thank you very much I’m going to talk to you today about the American South a
you today about the American South a
you today about the American South a subject that’s close to my heart I’ve
subject that’s close to my heart I’ve
subject that’s close to my heart I’ve worked in for many years and I’m going
worked in for many years and I’m going
worked in for many years and I’m going to take you on a journey with me using
to take you on a journey with me using
to take you on a journey with me using photographs that I’ve made of these
photographs that I’ve made of these
photographs that I’ve made of these places it’s people the world’s along the
places it’s people the world’s along the
places it’s people the world’s along the way the American South has been compared
way the American South has been compared
way the American South has been compared to a Sphynx
to a Sphynx
to a Sphynx that rarely if ever fully reveals her
that rarely if ever fully reveals her
that rarely if ever fully reveals her secrets
secrets
secrets William Faulkner once remarked that in
William Faulkner once remarked that in
William Faulkner once remarked that in the South the past is never dead it’s
the South the past is never dead it’s
the South the past is never dead it’s not even past Faulkner has a novel
not even past Faulkner has a novel
not even past Faulkner has a novel Absalom Absalom in which a character
Absalom Absalom in which a character
Absalom Absalom in which a character named Quentin Compson has just arrived
named Quentin Compson has just arrived
named Quentin Compson has just arrived as a freshman at Harvard from
as a freshman at Harvard from
as a freshman at Harvard from Mississippi and he meets his Canadian
Mississippi and he meets his Canadian
Mississippi and he meets his Canadian roommate Shrieve who is curious about
roommate Shrieve who is curious about
roommate Shrieve who is curious about the south Shrieve ask Quentin tell about
the south Shrieve ask Quentin tell about
the south Shrieve ask Quentin tell about the south what’s it like there
the south what’s it like there
the south what’s it like there what do they do there why do they live
what do they do there why do they live
what do they do there why do they live there why do they live at all I love to
there why do they live at all I love to
there why do they live at all I love to tell my students an African proverb that
tell my students an African proverb that
tell my students an African proverb that says when an old woman or man dies a
says when an old woman or man dies a
says when an old woman or man dies a library burns to the ground and it’s in
library burns to the ground and it’s in
library burns to the ground and it’s in that sense of urgency that folklorists
that sense of urgency that folklorists
that sense of urgency that folklorists tried to preserve the stories the places
tried to preserve the stories the places
tried to preserve the stories the places the memory of the south my grandfather
the memory of the south my grandfather
the memory of the south my grandfather once told me that he had been raised on
once told me that he had been raised on
once told me that he had been raised on corn bread and recollections
corn bread and recollections
corn bread and recollections and my father would sometimes tell me
and my father would sometimes tell me
and my father would sometimes tell me that you can always learn a lesson from
that you can always learn a lesson from
that you can always learn a lesson from each person you meet in life and as a
each person you meet in life and as a
each person you meet in life and as a folklorist I’ve tried to follow that
folklorist I’ve tried to follow that
folklorist I’ve tried to follow that southerners love places they love the
southerners love places they love the
southerners love places they love the sense of place and when a southerner
sense of place and when a southerner
sense of place and when a southerner meets a stranger
meets a stranger
meets a stranger the first question always is where are
the first question always is where are
the first question always is where are you from oh you’re from New Orleans
you from oh you’re from New Orleans
you from oh you’re from New Orleans you’re from Memphis you’re from Durham
you’re from Memphis you’re from Durham
you’re from Memphis you’re from Durham well come on in I’ve known a lot of
well come on in I’ve known a lot of
well come on in I’ve known a lot of strange people from Durham and you are
strange people from Durham and you are
strange people from Durham and you are welcome in my house so stories and
welcome in my house so stories and
welcome in my house so stories and places are at the heart of the cell and
places are at the heart of the cell and
places are at the heart of the cell and race is the Achilles heel of the
race is the Achilles heel of the
race is the Achilles heel of the American self when I was five I went to
American self when I was five I went to
American self when I was five I went to a four room schoolhouse where each
a four room schoolhouse where each
a four room schoolhouse where each teacher taught two graves my black
teacher taught two graves my black
teacher taught two graves my black friends all went to a one-room
friends all went to a one-room
