Southern Miss Gulf Coast to Host Roundtable, Musical Presentation Celebrating Mississippi Delta

In celebrating the rich history and culture of the Mississippi Delta, The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast invites the community to events featuring a roundtable discussion and musical presentation. “From the Flatlands to the Coast: Bringing the Mississippi Delta to the Mississippi Gulf Coast” will be held Jan. 30-31 at the university's Gulf Park campus in Long Beach and the Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Center in Ocean Springs, respectively.

The roundtable discussion will be held Thursday, Jan. 30 from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. on the third floor of the library at the Southern Miss Gulf Park campus. The discussion will feature Dr. Douglas Bristol, associate professor of history at Southern Miss Gulf Coast; Dr. Luther Brown, director of the Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University; Kathleen Robbins, artist for the “Into the Flatland” photography exhibit; and C. Sade Turnipseed, host of “Delta Renaissance.”

Currently, Robbins' exhibit is on display on the library's third floor. During the discussion, the exhibit will serve as a visual platform for audience members to connect to the realities of the Mississippi Delta. Panelists will discuss how the Mississippi Delta has influenced the state and southern United States through relationships to land, family, memory and shared history.

On Friday, Jan. 31, a Mississippi Delta Blues musical presentation will be given by Robert Terrell and Leo ‘Bud' Welch. The event will be held from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at the Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Center, located at 1600 Government St. in Ocean Springs. The event will feature complimentary catfish and hushpuppies.

“From the Flatlands to the Coast: Bringing the Mississippi Delta to the Mississippi Gulf Coast” is sponsored by the Mississippi Humanities Council, Gandy Cultural Center, Center for the Study of the Gulf South, the Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Center, Desporte & Sons Seafood Market and Deli, and the Gulfport Coca-Cola Bottling Company.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.usm.edu/gulfcoast/flatlands contact Shugana Williams at 228.214.3423 or krcFREEMississippi.