NEWS/UPDATES



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 The 4^th Annual Sweat Equity Investment in the Cotton Kingdom Symposium at MVSU Reaches New Heights

Indianola, MS (October 26, 2015)—Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) in collaborative partnership with Khafre, Inc forge ahead once again to organize America’s premier interdisciplinary meeting on the Cotton Kingdom, sharecropping and the cultural significance of Cotton Pickers to the success of the American economy. The 4^th Annual Sweat Equity Investment in the Cotton Kingdom Symposium will be held Thursday November 12, from 9:00 – 3:00pm, in the MVSU Social Sciences Auditorium, located at 14000 HWY 82, West Itta Bena, MS. This year’s theme: “Cotton Sacks and Freedom Quilt Narratives” substantiates the viability of the sweat equity investment made through labor and cultural contributions by Cotton Pickers and other Plantation Workers. The following evening, Friday November 13, the “Cotton Pickers Ball” shall be held at 7:00pm, in da’ House of Khafre, located at 300 Main Street, Indianola. All are encouraged to attend both events in costume attire worn in the cotton fields, such as “overalls and straw hats, etc.”

The 1st Annual Historical Narrative Competition enhances this year’s Symposium. Mississippi Delta high school seniors and MVSU students will compete for a trophy and gift card provided by Khafre, Inc and Lost Pizza, Company. The rules are simple: address this year’s theme; constructed on presentation board; use any material: paper, cloth, photos, etc.; and include a synopsis describing the quilt’s narrative. All projects must be delivered to the MVSU Social Sciences office “T” by 5:00pm November 5^th, (or call organizers to arrange for pick up). The participants must also attend the Symposium to present their quilt narratives about “Freedom.”

Confirmed participants include: Senator David L. Jordan, as keynote speaker; Dr. J. Janice Coleman, Professor of English, Alcorn; retired teacher and cotton picker Mr. Monroe Golden; Dr Elizabeth Evans, Asst. Professor, Public Policy, MVSU; Dr Alpha Diarra, National Cotton Spokesman of Mali, West Africa. Dr. Roy Hudson, Former MVSU President; Mr. Sterling Plumpp, MVSU Visiting Professor/Poet; Ms. Bettye Farmer, MVSU Professor of English; Tangela Ray, Public History Specialist, and others.

 The MVSU Sweat Equity Singers lead by Dr John Weiss will perform, and Greenwood native now Spelman College student Brandice Brown along with MVSU students Lyric and Morgan Johnson perform neo-soul and classical gospel music at the Symposium and Ball. Field hollers will be the ambient sounds heard throughout all events. Local storyteller Helen Sims will pay tribute to “the Spirit of Mama Lula.” Hollandale folk artist Dorothy Hoskins will showcase recent multi-media work on Cotton Pickin’ and Sharecropping in the American South. Maya Angelou, B.B. King former Honorary Chairs of Khafre, Inc, will be acknowledged during the American Ancestral Celebration, with a pouring of libation beginning at 6:30pm, at da’ House of Khafre. Immediately following the Ancestral Celebration we will begin the good-old-fashion “Cotton Pickers Ball.” This is a “black-tie” affair, however, everyone is strongly encouraged to wear overalls, period costumes, or other “cotton pickin’ attire.” Betty’s Place will provide an elaborate selection of gourmet appetizers and “field food;” and a silent auction of art will be on display in support of the Cotton Pickers of America Monument and Sharecroppers Interpretive Center project.

Dr. William B. Bynum, Jr. will be on hand to present the official welcome; and, Dr. Constance Bland, V.P. of Academic Affairs will present the official closing remarks to an expected audience of 500+ faculty members, students, high school seniors, and community members from the Delta.

Mississippi Valley State University, as a Carnegie Classified Master's University provides comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs in education, the arts and sciences, and professional studies. The University is driven by its commitment to excellence in teaching, learning, service, and research--a commitment resulting in a learner-centered environment that prepares critical thinkers, exceptional communicators, and service-oriented, engaged, and productive citizens. MVSU is fundamentally committed to positively affecting the quality of life and creating extraordinary educational opportunities for the Mississippi Delta and beyond. 

KHAFRE, Inc. is a not for profit 501(c)(3) organization. To realize its’ critically important and intentionally bold vision, KHAFRE, Inc. will build monuments and memorials; offer educational programs, and health and history workshops. Khafre, Inc. also provides resources to the formal and informal educators in the Delta, engages in community outreach, and operates as a repository and distributor of information on the beauty and talent of and within the Mississippi Delta, all for the overarching purpose of improving the quality of life of her sons and daughters. 

The partnership formed between MVSU and Khafre, Inc validates the notion that a tribute and monument to sharecroppers and cotton pickers are not just significant, but long over due. Honoring the legacy of  “grandmamma-nem” in a university setting gives artistic and academic license to the pursuit of gaining more scholarship and international acceptance, of the contributions and sweat equity made by the people who picked cotton throughout the American South,” said Professor C.Sade Turnipseed, Executive Director of Khafre, Inc. As part of Khafre, Inc’s historic preservation efforts, a permanent marker will be placed on the MVSU campus in honor of cotton pickers from the Mississippi Delta, and those who worked the repurposed cotton plantation for higher learning, MVSU.

The Symposium is free admission. Advance Cotton Ball tickets are available at da’ House of Khafre. Student tickets ($5 with picture student ID, only) will be available at the door. Cotton quilts and corporate sponsors are welcomed.

Let us make history together!

… It is time!

