Remembering the Late R. L. Boyce in His Hometown of Como
Bluesman R. L. Boyce was a native of Como, Mississippi in Panola County, the town which Mississippi Fred McDowell called home for much of his …
Parks
A Day of Gospel and Blues at Zodiac Park in Mason, Tennessee
Zodiac Park north of Mason is the last of a vanishing breed, rural Black baseball and softball parks. Such parks used to be found in …
The Covington Community Comes Together For Bull Day
Orlandus Cobbins Sr. was known to his friends as “Bull,” and was a positive influence on young people on the westside of Covington, Tennessee, until …
A Beautiful Day and Great Fun at Coldwater Day
The phenomenon of “town days” is fairly unique to the state of Mississippi, and occurs mainly in predominantly-Black towns. It is possible that they began …
Remembering Como Bluesman R. L. Boyce in Como Park
Como, Mississippi bluesman R. L. Boyce knew Fred McDowell, Otha Turner and Rainey Burnett personally, and was the last of a generation of bluesmen. Like …
The Field Is Empty, The Drums Silent
A friend of mine in Senatobia had heard that there might be fife and drum going on at a party on the Compress Road between …
Bull Day in Covington’s Frazier Park-A Day of Peace and Community
Orlandus “Bull” Cobbins of Covington, Tennessee was only 29 years old when he was senselessly murdered at a relative’s home by two men who wanted …
The Marianna Cut-Off: The Old South in Marianna
Lee County, Arkansas was named for Robert E. Lee at its founding, and by its folklore, at the suggestion of a Black resident, which highlights …
A Delta Afternoon: The Ghosts of Earle
On September 10, 1970, the Rev. Ezra Greer and his wife, Jackie, who was a candidate for mayor of Earle, Arkansas, led a march from …
West Memphis’s New Amphitheater at Hightower Park
While Memphis has struggled, West Memphis has been making a considerable amount of progress under the leadership of its young mayor Marco McClendon. Every year …