Shape Up Mississippi

THE CATFISH ROW MUSEUM (CRM) WILL PARTNER WITH THE MOUND BAYOU MUSEUM (MBM) TO DEVELOP AND EXPAND PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITIONS. PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE CREATION OF A SHORT FILM, AND TWO PERMANENT TIMELINE EXHIBITS THAT HIGHLIGHT THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF VICKSBURG AND MOUND BAYOU DURING SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL PHASES, SUCH AS THE COTTON PLANTATION ERA, SLAVERY, THE CIVIL WAR, RECONSTRUCTION, AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. THESE EXHIBITS WILL SHOWCASE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND THE SHARED HISTORY OF BOTH MUSEUMS, EMPHASIZING THE NARRATIVE OF COOPERATION THAT LED TO THE FOUNDING OF MOUND BAYOU BY FORMERLY ENSLAVED PEOPLE. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS AIMED AT ENHANCING MUSEUM OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT WILL BE FACILITATED BY EXPERIENCED MUSEUM PROFESSIONALS IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCUS), SPECIFICALLY JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY AND TOUGALOO COLLEGE. THIS INITIATIVE AIMS TO EMPOWER BOTH MUSEUMS, ENSURING THEY EFFECTIVELY SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES WHILE PROMOTING A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR SHARED CULTURAL HERITAGE.

THE CATFISH ROW MUSEUM WILL BUILD ITS CAPACITY TO OFFER RELEVANT MUSEUM EXPERIENCES FOR THE PUBLIC, WHILE EXPANDING ITS COLLECTIONS AND WORKING TOWARD THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW EXHIBIT. WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF CONSULTANTS AND LOCAL PROFESSIONALS, THE MUSEUM WILL PROVIDE TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES IN THE HANDLING AND CARE OF MUSEUM AND ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONS. THE MUSEUM WILL ALSO HIRE AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, WHO WILL RECEIVE TRAINING IN BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY, THE MUSEUM WILL CONDUCT RESEARCH AND HOST COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS TO DOCUMENT LOCAL STORIES AND ARTIFACTS AS IT DEVELOPS A NEW EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTING PAST AND PRESENT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN VICKSBURG. THE UNIVERSITY WILL ALSO ASSIST THE MUSEUM IN RECRUITING AND TRAINING A GRADUATE INTERN TO SUPPORT PROJECT ACTIVITIES. EXHIBIT DESIGN CONSULTANTS WILL GUIDE MUSEUM STAFF IN DESIGNING AND INSTALLING THE EXHIBIT.

EMANCIPATION SUMMER: THE MEANING OF FREEDOM IN MISSISSIPPI [THIS PROJECT WILL EXPLORE THE HISTORY AND LEGACY OF THE END OF ENSLAVEMENT IN MISSISSIPPI WITH PUBLIC PROGRAMS IN THREE DIFFERENT TOWNS THAT WERE SITES OF MAJOR EVENTS IN THE STORY OF FREEDOM?S EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION. THROUGH COMMEMORATIONS, LECTURES, LIVING HISTORY DEMONSTRATIONS, AND HISTORIC TOURS ORGANIZED BY THREE DIFFERENT BLACK-LED MUSEUMS, THIS PROJECT WILL FOSTER A GREATER PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF A TRANSFORMATIVE MOMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY. WHILE JUNETEENTH COMMEMORATES THE NEWS OF SLAVERY?S END IN TEXAS, BLACK COMMUNITIES IN MISSISSIPPI HAVE BEEN MARKING THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES? HISTORIES OF EMANCIPATION AND FREEDOM FOR OVER A CENTURY, AND OUR PROJECT AIMS TO SUPPORT AND BUILD UPON THESE LOCAL EFFORTS.]