For more information, please call:

662.347.8198

www.khafre.org ~ www.mvsu.edu

###



CALL FOR PARTICIPATION

The 4^th Annual

Cotton Kingdom / Sweat Equity Symposium and Cotton Pickers Ball

Mississippi Valley State University • Itta Bena, Mississippi ~ and~ da’ House of Khafre • Indianola, MS

Abstracts/proposals • Deadline: October 9, 2015

Conference website: www.khafre.org/news

~ 662.347.8198~

Plan now to join Khafre, Inc in Itta Bena, MS at Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU), for the fourth annual “Cotton Kingdom / Sweat Equity Symposium” on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015. Khafre, Inc is all about building monumental programs that allow reflection, reconnection, and renewal. This year’s theme: “Cotton Sacks and Freedom Quilt Narratives” will stimulate a day of discussion about historic preservation, leading-edge research, innovative practices, and foundational values. The agency and resistance of these narratives will also reflect on the subtle and continuing impact of cotton on life in the Delta and throughout the South. The one-day event concludes with a good old fashion “black-tie” (or period-piece costume) “Cotton-Pickers’ Ball and Ancestral Celebration” at da’ House of Khafre located at 300 Main St. Indianola, MS.  

Khafre, Inc in conjunction with Mississippi Valley State University continues to organize the USA’s premier interdisciplinary professional meeting on Mississippi Delta cotton, sharecropping, and its cultural significance in America and throughout the world. The three overlapping designations lend to a broad array of topics, both “cultural” and “economic:”

• National parks at all levels: federal, state/provincial, county, and city
• Culture; the visual and performing arts, including music, dance, tapestry, sculpture and paintings, burial sites, cotton fields, shotgun homes and juke joints, private land-plantations, prison farms/industrial complexes
• Want to share your work, your ideas, and your ideals about the Southern narrative with the larger academic and cultural communities? The Cotton Kingdom Symposium is the place to do it. We invite abstracts and proposals from people who want to:
• present a paper/poster/ poem/song/dance/Tribute to the Ancestors, or an exhibit
• conduct an inter-generational interview/exchange/discussion (w/ grand-mama-nem, or former cotton pickers), or organize a workshop.

This wide variety of options makes for an exciting, informative and uniquely diverse symposium. To submit your idea(s), go to: www.khafreinc.org and follow the links. The deadline is Friday, October 9, 2015.

Plan to join us in the Mississippi Delta!

We look forward to welcoming you to the place where America’s Root Music and Culture was born!

For More Information, Please Contact:

C.Sade Turnipseed, Khafre, Inc

sade@khafreinc.org ~ 662.347.8198

Katherine Green, MVSU

klgreen@mvsu.edu



SAVING OURSELVES: By Writers of the 21st Century, Vol I –Phase I

NOW  AVAILABLE  in PAPERBACK!
_________________________

JULY 2015 - How do healthy, concerned, and enlightened communities respond to the call of children, determined to save themselves? We listen, we read and we support them!

During the respite moments of summer 2002, this urgent—though virtual—call to the world went out, by a former Los Angeles Unified School District English teacher. Her message challenged all concerned adults to respond through literature, to the intolerable and unthinkable conditions our children face in communities throughout America. Of the thousands who responded, the most remarkable were the reverberating voices of the children. The children's advice was to adults, and each other. With words of encouragement and inspired thought, their amazing insight and wisdom is unparalleled.

SAVING OURSELVES: By Writers of the 21st Century, Vol I –Phase I is an anthology entitled, “From the Mouths of Babes.” With a riveting foreword by internationally acclaimed economist and syndicated columnist, Dr. Julianne Malveaux; and, introduction by award-winning poet Chinaka Hodge the volume offers a balanced view of what our children face day-to-day, on the streets of America. All writings were done in introspective workshops held in the heart of “urban and rural America:” Detroit, MI; Palo Alto, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Northridge, CA; Inglewood, CA; Oakland, CA; Washington, DC; Greenwood, Louisville and Ackerman, MS., and captures a true-to-life-and-death remedies for a future of hope and promise for children by children.

Structured into three phases, Volume I is a compilation of 200 poems, proverbs and essays delineated by symbols of the Adinkra system. Over two hundred years ago, the Akan Nation (West Africa) established the Adinkra Symbols to visually communicate a system of living for African people to observe and learn. Amazingly, just as with other inspired and spiritual writings, drawings, etc., the symbols are beautiful design concepts with meanings still relevant today.

PHASE I – From The Mouths of Babes--These writings reflect the true voices of our
children from the “ghetto,” “lower/under class,” “slum,” “war zones of the inner cities,” as well as, the beautiful and the not so beautiful neighborhoods throughout America. They bring clarity and resolve to the question, “What do we (the village) have to do to show support and love for each other and ultimately save ourselves and one another?” The experiences of today’s youth culture demonstrate a fundamental disconnect, to most people of previous generations. The young writers selected for this publication masterfully describe the challenge in dealing with today’s world. They discuss their joys and register their truth and hopes for the future. These submissions are primarily student's work of instructors Farika Berhane and C.Sade Turnipseed.

PLEASE PLACE YOUR ORDER TODAY:

For more information, or interviews please contact REDCLAY Public Relations at 662.347.8198; redclaypresents@aol.com; on this website look for YPN

Soon to be released are:

PHASE II – Mother Wit and the Original Mother Wisdom—This segment is most significant. Because, it offers tribute to the “original” mother and her instinctual knowing of the spiritual paths that her children (all children) must take to find their way out of harm's way. Revealed, in this collection of writings are a wonderful array of short stories, poems and proverbs that present a familial insight born by the great liberator of liberators, Harriet Tubman!

PHASE III – VOICES, In The Whirlwind—This collection gives readers the opportunity to hear the voices, in the whirlwind...the men, the women (non-parents), the entire village. The expressions are uniquely poetic, scholarly and insightful. The narratives are presented in: short stories, essays, quotations, poems, drawings and deeply held inner reflections ... all answering the question, “What are we going to do NOW, to save our children and ourselves?”

