Delta Narratives
The need to recognize these places as nothing less than objective evidence of the very fabric of a nations history is woven by the threads of ordinary people willing to stand and be counted: to take that risk for posterity.
The need to recognize these places
as nothing less than objective evidence
of the very fabric of a nation's history…
…is woven by the threads of ordinary people
people willing to stand and be counted:
—CHARLES YOUNG, AMBASSADOR
to take that risk for posterity.”
The Undercurrent
The Ambassadors program is, officially, a course.
In the Walton Family Foundation grant application, there is talk of course credit and syllabuses, of assignments and progress assessments. The full name of the program stretches across the top page, proudly announcing the technicalities of the course: "Mississippi Delta Cultural Heritage Ambassadors Program".
In the room however, it becomes clear that this is much more than a cultural heritage interpretation course. The program is comprised of ten Mississippi Delta residents all together, spanning three generations. Some share a hometown, or a last name, or a family, but the bond between them goes much deeper.
These community storytellers are brought together by a love for each other and by a love for this place: the Mississippi Delta. The Delta was the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement, of the blues, of many iconic American figures and much of American culture. But it is also a place of deep poverty and oppression, an image which for many years has eclipsed its rich history and contributions to our country.
“Those who lived the history are the best ones to begin telling any story”
Reclaiming.
It is a story that's been told time and time again. The Mississippi Delta— known as the "Most Southern Place on Earth", the "Cradle of American Culture"— holds a certain mystique that draws people in. Strangers move in for a time and write books regaling the world with stories of strange accents and strange customs. Researchers arrive determined to finally unlock the secrets of the region.
Yet, despite the glut of research and stories and articles written, the Delta remains one of the least understood places in the country. A place where economic development is slow, where towns often remain segregated along the clearly marked lines of railroad tracks, main streets, and even bayous. A place that, despite its infamy, remains left out of the history books.
The authentic voice of the Delta was never meant to be researchers, or academics, or tourists observing it all with a critical eye. The authentic voice of the Delta is, and always will be, represented by the people who live there. The people who inherit stories of place and culture through generations, who have watched the seasons and the years and the world pass through the Delta. The people who hold a fierce pride for their home and deep love of their community. The people who are ready to reclaim their narratives.
"If anything can come along with what we’re doing…
"If anything can come along with what we’re doing…
it is that as the tide rises…
it is is that as the tide rises…
communities that have endured…
communities that have endured …
these years of struggle…
these years of struggle…
…can begin to rise."
“Giving people knowledge so they can feel empowered. Your vote matters.”
—Charles Young
“History is bound to repeat itself. If we don't learn it, then we'll end up in the same situation.”
—RJ Fitzpatrick
“These times have come to the point where, no, we're not going to be quiet.”
—Jesse Jaynes-Diming
“It’s always important for people to take control of their own stories and pass those stories down to the next generations.”
— Charles Coleman
“I sit in the room with legends who lived through Delta history and ones who are making history now.”
—Mechelle Chane
“…until you face the truth, there can be no change…”
— Brenda Luckett
“We need to capitalize from what we have done; the enriching power of our struggle.”
—Charles Young
“No one's just going to tell you. You have to get out there and ask questions.”
—Amana Wallace
“There is no healing in the heat of history”
—Dr. Timla Washington
“No one tells your story. No one tells this story. So tell it.”
—RJ Fitzpatrick
“No one tells your story. No one tells this story. So tell it.”
— RJ Fitzpatrick