February is observed as Black History Month to honor the achievements and struggles of African Americans throughout U.S. history. Here are a few nearby places you can visit to experience Black history this month.
Holly Springs
Visit the Ida B. Wells-Barnett Museum to learn about the Holly Springs native’s contributions to civil rights, women’s rights and journalism. Invitation Magazines published Crusader for Justice about her and the museum in 2020 after she was posthumously recognized with a Pulitzer Prize.
Oxford
In 1962, James Meredith integrated the University of Mississippi when he entered the campus as the first African American student. Visit the James Meredith statue on campus in the Circle behind the Lyceum.
Tupelo
This month, the Gumtree Museum of Art will commemorate Black History Month with the following festivities, all free and open to the public:
- “Portraits in Soul,” a collection of photographs of 1960s Stax Records artists by William Carrier, will be on display throughout February. An opening reception for the exhibit takes place Feb. 4 from 5 to 7 p.m.
- Feb 8, noon: A book review by Dr. Richard Price of “The Warmth of Other Suns” by Isabell Wilkerson
- Feb 17, noon: A book review by the author of “To Be Born Black in Mississippi” by Kenneth Mayfield Sr.
- Feb. 25, 5-7 p.m.: A free BBQ Beer and Music celebration
Additionally, seven markers make up Tupelo’s Civil Rights and African-American Heritage Trail. These markers tell the stories of the Tupelo Black community and its people who stood against injustice and fought for equality during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.
Cleveland
Take a trip to Cleveland to experience the way the city tells Black history through its museums, blues music and food destinations. Invitation Magazines published a guide to several of the city’s hot spots last year. Read it here.
Memphis
Memphis is home to The National Civil Rights Museum and the Lorraine Motel, a registered landmark where Martin Luther King Jr. spent his final days. Throughout the year, visitors to Memphis can book A Tour of Possibilities, which reveals the impact of Black history on the city, from the Civil Rights Movement and music legends at The Stax Museum of American Soul Music to historic churches and Beale Street. More ways to celebrate Black History in Memphis can be found here.
Around Mississippi
With 25 markers all around the state, the Mississippi Freedom Trail commemorates important places and moments in the civil rights movement.
Online
The Mississippi Civil Rights Project is an interactive, evolving repository of information about the civil rights movement in Mississippi, cross-referenced by county, by topic and by person.