The Mississippi Humanities Council announced the winners of its 2025 Public Humanities Awards, recognizing outstanding work in preserving and sharing Mississippi’s unique history and culture. The ceremony takes place Friday, March 28th at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson, recognizing individuals and organizations who have made notable contributions to the state’s cultural life. This year’s ceremony promises to be a memorable and inspiring event.
Malcolm White will receive the Cora Norman Award, named in honor of the Council’s founding director, this award recognizes someone who has made a significant, longtime contribution to the public humanities in Mississippi. This award recognizes White’s two terms of leadership of the Mississippi Arts Commission during which he revived the state poet laureate program, helped organize the “Culture Club” of state agencies to lead the recovery of the cultural sector after Hurricane Katrina, chaired the Mississippi Blues Commission, and launched the Mississippi Writers Trail. As director of Visit Mississippi, White highlighted the importance of Mississippi’s cultural economy and served as a passionate advocate for heritage tourism. A longtime restauranteur, artist, and music promoter, White has enriched the culinary and cultural life of our state for many decades.
Humanities Scholar Award– Dr. Christina Thomas, Margaret Walker Center at Jackson State University. Dr. Thomas receives this award in recognition of her work as a publicly engaged scholar of the civil rights movement, including research and writing for the Mississippi Freedom Trail, efforts to preserve and archive an important collection of movement records, and leading a National History Day program at the Youthful Offenders Unit at Central Mississippi Correctional Facility.
Humanities Educator– Dr. Joseph Peterson, School of Humanities at the University of Southern Mississippi. The Humanities Educator Award recognizes Dr. Peterson for his work leading the Life Builders Book Club at South Mississippi Correctional Institution. With skill and empathy, Dr. Peterson leads the men through challenging texts and helps them find connections with their own lives. His passion for bringing educational opportunities to incarcerated men reflect a deep understanding of the power of the humanities to change lives.
Humanities Partner–Friendly City Books (Columbus). The Humanities Partner award recognizes Friendly City Books and its founder Emily Liner for their collaboration with the Council to broaden its scope and reach new audiences. Liner has had an incredible impact on the cultural life of Columbus. This award recognizes the outstanding public programming offered at the independent bookstore, including community book discussions that attract large crowds, the successful Possumtown Book Festival, and the upcoming statewide series of youth poetry convenings.
Reflecting Mississippi Award– Activists With a Purpose (Grenada), is being honored with a Reflecting Mississippi award for their leadership of the 1966 Grenada County Freedom Movement Legacy Committee, which has worked to preserve and share the difficult but important history of Grenada’s school integration and the effort to secure civil rights. Dianna Freelon-Foster, and her colleagues have shown how facing this challenging history can make a community stronger.
The Council will also recognize 30 recipients of the 2025 Humanities Teacher Awards, which pay tribute to outstanding faculty in traditional humanities fields at each of our colleges and universities.
MHC invites everyone to join them at their 2025 Public Humanities Awards ceremony and reception March 28, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at the Two Mississippi Museums.
Tickets for the Mississippi Humanities Council Public Humanities Awards ceremony and reception are $50 each and may be purchased through the MHC website or by sending a check to the Mississippi Humanities Council, 3825 Ridgewood Road, Room 317, Jackson, MS 39211.