The story of Mound Bayou, Mississippi is woven into the fabric of the Mid-South. Founded in 1887 by formerly enslaved people — led by Isaiah T. Montgomery and Benjamin T. Green — Mound Bayou became one of the nation’s most successful all-Black towns. Built on principles of self-determination, entrepreneurship and community leadership, it stood as a powerful example of what African Americans could achieve despite the barriers of the Jim Crow South.
Mound Bayou’s influence extended well beyond the Mississippi Delta. For generations, families, businesses, churches and educators moved between Mound Bayou and Memphis, creating cultural, economic and family ties that remain strong today. The town also played an important role during pivotal moments in Black history, including providing refuge and support during the Emmett Till murder trial.
Mound Bayou also played an important role in the development of civil rights leader Medgar Evers. Before becoming the NAACP’s Mississippi field secretary, Evers worked in Mound Bayou for the Magnolia Mutual Life Insurance Company under the mentorship of civil rights leader T.R.M. Howard. The town served as an important center of Black political and economic influence during a pivotal period in the Civil Rights Movement.
As conversations continue nationwide about how history is remembered and preserved, a new documentary entitled “Mound Bayou: The Most Remarkable Town in the South” offers Memphians an opportunity to explore a story that is both historic and deeply personal. The film examines the legacy of a community whose impact reaches far beyond its city limits and whose lessons about resilience, self-governance and economic empowerment remain relevant today.
The free screening will take place Wednesday, June 17, at 6 p.m. at the Malco Paradiso Theatre. A limited number of seats remain available for Tri-State Defender readers. RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeOwKjO-Vr3jo76SRwLjIM10RlUf_gcasG-6kTRZOquC-WgGw/viewform
The film’s producer Kahari Nash, known to many as “Boo Ray! King,” hopes Memphis audiences will recognize the historical and cultural relationship between Memphis and Mound Bayou, which was founded July 12, 1887 and incorporated in 1898.
“I hope the Memphis audience will get the connection shared by Memphis and Mound Bayou and understand the important role of Mound Bayou in our history,” Nash said.
The connection Nash is referring to is rooted in decades of shared history. Mound Bayou and Memphis have long been linked through family ties, education, business and migration patterns. Many Delta families maintained relationships in both communities, while Memphis often served as a commercial, cultural and transportation hub for residents of Mound Bayou and surrounding Delta towns. The documentary explores how those connections helped shape the broader story of Black life and advancement throughout the Mid-South.
Nash grew up in Mound Bayou, approximately 100 miles south of Memphis, and has deep personal ties to the story. Members of his family served in key leadership roles in the city. Several are featured in the documentary alongside other prominent figures connected to the town’s history.
One of them is Nash’s great-uncle, Ezell Anderson, a prominent businessman and civic leader who served as the town marshal for more than a decade. During the 1955 Emmett Till murder trial, Anderson provided armed security for Mamie Till-Mobley, Emmett Till’s mother, who stayed in Mound Bayou for her safety and traveled daily to nearby Sumner, Mississippi, where the proceedings were held.
Nash said preserving and sharing stories such as Mound Bayou’s is especially important at a time when efforts to eradicate Black history and education continue across the country.
“Historical preservation is very important,” he said. “If you look at the state of America today, they are trying to erase Black history. We have to tell our stories and not depend on someone else to tell our stories.”
Nash noted that the documentary also reflects the diverse coalition of people who helped advance civil rights causes throughout American history.
“It was not just Black people in the Civil Rights Movement,” he said. “There were white people and Jewish people. This is important to our stories.”
The documentary has already generated strong interest from audiences. A recent preview screening in Chicago drew a packed house and received an enthusiastic response. Nash said he hopes Memphis residents will come out to support the screening and demonstrate interest in seeing stories such as Mound Bayou’s reach broader audiences.
The project has been presented to major entertainment industry companies, including Disney, as filmmakers continue exploring opportunities to bring the story to a wider audience.
“I hope after seeing Mound Bayou, Memphis will use its voice to weigh in and let entertainment companies know this is something people want to see,” Nash said.
