In this episode of Reflecting Mississippi, we explore the story behind Mississippi: Conflict & Change—a groundbreaking textbook that didn’t just teach history, it challenged how Mississippi’s history was told. First published in 1974, the book offered a fuller, more honest look at the state’s past, centering the experiences of African Americans, Native Americans, women, and working people—voices often left out of traditional narratives.

The conversation examines how the book became controversial, rejected by the state, and ultimately the subject of a landmark legal battle over what students should learn. What emerged was more than a textbook debate—it was a struggle over truth, identity, and who gets to shape the story of Mississippi.

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In this episode of Reflecting Mississippi, we explore the powerful history of Black land ownership in Mississippi through the lens of the documentary Farming Freedom. The film highlights the deep connection between farming, freedom, and identity—showing how, for generations, working the land was a source of pride, independence, and community strength.

The conversation also takes an honest look at how that relationship with farming has shifted over time. Because of the painful legacy of slavery and sharecropping, agriculture has, in some spaces, lost its sense of dignity—becoming something many distance themselves from rather than embrace.

This episode reflects on how land, labor, and legacy are deeply intertwined—and why reconnecting with that history remains vital to Mississippi’s future.

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In this episode of Reflecting Mississippi, we talk with historian Jim Giesen about his book The Land of Cotton and the deeper story behind one of Mississippi’s most defining crops. More than just an agricultural history, Giesen’s work explores how cotton shaped the state’s economy, environment, and social structure—leaving a legacy that still resonates today.

Through this conversation, we examine the rise of cotton production, the systems that sustained it, and the lasting impact on land, labor, and communities across Mississippi. Giesen brings a thoughtful perspective to how this history connects to broader themes of industry, inequality, and change.

This episode invites listeners to look beyond the familiar image of cotton and consider the complex history it represents—and how understanding that history helps us better understand Mississippi itself.

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