The Mississippi Department of Archives and History’s (MDAH) History Is Lunch (HIL) lecture series has delved into Mississippi’s history, providing a platform for dynamic presentations by esteemed scholars, experts, authors, and thought leaders from both local and national spheres.
In the upcoming fall programming, HIL will prioritize lecture series that reflect the cultural heritage of Black communities. To kick off this series on November 13, 2024, MDAH welcomes Dr. Sharbreon Plummer, who will be in Jackson presenting an exhibition, “Of Salt and Spirit,” at the Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA) in the fall. The exhibit is based on MMA’s recently expanded Southern quilt holdings. Dr. Plummer, a textile scholar, artist, and creative strategist, is the co-director of programs at Threewalls, a Black-led nonprofit organization in Chicago. Her lecture will spotlight the remarkable work and story of Hystercine Rankin, a native of Jefferson County, MS, who created forty-six quilts throughout her lifetime.
Rankin’s father, a sharecropper, lost his life during the Jim Crow era when he was fatally shot by a white man on the highway, with the perpetrator never held accountable. Notable among her creations are memory quilts depicting her father’s murder and his funeral, serving as poignant reminders of the injustice African Americans encountered in Mississippi. Dr. Plummer will examine how Rankin’s quilts reflect the physical aspects of enslavement and the enduring cultural heritage and resilience of Black communities in the face of adversity.
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
History is Lunch lecture series
Featuring: Dr. Sharbreon Plummer
Two Mississippi Museums
Craig H. Neilsen Auditorium
12-1pm