friends all went to a one-room schoolhouse where one teacher taught
schoolhouse where one teacher taught
schoolhouse where one teacher taught sixth grades and I knew in my heart that
sixth grades and I knew in my heart that
sixth grades and I knew in my heart that was wrong and I’ve been bothered and
was wrong and I’ve been bothered and
was wrong and I’ve been bothered and obsessed by race the murder of Emmett
obsessed by race the murder of Emmett
obsessed by race the murder of Emmett Till in money Mississippi of Trayvon
Till in money Mississippi of Trayvon
Till in money Mississippi of Trayvon Martin in Sanford Florida of the black
Martin in Sanford Florida of the black
Martin in Sanford Florida of the black worshippers in Charleston South Carolina
worshippers in Charleston South Carolina
worshippers in Charleston South Carolina remind us that race is an open sore and
remind us that race is an open sore and
remind us that race is an open sore and my work as a folklorist has been an
my work as a folklorist has been an
my work as a folklorist has been an attempt to build bridges across the
attempt to build bridges across the
attempt to build bridges across the troubled waters of race by focusing on
troubled waters of race by focusing on
troubled waters of race by focusing on stories and the people who tell those
stories and the people who tell those
stories and the people who tell those stories so I want to carry you on the
stories so I want to carry you on the
stories so I want to carry you on the journey
journey
journey that world of the American South and how
that world of the American South and how
that world of the American South and how southerners deal with race my first
southerners deal with race my first
southerners deal with race my first experience was growing up on a farm in
experience was growing up on a farm in
experience was growing up on a farm in Mississippi and as a child a young child
Mississippi and as a child a young child
Mississippi and as a child a young child a lady named Mary Gordon took me to a
a lady named Mary Gordon took me to a
a lady named Mary Gordon took me to a small black church on the farm called
small black church on the farm called
small black church on the farm called Rose Hill Church and I learned the hymns
Rose Hill Church and I learned the hymns
Rose Hill Church and I learned the hymns and I realized as I grew older that once
and I realized as I grew older that once
and I realized as I grew older that once the families were no longer there
the families were no longer there
the families were no longer there because there were no hymnals in the
because there were no hymnals in the
because there were no hymnals in the church the music would disappear so I
church the music would disappear so I
church the music would disappear so I began to record and photograph those
began to record and photograph those
began to record and photograph those worlds and the families who were part of
worlds and the families who were part of
worlds and the families who were part of that church were descended from
that church were descended from
that church were descended from ancestors who first built the church as
ancestors who first built the church as
ancestors who first built the church as a brush Arbor church from limbs of trees
a brush Arbor church from limbs of trees
a brush Arbor church from limbs of trees as slaves they worshiped there the
as slaves they worshiped there the
as slaves they worshiped there the minister Reverend Isaac Thomas would
minister Reverend Isaac Thomas would
minister Reverend Isaac Thomas would greet me when I came to the church and
greet me when I came to the church and
greet me when I came to the church and he would say the doors of this church
he would say the doors of this church
he would say the doors of this church will always swing open on the hinges of
will always swing open on the hinges of
will always swing open on the hinges of welcome for you I was welcomed by the
welcome for you I was welcomed by the
welcome for you I was welcomed by the families the families like the family of
families the families like the family of
families the families like the family of Amanda Gordon who was the matriarch of a
Amanda Gordon who was the matriarch of a
Amanda Gordon who was the matriarch of a wonderful family and she was one of
wonderful family and she was one of
wonderful family and she was one of those living libraries
those living libraries
those living libraries she was the elder in the church who
she was the elder in the church who
she was the elder in the church who remembered the ancestral spirituals the
remembered the ancestral spirituals the
remembered the ancestral spirituals the dr. Watts hymns and sang them from
dr. Watts hymns and sang them from
dr. Watts hymns and sang them from memory I was also privileged to see
memory I was also privileged to see
memory I was also privileged to see Amanda Gordon’s beautiful quilts which
Amanda Gordon’s beautiful quilts which
Amanda Gordon’s beautiful quilts which she holds here
she holds here
she holds here with her grandchildren a string quilt
with her grandchildren a string quilt
with her grandchildren a string quilt which evolved from the textiles of West
which evolved from the textiles of West