For advanced & reserved copies of :

VOL I –PHASE II

VOL I –PHASE III

please ORDER NOW on this website look for YPN.

So, how do we the healthy ones respond to the call … with literary “hugs of love.” This is done by requesting the title, at your local and online bookstores. Please cite the following information in placing your orders: SAVING OURSELVES: By Writers of the 21st Century.

ISBN 978-0-9795370-7-3

E-book $15.00

ISBN # 978-0-9795370-6-6

Paperback-$25.00

ISBN # 978-0-9795370-5-9

Hardcover-$55.00

SAVING OURSELVES ... By Writers of the 21st Century is an affiliate of Young Publishers Network (YPN) and Khafre, Inc a 501(c)(3) organization working in the Mississippi Delta to improve the welfare and healthy living environments of children in America and around the world.

###

Thank You Mr. King … the King of the Blues

By C. Sade Turnipseed

In so many ways, I honor and respect the amazing Mr. Riley “BB” King. Born in a cabin on a cotton plantation outside Berclair, Mississippi in 1925, his entire life, much like the lives of so many others from the Mississippi Delta, was spent in service to others. Unfortunately, for most of his contemporaries (colleagues, family of friends) they never received the accolades, appreciation, or respect for their life-long work as cotton-pickers in the American South. In an effort to do something to heal the pain of neglect, Mr. BB King joined the campaign to gather cotton-related stories/narratives, artifacts, and archival material for the establishment of a monument in tribute to the people he knew best.

Our theory is that the perceptions of sharecropping, tenant farming, etc. will change in significant ways when the memories of these hard-working people are gathered and respectfully shared in the manner they deserve. Mr. King along with Dr Maya Angelou, Ed Dwight, Rev. David Matthews, MS Congressman Bennie Thompson, MS Senator Thad Cochran, National Parks Director Dr Jon Jarvis, Mr. Theodore Turnipseed, Sr., and millions of others understand the importance of sharing, and erecting a statue and National Park dedicated to the countless field workers of the American South. Though unrecognized and unappreciated, these people worked from sun up to sun down tilling, planting, chopping, picking and spinning cotton, in the blazing hot sun … This and many other horrifying conditions of the historic Mississippi Delta evoked the music we call “the Blues.”

On May 21, 2014, during the last year of his life Mr. B.B. King accepted our call to become the “Honorary Chair” of Khafre, Inc, a Mississippi-based 501(3) not-for-profit organization. In so doing, replacing the late Dr. Maya Angelou as the Honorary Chair of the Cotton Pickers of America and the Sharecroppers Interpretive Center project. The plan is to build a thirty-foot high monument on twenty acres of cotton land along Highway 61, just outside the historic Black town Mound Bayou, MS. This is a historically rare opportunity to transform many lives in the Delta and engage conversations about race and social inequities in America. Our goal is to honor the legacy of the Cotton Pickers and to say thank you for making blues, like cotton, a Global Empire.

“Blues… like cotton connected the Delta to the whole world”

On behalf of Khafre, Inc and all the Cotton Pickers of America …

I thank you Sir.

www.cottonpickers.us

Professor C. Sade Turnipseed is the Executive Director of Khafre, Inc and teaches American History at Mississippi Valley State University, in Itta Bena, the birthplace of Mr. BB King. For more information about the Cotton Pickers of America Monument project, please contact her at: 662.347.8198, or sade@khafreinc.org, ~  www.khafreinc.org.

~~~~~~<<<>>>~~~~~~

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION

The 4^th Annual

Cotton Kingdom / Sweat Equity Symposium and Cotton Pickers Ball

Mississippi Valley State University • Itta Bena, Mississippi ~ and~ da’ House of Khafre • Indianola, MS

Abstracts/proposals • Deadline: October 9, 2015

Conference website: www.khafreinc.org

~ 662.347.8198~

Plan now to join Khafre, Inc in Itta Bena, MS at Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU), for the fourth annual “Cotton Kingdom / Sweat Equity Symposium” on FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015. Khafre, Inc is all about building monumental programs that allow reflection, reconnection, and renewal. This year’s theme: “Cotton Sacks and Freedom Quilts Narratives” will stimulate a day of discussion about historic preservation, leading-edge research, innovative practices, and foundational values. The agency and resistance of these narratives will also reflect on the subtle and continuing impact of cotton on life in the Delta and throughout the South. The one-day event concludes with a good old fashion “black-tie” (or period-piece costume) “Cotton-Pickers’ Ball and Ancestral Celebration” at da’ House of Khafre located at 300 Main St. Indianola, MS.  

Khafre, Inc in conjunction with Mississippi Valley State University continues to organize the USA’s premier interdisciplinary professional meeting on Mississippi Delta cotton, sharecropping, and its cultural significance in America and throughout the world. The three overlapping designations lend to a broad array of topics, both “cultural” and “economic:”

• National parks at all levels: federal, state/provincial, county, and city
• Culture; the visual and performing arts, including music, dance, tapestry, sculpture and paintings, burial sites, cotton fields, shotgun homes and juke joints, private land-plantations, prison farms/industrial complexes
• Want to share your work, your ideas, and your ideals about the Southern narrative with the larger academic and cultural communities? The Cotton Kingdom Symposium is the place to do it. We invite abstracts and proposals from people who want to:
• present a paper/poster/ poem/song/dance/Tribute to the Ancestors, or an exhibit
• conduct an inter-generational interview/exchange/discussion (w/ grand-mama-nem, or former cotton pickers), or organize a workshop.

This wide variety of options makes for an exciting, informative and uniquely diverse symposium. To submit your idea(s), go to: www.khafreinc.org and follow the links. The deadline is Friday, October 9, 2015.

Plan to join us in the Mississippi Delta!

We look forward to welcoming you to the place where America’s Root Music and Culture was born!

For More Information, Please Contact:

C.Sade Turnipseed, Khafre, Inc

sade@khafreinc.org ~ 662.347.8198

