Mound Bayou, Mississippi - The Jewel of the Delta
Posted by Michael on November 10, 2007, from Memphis, Tennessee
Yesterday, StoryCorps Griot traveled south on old Route 61 into Mississippi to record interviews in Mound Bayou. The city, proudly described by local residents as “Jewel of the Delta,” is the oldest all black municipality in the United States. It was founded in 1887 by Isaiah T. Montgomery and his cousin, Benjamin T. Green. Montgomery and Green were both former slaves of Joseph Davis, brother of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Isaiah T. Montgomery was elected as the first mayor. He started a tradition of black government that persists to the present day. Mound Bayou was founded to serve as a sanctuary for African- American families and culture. The Founders helped to make the dream of creating a successful, self-sufficient and cooperative community of freedmen a reality. By the turn of the century Mound Bayou was exporting $30,000 in cotton a year. Its residents owned 5,000 acres of rich, prime farm and timber land, with an estimated worth of $20,000.
Mound Bayou was an oasis in turbulent times.
While the rest of Mississippi was violently segregated, inside the city there were no racial codes. The train station depot was the only exception. Delta residents received medical attention and mothers safely and successfully gave birth to their children at Taborian Hospital, a state of the art medical facility, built with support by Tufts University Medical Center. Medgar Evers sold insurance here, before becoming National Field Secretary of the NAACP. Maime Till stayed in Mound Bayou while in Mississippi for the trial of the savage killing of her son, Emmett Till. At a time when blacks faced repercussions as severe as death for registering to vote, Mound Bayou residents were casting ballots in every election. The city has a proud history of banks, credit unions, insurance companies, a hospital, five newspapers, and a variety of businesses owned, operated, and patronized by black residents.
Mound Bayou is a crowning achievement in the struggle for self-determination and economic empowerment. Many grateful thanks to participant Eulah L. Peterson, PhD., Mound Bayou Alderwoman and Vice Mayor, for inviting StoryCorps Griot to her historic city.
November 19th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
This is a wonderful piece of Black History, unknown probably to most!
It was to me ….
Thank you for sharing this information and I would certainly like to know more.
Are there any publsihed works regarding the town and it’s establishers?
Please advise.
If not … then it is time for someone to start writing!
Thanks again!
November 25th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Hello,
Thank so much for sharing our story! Please note spelling of my last name.
November 27th, 2007 at 1:09 am
Interesting stuff from a part of the country you don’t often hear from..it sounds as though this story hasn’t been fully told and I would like to learn more, does anyone else know of other interesting websites?
December 26th, 2007 at 10:35 am
I do not doubt that there are so many other cities with similar histories around the country. Thanks to StoryCorp and their supporters for providing the resources to share the story of Mound Bayou. It would be great to see any archived images of this city.
Also, who gave it its name?
Thanks again for sharing this valuable information.
-O
February 10th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
I have a story that might be interesting to some:
I had the pleasure of visiting Mound Bayou in April of 2007 with Mission Mississippi from St. Dominic Regional High School in Auburn, Maine. Each year a group of students volunteers to travel to Mound Bayou and do some fix up work for the town. I was a chaperon.
At our first dinner a man named Jackie gave a bit of history of Mound Bayou. I listened with interest when he stated the town had been founded by the freed slaves of Joe Davis, brother of Jefferson Davis. My interest came from the fact that the sister of Joe and Jeff Davis was my great grandmother (that makes me their great, great nephew…I think). I had several great conversations with community members about their memories of hearing their ancestors talk of Joe and Jeff Davis.
I spent the next week doing volunteer work for the relatives of my relatives freed slaves. Life is interesting to say the least.
I will be going back in a couple of years with my daughter (also at St. Dom’s).
I hope you enjoyed the story.
BTW: I love StoryCorps and thanks for visiting Mound Bayou. It’s history is worth keeping!
Kevin
February 19th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Thanks a lot for sharing a piece of our history with the readers. I was raised in the wonderful town of Mound Bayou and I love telling people about it.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
I have heard many stories about this town. My gramdfather bought 110 acres west of town. He got a clear title in the early 30’s and it’s still in family hands.
August 9th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
i live in mound bayou with my family. the woodson family. i read so many story about mound bayou but i never heard anyone talk about my brother who was kill by the highway patrole police in 1965 . from mary woodson aug 09/2008