which evolved from the textiles of West Africa I remember my friend Robert
Africa I remember my friend Robert
Africa I remember my friend Robert Appleton
Appleton
Appleton me the story
me the story
me the story of how his ancestors walked up the
of how his ancestors walked up the
of how his ancestors walked up the Natchez Trace as slaves from Natchez
Natchez Trace as slaves from Natchez
Natchez Trace as slaves from Natchez Mississippi to the farm and stayed there
Mississippi to the farm and stayed there
Mississippi to the farm and stayed there for generations his son William Appleton
for generations his son William Appleton
for generations his son William Appleton on the left is an old friend I call him
on the left is an old friend I call him
on the left is an old friend I call him every few weeks and we talk about the
every few weeks and we talk about the
every few weeks and we talk about the memory of friends and family who are no
memory of friends and family who are no
memory of friends and family who are no longer alive like Jessie Cooper who was
longer alive like Jessie Cooper who was
longer alive like Jessie Cooper who was married by Reverend Thomas to Artemisia
married by Reverend Thomas to Artemisia
married by Reverend Thomas to Artemisia Cooper and a man the Gordon’s sang hymns
Cooper and a man the Gordon’s sang hymns
Cooper and a man the Gordon’s sang hymns at the wedding and Jessie Cooper’s
at the wedding and Jessie Cooper’s
at the wedding and Jessie Cooper’s grandmother was also a witness to the
grandmother was also a witness to the
grandmother was also a witness to the marriage so my father was another anchor
marriage so my father was another anchor
marriage so my father was another anchor on that farm he understood land he loved
on that farm he understood land he loved
on that farm he understood land he loved equipment and was a master at working
equipment and was a master at working
equipment and was a master at working the fields and making them more
the fields and making them more
the fields and making them more productive he was also a courageous
productive he was also a courageous
productive he was also a courageous person who stood by his five children
person who stood by his five children
person who stood by his five children when we insisted on meeting with civil
when we insisted on meeting with civil
when we insisted on meeting with civil rights workers in Vicksburg during
rights workers in Vicksburg during
rights workers in Vicksburg during Freedom Summer
Freedom Summer
Freedom Summer he sat across the table one evening from
he sat across the table one evening from
he sat across the table one evening from Robert Moses the head of Freedom Summer
Robert Moses the head of Freedom Summer
Robert Moses the head of Freedom Summer and Moses told my father this is the
and Moses told my father this is the
and Moses told my father this is the first time I’ve ever had a civil
first time I’ve ever had a civil
first time I’ve ever had a civil conversation with a white Mississippian
conversation with a white Mississippian
conversation with a white Mississippian my brother gray and I worked with daddy
my brother gray and I worked with daddy
my brother gray and I worked with daddy in the summers in the fields with the
in the summers in the fields with the
in the summers in the fields with the men on the farm gray later became a
men on the farm gray later became a
men on the farm gray later became a state senator and was an advocate for
state senator and was an advocate for
state senator and was an advocate for health care and education for the state
health care and education for the state
health care and education for the state of Mississippi my three sisters from the
of Mississippi my three sisters from the
of Mississippi my three sisters from the Left Shelby Hester and Martha all became
Left Shelby Hester and Martha all became
Left Shelby Hester and Martha all became writers and artists and my mother was
writers and artists and my mother was
writers and artists and my mother was the heart
the heart
the heart of our family it was she who taught us
of our family it was she who taught us
of our family it was she who taught us the meaning of love and compassion so
the meaning of love and compassion so
the meaning of love and compassion so that farm wrapped its arms around us in
that farm wrapped its arms around us in
that farm wrapped its arms around us in a powerful way and anchored us in its
a powerful way and anchored us in its
a powerful way and anchored us in its place and allowed me to go further as a
place and allowed me to go further as a
place and allowed me to go further as a folklorist and to capture friends in the
folklorist and to capture friends in the
folklorist and to capture friends in the neighborhood like Cecil Crosby a master
neighborhood like Cecil Crosby a master
neighborhood like Cecil Crosby a master mechanic who could repair any piece of
mechanic who could repair any piece of
mechanic who could repair any piece of equipment he loved to say that he could
equipment he loved to say that he could
equipment he loved to say that he could repair anything but a broken heart
repair anything but a broken heart
repair anything but a broken heart across the Big Black River was the