~~~~~~<<<>>>~~~~~~

THE BUILDING OF A NATIONAL PARK IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA:

Cotton Pickers Monument Sharecroppers Interpretive Center and

Cotton Kingdom Trail

A monument that pays homage to Cotton Pickers and/or Sharecroppers does not currently exist in the United States of America, nor any place else in the world. No one has ever “officially” said “thank you” to the people in the American South, who literally tilled the way to the economic greatness for many countries and regions around the world. Simple words of gratitude and respect do wonders to restore dignity in the Deep South and to the legacy of those who made “cotton king.” Khafre, Inc a Mississippi Delta-based 501 (c) 3 presents a creative and inspired way to ignite hope, and encouragement for these people and reignite the economic outlook for generations to come.

Cotton pickers were hard-working people of integrity, pride and vision with an unselfish love for future generations. Somewhere along the way the respect and honor for their hard-earned sweat-equity investment in the wealth of others was lost and buried in the bloodstained, tear-soaked soils of the American South. The Cotton Pickers of America Monument, Sharecroppers Interpretive Center, Cotton Kingdom Trail and National Park Movement are projects that not only say “thank you” to these people, but also offers a significant token of appreciation as return on their investments.

The Mississippi Delta is one of the regions in America that experiences the worst outcomes in every statistical measure, in regards to: health, education and general well being. Baby steps will not get us where we need to be in the Delta. Something “monumental,” needs to happen…like a National Park named the “Cotton Pickers of America Monument and Sharecroppers Interpretive Center” along the Blues Highway 61. Once the Monument is installed, the organizers’ plan is to turn it over to the federal government for the protection and honor that only this country can provide. It shall serve as a permanent reminder and ever-present sign of respect for those whose hope for a brighter day wore thin, while working from kin to kain’t (can’t see in the morning to can’t see at night).

The world must be reminded of the work ethic held by the people in the South…in most instances it was an honorable legacy … the tragedy is they were never properly compensated, nor thanked. This Monument and Interpretive site designs are intentional in depicting dignity of the people whose entire lives were spent as “cotton-picking sharecroppers,” “day laborers” and “tenant farmers;” thus, making cotton “king” in the Delta, New York and Europe, which became the Global Cotton Empire for nearly two hundred years.

For information on Khafre, Inc and how to reignite the economic outlook for generations to come, please join the movement and support the Cotton Pickers Monument and National Park campaign contact:

KHAFRE, INC, C. Sade Turnipseed, Executive Director, sade@khafreinc.org, 662.347.8198



August 6, 2014

Khafre, Inc is proud to announce that one of America’s true treasures, Mr. B.B. King, (aka: The King of the Blues) will join the effort to build a National Monument in the Mississippi Delta. He will replace the late, great Dr. Maya Angelou as the Honorary Chairperson of the Board of Directors. Mr. King understands, as do all members of the Khafre, Inc family, that a healing will come through recognition and a true recounting of the history of cotton and its impact in the South.

In September, 2009, Khafre, Inc, based in Indianola, Mississippi, embarked upon a journey designed to thank the sons and daughters of the South who helped, albeit it without accolades, fanfare, or even recognition, build the cotton empire that fueled the American economy for nearly two centuries. The impetus for the project: Cotton Pickers of America and Sharecroppers Interpretative Center (hereafter referred to as the Cotton Pickers Monument Complex) is the need to thank those who toiled in the Delta soil for generations without the pay, appreciation, or the dignity they deserved. The Cotton Pickers Monument Complex would not only help heal wounds that have festered for decades, but would also help to empower the generations of family members who have been negatively impacted by this unfortunate era in American history. By embracing the shared history of many races and individuals from different social classes, it is Khafre, Inc’s sincerest hope and deeply held conviction that this monument/educational center will help bridge deep racial divisions and distrust through education, outreach and recognition of the strength of the human soul. This is truly a historic endeavor that has the rare opportunity of actually transforming lives, communities, and the conversations about race in America and throughout the world.           

These deeply held convictions of education and empowerment are keys to improving the quality of life for all within the Delta. They have helped to catapult Khafre into numerous projects, which are all connected to the vision and mission of this value-driven and movement-oriented organization that is designed to provide historical, health related, and cultural education and outreach to the communities of the Mississippi Delta. Khafre has already helped young people successfully publish literature, prepare for careers in the television and radio broadcast industry, produce staged events and engage in healthy behaviors through diet and exercise, all with the assistance of grant dollars and strategic partnerships.

The crowning work of Khafre remains the Cotton Pickers Monument Complex, a dream, which is coming closer to fruition, day by day, because of the unprecedented support of Mr. Ed Dwight, one of the great sculptors of our time, and Mr. Clifton Taulbert, our willing National Spokesman. We have also received Congressional acknowledgment and endorsement from United States Congressmen, Bennie Thompson and Danny Davis, official endorsements from United States Senators, Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker, and expressed support from Dr John Jarvis, National Parks Director. The scholarly guidance of Drs. Carroll Van West and Rebecca Conard from Middle Tennessee State University’s History Department, along with the ongoing partnership with Mississippi Valley State University, has proven a significant benefit to our overall project. We are now ready to raise the $26 million dollars to make the Cotton Pickers Monument complex a reality. Will you join in and help us?

We ask you to be a part of this historical moment by contributing to this worthy cause. Information on how to give is included on our website www.khafreinc.org; www.cottonpickers.us and should you have any questions about this or any of the other projects listed, please feel free to contact either one of the core board members, or me. We look forward to hearing from you and to welcoming your partnership in the building of this long overdue and much needed monument.

It is time!

