historic moment. As our nation deals with COVID-19, economic hardship, and the legacy of racial injustice, MDAH has an ever more important role to play,” said Reuben Anderson, president of the MDAH Board of Trustees. “Our archives and museums document and teach about epidemics, recessions, and other crises in our past that we have overcome together. They also teach about the history of racial injustice in America from the days of slavery through the Civil Rights Movement.”

Anderson continued, “By helping build a shared understanding of our history, we are strengthening our resolve, uniting our people, and paving the way for a brighter future together.”

In a continuing effort to stem the spread of COVID-19, each site will limit the number of visitors inside. Visitors will be required to wear masks, and masks will be available on site. All the public spaces have been sanitized, and thorough cleaning will continue every day. Staff will be on site to ensure that social distancing guidelines are maintained. Visitors are encouraged to purchase their tickets online to the Eudora Welty House & Garden, Museum of Mississippi History, and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.

“We are especially eager to welcome visitors to our brand new exhibit at the Two Mississippi Museums—Mississippi Distilled—which explores our state’s tumultuous relationship with alcohol,” said MDAH director Katie Blount. “As soon as it is safe to gather in larger numbers, we will celebrate this exhibit with a series of public events.”

The popular Wednesday noon lecture series History Is Lunch continues online—viewers will find the programs on the MDAH Facebook page.

For more information email info@mdah.ms.gov.