across the Big Black River was the
across the Big Black River was the crossroads and the crossroads store run
crossroads and the crossroads store run
crossroads and the crossroads store run by Aidan white whose ancestors built
by Aidan white whose ancestors built
by Aidan white whose ancestors built that store a hundred and fifty years
that store a hundred and fifty years
that store a hundred and fifty years earlier
earlier
earlier mrs. white told me how her father had
mrs. white told me how her father had
mrs. white told me how her father had been murdered in the store by a
been murdered in the store by a
been murdered in the store by a disgruntled customer and when she and
disgruntled customer and when she and
disgruntled customer and when she and her mother took her father home he
her mother took her father home he
her mother took her father home he looked at the wound in his side and said
looked at the wound in his side and said
looked at the wound in his side and said what a small hole for your life to run
what a small hole for your life to run
what a small hole for your life to run out of so I began to visit with
out of so I began to visit with
out of so I began to visit with neighbors like Mary Regan who lived in a
neighbors like Mary Regan who lived in a
neighbors like Mary Regan who lived in a home that her ancestors built a home
home that her ancestors built a home
home that her ancestors built a home where a General Grant stayed as he and
where a General Grant stayed as he and
where a General Grant stayed as he and his troops were moving toward the Battle
his troops were moving toward the Battle
his troops were moving toward the Battle of Vicksburg
of Vicksburg
of Vicksburg I traveled further down the road to
I traveled further down the road to
I traveled further down the road to Utica Mississippi and spent time with a
Utica Mississippi and spent time with a
Utica Mississippi and spent time with a wonderful man Jim Steve who was a
wonderful man Jim Steve who was a
wonderful man Jim Steve who was a blacksmith who had shod thousands of
blacksmith who had shod thousands of
blacksmith who had shod thousands of hooves of horses and mules over his
hooves of horses and mules over his
hooves of horses and mules over his lifetime I also began to look at the
lifetime I also began to look at the
lifetime I also began to look at the community at the sense of color the
community at the sense of color the
community at the sense of color the light the beauty of the everyday life
light the beauty of the everyday life
light the beauty of the everyday life what the French call la vie
what the French call la vie
what the French call la vie and I traveled up highway 61 to Leland
and I traveled up highway 61 to Leland
and I traveled up highway 61 to Leland Mississippi and worked with a blues
Mississippi and worked with a blues
Mississippi and worked with a blues singer named James Thomas who was also a
singer named James Thomas who was also a
singer named James Thomas who was also a gifted sculptor who would carve faces of
gifted sculptor who would carve faces of
gifted sculptor who would carve faces of people out of Mississippi clay like this
people out of Mississippi clay like this
people out of Mississippi clay like this woman that he then painted and added a
woman that he then painted and added a
woman that he then painted and added a wig on the top of her head today James
wig on the top of her head today James
wig on the top of her head today James Thomas’s son Pat Thomas still plays the
Thomas’s son Pat Thomas still plays the
Thomas’s son Pat Thomas still plays the blues and does sculpture in memory of
blues and does sculpture in memory of
blues and does sculpture in memory of his father the patriarch of the Blues
his father the patriarch of the Blues
his father the patriarch of the Blues world in Leyland was Shelby Papa jazz
world in Leyland was Shelby Papa jazz
world in Leyland was Shelby Papa jazz Brown who lived in a home on Kent’s
Brown who lived in a home on Kent’s
Brown who lived in a home on Kent’s alley in Leland and every Saturday night
alley in Leland and every Saturday night
alley in Leland and every Saturday night friends would gather like Lee and Joe
friends would gather like Lee and Joe
friends would gather like Lee and Joe Cooper to listen and dance to the blues
Cooper to listen and dance to the blues
Cooper to listen and dance to the blues to eat sandwiches with corn liquor and
to eat sandwiches with corn liquor and
to eat sandwiches with corn liquor and all ages would gather Joe Cooper and
all ages would gather Joe Cooper and
all ages would gather Joe Cooper and younger people would come together in
younger people would come together in
younger people would come together in what I came to see as a blues family
what I came to see as a blues family
what I came to see as a blues family related and joined by a shared love of
related and joined by a shared love of
related and joined by a shared love of the music
the music
the music I also saw wonderful baskets that were
I also saw wonderful baskets that were
I also saw wonderful baskets that were made by Leon Peck Clark who would cut a
made by Leon Peck Clark who would cut a
made by Leon Peck Clark who would cut a wonderful sapling of white oak and split