Most sincerely,

C. Sade Turnipseed,

Founder/Executive Director

~~~

MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT

For Immediate Release—Summer 2014

Indianola, MS--MVSU History Professor and Delta Renaissance (TV show) Host, C.Sade Turnipseed is leading the efforts of the Indianola-based non-profit organization Khafre, Inc to gather support and input from people with roots in the Mississippi Delta, particularly Bolivar County and Mound Bayou. The goal is to obtain as much first-hand information as possible relating to the development of America’s Cotton Kingdom (aka the Delta).

In the aftermaths of completing the academic study for a Doctorate in Public History at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), Professor C. Sade Turnipseed continues her research with this nation-wide [international] search and monumental challenge to gather cotton-related stories/narratives, artifacts, and archival material that are believed to be housed by many elderly people throughout the country. Turnipseed’s theory that perceptions of sharecropping, tenant farming, etc, will be altered in ways that are beneficial to the legacy of the American South when the memory of elders are shared. It is in effect a community-driven historical preservation movement!

Cotton Memories Sessions (one-on-one interviews) will be held through the summer 2014, on a weekly basis beginning May 28^th and 29^th, at two (2) locations, in the Mississippi Delta:

• da’ House of Khafre, 300 Main Street Indianola, MS—Wednesdays from noon-4:00pm
• Mound Bayou City Hall, Mound Bayou, MS—Thursdays 3-6pm

 In addition, the Khafre, Inc team is working in conjunction with MVSU to host the 3^rd annual Sweat Equity Investment in the Cotton Kingdom Symposium, scheduled to take place on the University’s campus and da’ House of Khafre at its new location in Indianola, MS this Fall. A “Call for Papers and Presentations” is currently in circulation. Please check out their website, www.khafreinc.org, for more details.

Ultimately the Khafre, Inc team will develop a $26 million Cotton Pickers Memorial site, Cotton Pickers of America Monument and Sharecroppers Interpretive Center in Bolivar County just outside of Mound Bayou. The monument site is envisioned to become a National Park; and thereby “the place” for memory and community sharing in the Mississippi Delta, for educational, economic development, and international tourism purposes. This historical effort is in conjunction with the work of Denver-based monument developer Ed Dwight, Congressman Bennie Thompson, author/historian Clifton Taulbert, Middle Tennessee State University’s Center for Historic Preservation, in Murfreesboro TN, and a host of others that includes B.B. King and former honorary chair Dr Maya Angelou who are determined to improve the legacy and social-economic status of Mississippi Delta residents. The commitment is to those who were once cotton pickers; and, by sharing the unique wisdom and unselfish vision of those who tilled, planted, chopped, picked, and spun cotton monumental changes can happen once again in the Mississippi Delta.

KHAFRE Inc is not for profit 501c3 organization that was officially incorporated in September of 2009, by the Mississippi Secretary of State. The purpose of the organization is to provide educational, lifestyle and cultural programs, build monuments and memorials to honor, celebrate, and recognize the rich and complex history of the Mississippi Delta and to positively impact the quality of life of those living in the Delta, especially the disproportionately poor African American community. Understanding that this organization desires to create great change that is far beyond the reach of one organization, we endeavor to be a networking hub that works with and connects non-profit organizations, educational institutions, legislators, and individuals of consciousness for the purpose of establishing a social movement that fundamentally transforms the Delta and ushers in a renaissance and renewal of the human spirit.

To set up an interview or a special taping session on the Delta Renaissance talk show, please contact C.Sade Turnipseed by email at deltarenaissance@aol.com or sade@khafreinc.org; or by telephone at 662.347.8198. Anyone with information and/or access to material they believe will be useful to the project, or with resources that they would like to contribute, please contact Khafre, Inc at info@khafreinc.org, or visit them online at www.khafreinc.org.

###

Wednesday, May 14
Noon-1 p.m.
William F. Winter Archives and History Building

C. Sade Turnipseed, founder of Khafre, Inc., presents "The Legacy of the Cotton Pickers of the South."

"A monument that pays homage to cotton pickers and sharecroppers does not exist in the United States. There is no documented official acknowledgment of the people who tilled the path to America’s greatness. Somewhere along the way buried in the tear-soaked soils of the American South, the respect and honor for their hard-earned investment was lost. The Cotton Pickers of America Monument, Sharecroppers Interpretive Center, and Cotton Kingdom Trail make the case for building a National Park that offers a small token of appreciation for their tireless uncompensated work. Khafre, Inc., leads the effort to honor the people who built the great “Cotton Kingdom” of the Mississippi Delta."  C. Sade Turnipseed

C. Sade Turnipseed is the founder of Khafre, Inc., which has developed the Cotton Pickers of America Monument, the Sharecroppers Interpretive Center, and the Cotton Kingdom Historical Trail, among many other projects. She is the former director of education and community outreach for the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola and the former cultural arts director for the Mississippi Action for Community Education--MACE (producers of the MS Delta Blues and Heritage Festival) in Greenville. Turnipseed is the recipient of several community service and arts advocacy awards, and she was an independent candidate for mayor of the city of Indianola in 2013. For the past eight years Turnipseed was the host of “Delta Renaissance,” a cultural arts talk show focusing on the arts, education, and political issues in the Mississippi Delta.

More information: 601-576-6998 or mdah.state.ms.us

UPCOMING PROGRAMS:
Wednesday, May 21: MDAH volunteer staff coordinator Elizabeth Coleman presents "Discover the Hidden Treasure of MDAH: the Volunteers!" Winter Building.
Wednesday, May 28: Historian Aram Goudsouzian discusses his new book, "Down to the Crossroads: Civil Rights, Black Power, and the Meredith March Against Fear." Winter Building.
Wednesday, June 4: Author John Hailman will talk about his book "From Midnight to Guntown: True Crime Stories from a Federal Prosecutor in Mississippi." Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing by the author. Old Capitol Museum.
Wednesday, June 11: Father Paul Canonici will discuss his new book, "Delta Italians, Volume II." Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing by the author. Winter Building
Wednesday, June 18: Former Secretary of State Dick Molpus talks about his experience during the Philadelphia civil rights murders of 1964. Old Capitol Museum.
Wednesday, June 25: Polly Dement will discuss her new book, "Mississippi Entrepreneurs." Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing by the author. Winter Building.
Wednesday, July 2: Filmmaker Wilma Mosley-Clopton will show and discuss her new film, "Did Johnny Come Marching Home?" about people of African descent who fought to free themselves in the Civil War. Winter Building.
Wednesday, July 9: Historian Dennis Mitchell will discuss and sign copies of his new book, "A New History of Mississippi." Copies will be available for purchase and signing by the author. Old Capitol Museum.
Wednesday, July 23: Diane Williams talks about her new book, “Mississippi Folk and the Tales They Tell: Myths, Legends, and Bald-Faced Lies.” Copies will be available for purchase and signing by the author. Winter Building.
Wednesday, August 6: Vincent Venturini presents "General William Raphael Miles: Slavery, Civil War and Catholic Evangelical Activities among African Americans in Holmes County." Winter Building.
Wednesday, August 20: Author Stephen Enzweiler discusses his book, "Oxford in the Civil War." Copies will be available for purchase and signing by the author. Old Capitol Museum.
Wednesday, September 3: Douglas Richardson will present "The Clinton Riot of 1875." Winter Building.
Wednesday, September 17: Old Capitol Museum historian Michael Stoll will present "Monuments to Democracy: The 50 State Capitols" Old Capitol Museum.
Wednesday, September 25: Author Robert Blade will talk about his book, "Tupelo Man," a biography of George McLean. Copies will be available for purchase and signing by the author. Winter Building.
Wednesday, October 29: Old Capitol Museum staff present a preview of the upcoming program "Present Meets Past." Old Capitol Museum.
--
Chrissy Wilson Coordinator, History Is Lunch Mississippi Department of Archives and History

 da’ House of Khafre
Presents

Soul Diva
LACEE

Live at da’ House
105 Main Street
Historic Downtown Indianola, MS

FRIDAY, February 21, 2014
Showtime 10pm
$10 before 10pm
$12 thereafter

Food Available while it last…so get there early!!!
We gon’ party…so don’t miss the fun!!!

For more information or reservations contact:
Robert at 630.935.0038
Or
Sade at 662 347-8198

GROWN FOLK DON’T GO TO da CLUB THEY COME TO da HOUSE!!!
deltarenaissance@aol.com

 My very first cover!!!!

Look out world you are looking at the person that's about to make history, as the first African American Woman Mayor of Indianola, MS!!!!!

