“Whiteness in Crisis?” presented by James M. Thomas In The History of White People, historian Nell Painter wrote, “Being white these days isn’t what it used to be.” What, then, does it mean to be white today? Through in-depth interviews with white people living in the American South—a region where the nation’s color line has arguably …

Sanctuary is a sonic experience that explores the climate change-induced migrations of the Mississippi Delta bird species. This contemplative space creates a convergence of jazz technology and nature’s symphony, where audiences are invited to reflect on the balance of our natural world and the need for ecological harmony. Frewuhn is an international multidisciplinary artist whose …

“‘Jews, Heathens, and Other Dissenters’: New Perspectives on Race and Religion in the American South” presented by Shari Rabin The 1669 Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina anticipated the arrival of Jews alongside “heathens, and other dissenters from the purity of the Christian religion.” Meanwhile, the Code Noir, which governed French Louisiana, banned Jewish settlement altogether. Nevertheless, …

“Introducing the Southern Music Research Center” presented by Burgin Mathews Earlier this year, the nonprofit Southern Music Research Center (SMRC) launched its online archive: a searchable public repository of rare photos, rescued recordings, oral history interviews, and ephemera reflecting a deep diversity of music communities, expressions, and experiences across the American South. In this talk, …

“Southern Light, Southern Landscape” presented by William Dunlap and W. Ralph Eubanks In his essay “The Power of Place in Art and Literature,” the artist William Dunlap writes, “The one constant in American art and life is the land.” In this talk, William Dunlap and Ralph Eubanks will discuss the connection between the landscape of …

“Shalom Y’all: The History of Jews in Mississippi” presented by Stuart Rockoff In the early 19th century, Jewish immigrants from Europe began to arrive in the Magnolia State, settling initially in towns along the Mississippi River. Concentrating in retail trade, these Jews became visible symbols of economic modernity and market capitalism in Mississippi. Throughout much …