wonderful sapling of white oak and split
wonderful sapling of white oak and split it into splits and make baskets that he
it into splits and make baskets that he
it into splits and make baskets that he would sell so on the porches of stores
would sell so on the porches of stores
would sell so on the porches of stores of churches of homes there was always
of churches of homes there was always
of churches of homes there was always conversation and story being shared
conversation and story being shared
conversation and story being shared there were also the roadside signs and
there were also the roadside signs and
there were also the roadside signs and people where I would stop photograph and
people where I would stop photograph and
people where I would stop photograph and talk with people whom I met everyone had
talk with people whom I met everyone had
talk with people whom I met everyone had a story to tell
a story to tell
a story to tell everyone taught me people like Hickory
everyone taught me people like Hickory
everyone taught me people like Hickory stick Victor Bob who made walking canes
stick Victor Bob who made walking canes
stick Victor Bob who made walking canes out of Hickory and would give them to
out of Hickory and would give them to
out of Hickory and would give them to friends when a friend would say but I
friends when a friend would say but I
friends when a friend would say but I don’t need a walking cane he would say
don’t need a walking cane he would say
don’t need a walking cane he would say if you live long enough you will there
if you live long enough you will there
if you live long enough you will there was of course Oh Thor Turner who played
was of course Oh Thor Turner who played
was of course Oh Thor Turner who played Fife and drum using the African sounds
Fife and drum using the African sounds
Fife and drum using the African sounds from which blues were born and today
from which blues were born and today
from which blues were born and today sadly otha Turner is no longer alive but
sadly otha Turner is no longer alive but
sadly otha Turner is no longer alive but his daughters keep the music alive and
his daughters keep the music alive and
his daughters keep the music alive and play it and affirmed to us that the
play it and affirmed to us that the
play it and affirmed to us that the circle is indeed unbroken in his life
circle is indeed unbroken in his life
circle is indeed unbroken in his life these are my teachers these are the
these are my teachers these are the
these are my teachers these are the people who taught me the meaning of what
people who taught me the meaning of what
people who taught me the meaning of what the South is all about I spent time in
the South is all about I spent time in
the South is all about I spent time in those worlds those places like parchment
those worlds those places like parchment
those worlds those places like parchment penitentiary a twenty-eight thousand
penitentiary a twenty-eight thousand
penitentiary a twenty-eight thousand acre penal farm in the heart of the
acre penal farm in the heart of the
acre penal farm in the heart of the Mississippi Delta and in the prison
Mississippi Delta and in the prison
Mississippi Delta and in the prison cells and in the fields I interviewed
cells and in the fields I interviewed
cells and in the fields I interviewed the inmates and tried to understand what
the inmates and tried to understand what
the inmates and tried to understand what it was like to be black and in prison in
it was like to be black and in prison in
it was like to be black and in prison in the state of Mississippi I also
the state of Mississippi I also
the state of Mississippi I also interviewed the prison warden sergeant
interviewed the prison warden sergeant
interviewed the prison warden sergeant Webb to get a sense of what that world
Webb to get a sense of what that world
Webb to get a sense of what that world was all about you never knew what you
was all about you never knew what you
was all about you never knew what you were going to see on the streets of
were going to see on the streets of
were going to see on the streets of places like Yazoo City where I spent
places like Yazoo City where I spent
places like Yazoo City where I spent time with pakodi a Warner whose pea
time with pakodi a Warner whose pea
time with pakodi a Warner whose pea quilt was a celebration of the first
quilt was a celebration of the first
quilt was a celebration of the first initial of her first name
initial of her first name
initial of her first name Pecola and I asked mrs. Warner how did
Pecola and I asked mrs. Warner how did
Pecola and I asked mrs. Warner how did you first learn to put together such
you first learn to put together such
you first learn to put together such beautiful images and
beautiful images and
beautiful images and pieces of fabric she responded fireplace
pieces of fabric she responded fireplace
pieces of fabric she responded fireplace learning at the side of her mother and
learning at the side of her mother and
learning at the side of her mother and grandmother she learned to be a master
grandmother she learned to be a master
grandmother she learned to be a master quilter on the walls of clubs and homes