~~~

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

By C. Sade Turnipseed, MS/MBA/PhD (abd)

November 14, 2013

While I share the sentiments of the Enterprise Tocsin editor Charlie Smith’s closing remarks in the November 14^th editorial, where he quoted the New York Times op-ed, “…relationships can trump race in small towns.” I do take issue, however, with remarks in the opening paragraph that states, “the December general election is an ‘almost’ assured victory [for the incumbent mayor].” I am “almost” offended by this prediction.

Smith, in a quote of his own while referencing the progress in race relations stated, “That’s good to see and a hopeful sign for the future.”  Indeed. I whole-heartedly agree with the editor that the African American community has proven to the world an uncanny, though unreciprocated, ability to be forgiving of past deeds of injustice, brutality and cruelty at the voting polls, and socially in their community service groups, churches and everyday lives. This point should not be lost on the fact that many of those injustices happened here, in Indianola, Mississippi, to some amazingly strong and resilient individuals like Fannie Lou Hamer and all those who came before her. For their ability to forgive, I applaud them. But, I can’t help but wonder why the White community isn’t reciprocating and showing the same confidence and trust in racial relations?

As Smith indicates, the incumbent received “between 32 and 37% of the votes in the three wards with large Black majorities, despite going up against two black opponents, with strong followings. That’s impressive for a white candidate in a city and region with a history of racially divided politics.” I agree. When we examine the voter polls in the wards that are predominately African American, reflected is a general evenness for all candidates, be they Black or White. The same, however, cannot be said about the two wards that reflect the primarily White community. I submit to you the following:

In wards I, and II, which are the two wards with the largest white population of voters, we see results that reflect an uncompromising resistance to acceptance and change. With an overall total of 952 votes cast: 732 went to the White candidate and 220 for the two Blacks, combined)…check that! Just what does this mean?

Please, help me to understand. To whom was the editor referencing in his closing remarks? Who are the ones that are being held accountable for building relationships? Surely, it cannot be left up to one segment of the community, and not the other.

I truly wish Smith had stressed this very critical point, instead of throwing shade on the outcome of a campaign I have yet to wage. And for the record, as a citizen, it is my right to be afforded the opportunity to run a fair and unbiased race for mayor, without subtle suggestions that it is a waste of my time, as inferred in his editorial. But, then again maybe he knows more than I about how citizens of wards I and II will ultimately vote. I certainly hope not. After all, I chose to live in Indianola, Mississippi because of its promise of social “harmony” and the proclaimed efforts to heal the racial divide and blatant inequities.

But, I am convinced that the African American members of this community do want harmony and in an “almost” desperate way need to heal.  To the extent that they are willing to trust the promise that our mayor will oversee, in an “almost” paternalistic way, their well being I find interesting. And to also trust that the leaders of this community will look out for their best interest, politically, economically and socially. Unfortunately, I find this to be “almost” delusional. After all we live in a community that is 84% African American with a poverty rate that is fast approaching 40% and a public school system that is in deplorable condition, both physically and academically, even under the watchful eye of the government, yet there is no outrage…from either the White side, or the Black side of town. To what is this attributed? Probably just bad luck, huh? Or, perhaps it is because folks have grown accustomed to the unevenness and the blatant historical inequities in Indianola…does one just grow accustomed to these things…I pray, I never will.

