Real Mississippi

The fast-growing town of Starkville, Mississippi, invites people to the vibrant culture of Mississippi State University football games, art galleries, music and more. However, a dark shadow lurks in the interstices of these bright celebrations. Like many other college towns, Starkville has a population of homeless people whose needs often go unaddressed. We dove into this issue, learning that the problem is much deeper than we initially thought. Written by Max Feng and produced by Ethan Liao.

There is a problem with the representation of black youth. Our most common forms of media reduce black adolescents to one-dimensional characters made solely for entertainment. This type of representation affects how young black people think of themselves, which is why Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give, is flipping the script. Thomas, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, understands the experience of a black teen in a white world. She has made it her purpose to show the world things from the perspectives of black youths, and most importantly, prove to them they can surpass any obstacles thrown at them. Written by Ivie Kirkland and produced by Rusleen Bhalla.

Some people find the quiet, slow pace of Carrollton, Mississippi to their liking. However, when Jeremiah McClain moved there from a Chicago suburb, he found himself longing for the comforts of noisy trains, loud music, and busy streets--especially after he realized that his high school was named after one of the architects of legalized segregation, J.Z. George.

Fanny Lou Hamer's formal education might have ended in grade school, but she knew how to make a point. Her speech at the 1964 Democratic National Convention helped change the course of American history through its logic and insight. Written by Arika Gardner and produced by Gabe Skinner.

The magnitude and heroism shown by civil rights activists in the 1960s gets even clearer when you look at the villains. Their actions show how deeply embedded racism was within the institutions of MIssissippi, as an examination of Robert Boyd Patterson's life will show. Written by Ann Grace Donahue and produced by Gabe Skinner.

Elvis Presley was only a boy from a small town in Mississippi. He had lived a hard life during a harsh time. He came out of it as a rock-star pioneer for American music, which has created more fans and influence than any other solo artist. Even years after his passing, he remains popular. Written by Krish Patel and produced by Sophia Williams.

It didn't start with Taylor Swift or Ke$ha: women have been fighting for recognition as artists in the music industry for years. Amazing ladies like Cordell Jackson, the first woman to open her own record label and publish her own rockabilly music, show just how far women have come in entertainment. Yet her experiences, along with the experiences that female artists face today, reveal how much work is still left to do in the entertainment industry. Written by Jenna Riggle and produced by Andrew Liu. 

Cleveland, Mississippi, has gone through a change of a lifetime: just five years ago, its school district finally desegregated. By all accounts, this made the town a better place. Take a look into the heart and soul of the delta, as we dive into the repurcussions of the most controversial event in this town’s history. Written by Dyllon Martin and produced by Gordon Welch.

History is filled with extraordinary people who accomplished mind boggling heroic feats. These legends often serve as our inspiration and our teachers. This podcast seeks to examine an incredible individual who influenced Mississippi history for the better. Without him the state, and everyone who lives in it would not be able to enjoy the freedoms and luxuries that we do today. From the harbor of the Gulf coast to the ragging battlefields of the American Civil War, let's learn about Joseph Thomas Jones. Written and produced by Daniel Caton.

The life of reconstruction hero Charles Caldwell was cut short by an assassin's bullet during the 1875 election. Hear the story of his fight for racial equality--and a place in Mississippi history.