Margaret Walker
Born July 7, 1915, in Birmingham, Alabama, Margaret Abigail Walker
grew up in a sophisticated Black family in New Orleans. After attending Northwestern University, she joined the WPA in Depression era Chicago, where she met some of the day's great writers. She received an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. Her seminal volume of poetry, For My People, won the 1942 Yale Prize. In 1949 Walker began a thirty-year teaching career at Jackson State College. After decades of research, she published her 1966 novel Jubilee that ushered in a genre of modern slave narratives. At the forefront of the Black Studies and Black Arts Movements, in 1968 she founded an institute at JSU to preserve and interpret Black history and culture, which was later named in her honor.
Describing her life, Walker celebrated "being female, black, and free." She died in 1998
The Mississippi Writers Trail is a program by the Mississippi Arts Commission. It pays tribute to the state’s most acclaimed and influential writers through a series of historical markers that recognize the importance of place in an author’s life while educating the public about the history and legacy of Mississippi writers. This statewide community improvement activity connects historical preservation, tourism and transportation. The cast aluminum markers, shaped like an open book inform travelers and highlight information about local authors including their birthplace, home, gravesite, museum, or literary locale. These markers will eventually span the entirety of the state from the Gulf Coast to the Hills. Mississippians such as Natasha Trethewey, Richard Wright, Eudora Welty, Walker Percy, Larry Brown, Jesmyn Ward, and many more will be honored with a Mississippi Writers Trail marker.
For more information visit arts.ms.gov.
The Mississippi Delta region, which is located in the northwest part of the state, is known for its rich soil and has been an important agricultural area for centuries.
In 1821, Hinds County was created as one of the original counties in the newly formed state of Mississippi. The county was named after Thomas Hinds, a prominent Mississippi pioneer and early political figure. The county seat, Jackson, was established shortly thereafter and quickly became a center of government, commerce, and industry. The presence of the Pearl River provided opportunities for transportation, further contributing to the growth and development of Hinds County.
During the antebellum period, Hinds County played a significant role in the cotton industry of the Deep South. The county's vast plantations relied heavily on enslaved labor, with African Americans making up a substantial portion of the population. This history of slavery and the agricultural economy would leave a lasting impact on the culture and demographics of the county for generations to come.
Following the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, Hinds County experienced periods of social and political turbulence. The county became a center of Civil Rights activism during the 20th century, with notable figures like Medgar Evers, a civil rights leader, making significant contributions to the movement. Today, Hinds County continues to be a vibrant and diverse community, with a blend of historical landmarks and modern developments that reflect its varied past.
Hinds County Timeline
This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Hinds County, Mississippi.
- 1821 - Hinds County is established as one of the original counties in Mississippi.
- 1832 - The city of Jackson becomes the county seat of Hinds County.
- 1863 - During the American Civil War, Hinds County is occupied by Union forces.
- 1875 - The Mississippi State Penitentiary, also known as Parchman Farm, is established in Hinds County.
- 1960s - Hinds County becomes a major center for the civil rights movement in Mississippi.
- 2010 - Hinds County celebrates its bicentennial anniversary.