Cassandra Vaughn brings Delta Jewels Oral History Partnership to Alcorn

Cassandra Vaughn brings Delta Jewels Oral History Partnership to Alcorn

In honor of Black History Month, members of the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area’s Delta Jewels Oral History Partnership will make their way to Alcorn State University to expound on the history of black culture.

The partnership will host an event that will promote an oral history program Friday, Feb. 26 at the Wesley Foundation in Lorman. The Delta Jewels Oral History Partnership was formed in 2015 and features Delta Jewels: In Search of My Grandmother’s Wisdom, a collection of oral histories and photographs of African-American church mothers from the Mississippi Delta by Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalism professor Alysia Burton Steele form the University of Mississippi.

“I am so grateful that the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area see the importance of this work,” said Steele. “I partnered with the them to share oral histories throughout the state. This has helped spread the message that all of our elders, regardless of race or gender, have voices and stories that need to be heard and collected by the next generation. By doing this, we all can be preservers of Mississippi culture.”

Cassandra Vaughn, chair of the Wesley Foundation, looks forward to bringing the program to Alcorn.

“When I heard Alysia speak at an event in Jackson, I knew I wanted to meet her and share her message with a larger audience,” said Vaughn. “Thankfully, the universe aligned and we were able to make this event happen for the Alcorn community.”

The MDNHA is a partnership between the people of the Mississippi Delta and the National Park Service. For more information about MDNHA, visit www.msdeltaheritage.com.