The exhibit honors 12 individuals that challenged Mississippi and America to be a more perfect union, truly expanding liberty and justice for all. These twelve individuals are: Fannie Lou Hamer, Amzie Moore, Annie Devine, Medgar Evers, Lawrence Guyot, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Clarie Collins Harvey, Aaron Henry, John R. Lynch, Thomas W. Stringer, Unita Blackwell, and Vernon Dahmer. The effort and sacrifices made by these patriots not only helped ensure democracy for all Mississippians but all Americans as well. These individuals challenged the status-quo, urging that the phrase “We the People” should include all people.
Their actions and the reasons why we are considering them “Mississippi Founders” will be explained in a traveling exhibit. We hope to impart on all walks of life that these “founders” represent the best of what patriotism and devotion to one’s country means, with some of them paying the ultimate sacrifice in the name of equality. They helped change the landscape of our country socially and politically for the betterment of society and we as Mississippians should be eternally proud.
Also, the MHC has produced interstitials with Mississippi Public Broadcasting that accompany the exhibit. You can find these interstitials on the MHC and MPB YouTube pages. They inlcude guests like Cong. Bennie G. Thompson, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hoseman, Ms. Reena Evers, and Mayor Robin Tannehill give life to the various interstitial scripts uplifting our list of “Mississippi Founders”.
MPU is currently at The Quisenberry Library in Clinton MS from now until December 21st
MPU is also still being hosted by The Oren Dunn City in Tupelo and will be traveling to Delta State January 3rd