Delta State University will host Ellen Ann Fentress, author, journalist and documentary filmmaker, from September 5-7. On September 6 from 6-8 p.m. in the Baioni Conference Center, DSU will screen “Eyes on Mississippi,” a documentary chronicling the life and work of journalist Bill Minor through his newspaper columns reporting race during the civil rights era. The event will be free and open to the public with refreshments. A panel discussion will occur immediately after the screening. Panelists include Ellen Ann Fentress; Aallyah Wright, DSU alumna in journalism and current reporter for Mississippi Today covering education and the Delta; and Woodrow Wilkins, former Delta Democrat Times managing editor and current Delta News TV assignment manager. In addition to the public screening and panel, Ms. Fentress will meet with a variety of DSU students in relevant classes. The film is appropriate for middle school students and older.
DSU Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Coordinator, Michelle Johansen hopes that the screening will expose Deltans of all ages, races and classes to Mississippi’s history and lead to deeper discussions about continuing work highlighted in the film. “This project is the intersection of journalism, history, politics, and language through the lens of racial equity and social activism in Mississippi during the civil rights era. While “Eyes on Mississippi” focused on the writings and influence of one journalist, the film’s arc depicts Mississippi’s racial history and the everyday Mississippians, often risking and losing their lives, to create a better Mississippi. I am grateful for the continuing financial support of the Mississippi Humanities Council to fund events like this.”
This event is generously sponsored by the Mississippi Humanities Council through a humanities-based racial equity grant. DSU sponsors include DSU’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), Division of Languages and Literature, Department of Art, and Division of Social Sciences and History.
“I’m honored to bring “Eyes on Mississippi” to DSU. So much of the pivotal civil-rights material in the documentary is from the Delta — as is some of the most powerful archival film footage. One of the most interesting parts of showing the film in Mississippi — and out of state — is how screenings always seem to bring out new witnesses who share their memories about events in the film. That’s even happened as far away as at the Missouri School of Journalism. I hope we’ll have audience members at Delta State who will come and share their civil-rights era experiences as well. The Delta State screening is followed by a screening at the Princeton, New Jersey library on Oct. 11 and at the Society for Ethical Culture in New York on October 14.