quilter on the walls of clubs and homes
quilter on the walls of clubs and homes and inside the artists are constantly
and inside the artists are constantly
and inside the artists are constantly working in these places in places like
working in these places in places like
working in these places in places like belzoni Mississippi the California Club
belzoni Mississippi the California Club
belzoni Mississippi the California Club is decorated with musicians whose faces
is decorated with musicians whose faces
is decorated with musicians whose faces embody the sound of music there there is
embody the sound of music there there is
embody the sound of music there there is also a sense of color that brings alive
also a sense of color that brings alive
also a sense of color that brings alive and animates the community in the home
and animates the community in the home
and animates the community in the home of Harry Warren Vicksburg Mississippi
of Harry Warren Vicksburg Mississippi
of Harry Warren Vicksburg Mississippi where I grew up
where I grew up
where I grew up mr. Warren does incredibly beautiful
mr. Warren does incredibly beautiful
mr. Warren does incredibly beautiful signage for restaurants to advertise
signage for restaurants to advertise
signage for restaurants to advertise their special foods of barbecue ribs and
their special foods of barbecue ribs and
their special foods of barbecue ribs and chicken and in the Lizard Lounge in
chicken and in the Lizard Lounge in
chicken and in the Lizard Lounge in belzoni there is color welcoming you
belzoni there is color welcoming you
belzoni there is color welcoming you into the lounge and in Oxford
into the lounge and in Oxford
into the lounge and in Oxford Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi the visionary painter fiora hamblett had
the visionary painter fiora hamblett had
the visionary painter fiora hamblett had a vision of her brother that appeared in
a vision of her brother that appeared in
a vision of her brother that appeared in a dream to her one night and the next
a dream to her one night and the next
a dream to her one night and the next morning she had a phone call telling her
morning she had a phone call telling her
morning she had a phone call telling her that her brother had died the night
that her brother had died the night
that her brother had died the night before so she painted that vision as a
before so she painted that vision as a
before so she painted that vision as a way of remembering his presence memory
way of remembering his presence memory
way of remembering his presence memory is what it is all about the memory trail
is what it is all about the memory trail
is what it is all about the memory trail of JW garrison in Rossville Tennessee
of JW garrison in Rossville Tennessee
of JW garrison in Rossville Tennessee was literally a warehouse of objects
was literally a warehouse of objects
was literally a warehouse of objects from his past so we are constantly
from his past so we are constantly
from his past so we are constantly feeling the presence of the past and the
feeling the presence of the past and the
feeling the presence of the past and the power of love and the intimacy of family
power of love and the intimacy of family
power of love and the intimacy of family in homes like luster Willis and his
in homes like luster Willis and his
in homes like luster Willis and his wife Annie Mae Willis mr. Willis was a
wife Annie Mae Willis mr. Willis was a
wife Annie Mae Willis mr. Willis was a gifted artist who painted the faces of
gifted artist who painted the faces of
gifted artist who painted the faces of family and neighbors and those paintings
family and neighbors and those paintings
family and neighbors and those paintings adorned their walls in their homes he
adorned their walls in their homes he
adorned their walls in their homes he also sculpted from cedar wood walking
also sculpted from cedar wood walking
also sculpted from cedar wood walking canes with faces of family and friends
canes with faces of family and friends
canes with faces of family and friends on the top of the handle and also his
on the top of the handle and also his
on the top of the handle and also his heroes like reverend martin luther king
heroes like reverend martin luther king
heroes like reverend martin luther king so places are animated worlds they speak
so places are animated worlds they speak
so places are animated worlds they speak to us in the same way that people speak
to us in the same way that people speak
to us in the same way that people speak to us in the south and in documenting
to us in the south and in documenting
to us in the south and in documenting with the camera the tape recorder and
with the camera the tape recorder and
with the camera the tape recorder and film these pieces and their places we
film these pieces and their places we
film these pieces and their places we pledge to never forget the complicated
pledge to never forget the complicated
pledge to never forget the complicated and rich history of the American South
and rich history of the American South
and rich history of the American South thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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