Regarding the “professionalism” the editor alluded to in referencing the incumbent’s successful campaign, he mentioned it was due in large measure to the undisclosed proceeds, which may or may not have been raised by “supporters.” I find it interesting that the he was so impressed by the willingness of people with money to spend a relatively small portion of their wealth to purchase power and influence, in their political campaigns.

In my own defense, I believe, I will be a great mayor for Indianola because I truly love what I see as potential for “real” racial harmony in this community, particularly as far as the children and the elderly are concerned. That has been the focus of my work, since moving to Mississippi nearly ten years ago. And, I have never believed it was necessary to wait until political season to demonstrate my commitment to the people in my community. If, by chance I am truly embraced by all members of all wards of this city, I believe people will witness an amazing transformation in a relatively short period of time. It’s “almost” like magic…I predict things will begin to unfold in a substantive way like the neighborhoods will brighten, crime decreases and the impoverished mindset disappears. This is due to the fact that, we are who we are, a very creative people. And I am passionate enough to find the tools to help remedy the concerns that create stagnation and distrust. Please remember, we are a people who come from a very long tradition of women who made a way out of no way.

My overall ambition and hope for this city is to develop a strategic plan that enables a steady stream of culturally enriched projects that insures economic development for the future growth and safety in this city. Youth empowerment, I see as paramount. So programs that not only engage everyone, but present real opportunities for career enhancements and social activities are critical. Granted, the editor of this paper is new to this community, so he doesn’t know about “The most ambitious youth program this city has ever seen,” (e.g., The Harmonica Parade, Fannie Lou Hamer Project and many other programs at da’ House of Khafre and the B.B. King Museum that I visualized and administered) Thanks Carver Randle, Sr for that wonderful quote. But I forgive the editor. I just wish he read my bio, or googled me, before publishing doubts about my abilities for success. For the past three years, I have been sitting relatively quietly completing the doctorate in history. Now, I am ready to shake up this town with some bold ideas and ever increasing standards for excellence. Though I am extremely proud of my previous work here in the Delta. I look forward to being a significant force in this community, by helping the White community too recognize the benefits of building relationships that they can trust in leadership positions. I intend to do that in the near future as Mayor…now, that’s what I call “professionalism!”

###

HOT OFF THE PRESSES!!!!

DECISION 2013

Dear Family & Friends,

"It takes Heart, Soul and a lot of LOVE...to Move the Delta Forward"

WE all have a personal stake in what happens over the next few years in Indianola.What concerns me most is the 36.2% + poverty rate in our city. I care equally as much about the lack of cultural enrichment and educational activities for YOUTH in the Mississippi Delta.

THEREFORE, I propose WE do the following:

Develop a comprehensive Strategic Plan that attracts a major theme park to Sunflower County.  By doing so we will develop incentives and opportunities for BETTER public schools, public education, entrepreneurship, jobs, healthier lifestyles, racial harmony / equality; and displace economic disparity, crime, and the impoverished mindset prevalent in Indianola. We MUST work together to improve our community—by encouraging EVERYONE to clean on our streets, bayou, parks, etc.

 We have some huge unmet challenges here in Indianola, and how YOU decide to vote On December 10, 2013, is vital to our success. I have the HEART, SOUL and LOVE to fight for YOU and the things WE believe in, and if I can count on YOU, too -- well, that's when WE get things done…in Indianola, Mississippi. I truly need your help…PLEASE go to the polls and VOTE!

C. Sade Turnipseed for Mayor of Indianola

LET’S DO THIS!

I thank you for your support,

Sade

 P.S. – We Can Make History Together by taking better care of people living in poverty and become a shining example to everyone in the Mississippi Delta!

 For the sake of our children…our future…WE MUST DO BETTER!

Please send ($100, 250, 1000, or more) to:

“Sade for Mayor” – POB 64 Indianola, MS 38751 USA

Sade for Mayor Committee, 2013

csadeturnipseed.com ~ deltarenaissance@aol.com ~ 662.347.8198



Greetings,

Attached you will find the beautiful "frame able" poster and (tentative) program for our upcoming 2nd Annual Sweat Equity Symposium and Cotton Pickers Ball. Please download and share with all your loved ones! Also, please be sure to come to this year's event in your overalls, or cotton pickin' clothes. If you cannot attend be sure to send your donations to Khafre, Inc POB 64, Indianola, MS 39751 USA

LET'S MAKE HISTORY TOGETHER AND BUILD A MONUMENT THAT HONORS THE COTTON PICKERS OF AMERICA!

Thank you so much for your support!
 
C.Sade Turnipseed, MS/MBA/PhD (candidate)
KHAFRE Inc.
www.khafreinc.org
662.347.8198
 
"Know Thyself"

###

Remigration Home from Chicago to Mississippi during the Sweat Equity Symposium

October 17-18, 2013

Khafre, Incorporated has partnered with Mississippi Valley State University to host the 2^nd Annual Sweat Equity Investment in the Cotton Kingdom Symposium, and Cotton Pickers’ Ball. This year’s events are scheduled to take place on October 17 - 18 on the MVSU campus.

The 2^nd Annual Cotton Pickers Ball that takes place on Friday October 18, at 7:00pm, the second day of the Sweat Equity Symposium. The event is the impetus that gave rise to the “Remigration Home from Chicago to Mississippi” cultural movement organized by music promoters Gus Redmond and Robert Terrell. Legendary blues and gospel performers Otis Clay, Syl Johnson and Marshal Thompson (founder and lead singer of the ChiLites); along with promoter Gus Redmond will lead the way back home to Mississippi in an effort to support the Cotton Pickers of America Monument and Sharecroppers Interpretive Center project in the historical Cotton Kingdom AKA the Mississippi Delta. Their performance will infuse the Royal Room on the MVSU campus (student Union bldg-2^nd floor) with an atmosphere of love and respect for the contributions made by cotton pickers and field workers throughout the south.

Immediately preceding the Ball is an American Ancestral Celebration including a pouring of libation on the MVSU campus beginning at 6 p.m. The celebration will commence at the West Lake across from the R. W. Harrison Complex. Though the Ball is a “Black Tie Affair” Overalls or other “cotton pickin” attire are encouraged and expected.

“I am so pleased that we have partnered with Khafre to host an event of this magnitude,” said Dr. Vincent Venturini, Associate Provost. “The production of cotton has been a major part of the history of the Mississippi Delta and of our legacy of slavery and tenant farming that we must make sure our younger generation understands the relationship between the cotton economy and many of the social problems we face in the Delta today.”

The Symposium will open on Thursday, Oct. 17, beginning at 9 a.m. The discussions and historical presentations will reflect cutting-edge research, innovative practices and foundational values. Participants will include Ed Dwight, monument developer; reflective writings by national spokesman, Clifton Taulbert; and Maya Angelou, award-winning poet. Attendees will also hear from Jaribu Hill, internationally acclaimed attorney, Dr. Joseph Martin Stevenson, former MVSU provost; Scott Barretta, Blues scholar; Monroe Golden, authentic cotton picker; and Winterville Mounds Museum Director, Dr. Mark Howell. Additionally, two noted scholars from Mali’s Cotton Manufacturing and Distribution will present via Skype.

MVSU participants in the program include Dr. Kathryn Green, associate professor in history; Dr. John Weiss, asst. professor of voice and choir director, and the Sweat Equity Singers; Dr. Micah Rueber, asst. professor of history; Barbara Baymon, director of theater; Yolanda May Williams, Alexandria, Edwards, Jerjuanna Fountain, and LaMonica Nolan, Jovanna Peterson, all MVSU students; and Dr. John Jones, interim provost.

As part of the celebration, Khafre plans to erect a permanent marker on the site in honor of cotton pickers from the Mississippi Delta and in commemoration of the significance of this historical event. "Khafre’s partnership with “The Valley” validates the notion that a   tribute and monument to sharecroppers and cotton pickers are not just timely, but significant on many levels,” said Linda Rule, Special Events Director of Khafre, Inc.

Khafre, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides resources to formal and informal educators of the Delta. 

For more information about the Symposium and the Ball, please contact C. Sade Turnipseed at 662.347.8198 or email her at sade@khafreinc.org.

###

~~~~~~~~~~

(To download complete article, please click here)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CALL FOR PAPERSThe 2^nd Annual

Sweat Equity Investment in the Cotton Kingdom Symposium and Cotton Pickers Ball

• Itta Bena, Mississippi •

Now accepting abstracts/proposals • Deadline: September 6, 2013

SUBMIT ABSTRACTS or PROPOSALS HERE

Plan now to join Khafre, Inc in Itta Bena, MS at Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU), for the second annual “Sweat Equity Investment in the Cotton Kingdom” symposium on October 17, 2013.  Khafre, Inc is all about building out monumental programs that allow reflection, reconnection, and renewal. This will be a day of stimulating discussion about historic preservation, leading-edge research, innovative practices, and foundational values. The two-day event concludes with a good-old-fashion “black-tie” (or period-piece costume) “Cotton-Pickers’ Ball,” on October 18, 2013.

This year Khafre, Inc in conjunction with Mississippi Valley State University shall organize the USA’s premier interdisciplinary professional meeting on cotton, sharecropping, and its cultural significance. By these three overlapping terms we mean a broad array of topics, both “cultural” and “economic,” managed by different entities under a variety of designations:

• National parks at all levels: federal, state/provincial, county, and city
• Culture; the visual and performing arts, including music, dance, tapestry, sculptures and paintings
• historic, archaeological, and other cultural sites; cultural landscapes
• research areas and designated locations
• areas and sites; sacred burial sites, cotton fields, shotgun homes and jook joints
• private land-plantations

 Khafre, Inc is unique among professional organizations because our vision is to encourage dialogue and share information that allows for cultural exchange among all the people needed for a community of dignity, across all disciplines. 

Want to share your work, your ideas, and your ideals with the larger academic and cultural communities?  The “Sweat Equity Investment in the Cotton Kingdom” symposium is the place to do it.  We invite abstracts from people who want to:

• present a Research Paper
• present a Poem/Song/Dance/Tribute to the Ancestors
• present a Poster
• present an Exhibit
• organize a Workshop
• organize a Business Meeting
• organize a Sharing Circle

This wide variety of options makes for an exciting, diverse program.

To submit an abstract, go to: www.khafreinc.org and follow the links. The deadline is September 6, 2013.

Plan to join us in Itta Bena, Mississippi!

This is your chance to catch up with old friends and colleagues at The Valley, make important new contacts, discuss the latest in cultural management, stay current with research findings in the historic preservation field, and connect with people who share your core values. We look forward to welcoming you to the home of America’s Root Music and Culture!

C.Sade Turnipseed, MBA/MS/PhD (candidate)

Executive Director

sade@khafreinc.org

662.347.8198

www.khafreinc.org

Eulah Peterson, PhD

Conference Coordinator

info@khafreinc.org

Linda Rule, MA

Cotton Pickers Ball Coordinator

rocrule01@yahoo.com



SUBMIT ABSTRACTS or

PROPOSALS HERE

~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~

da' House of Khafre

Calendar of Events

APPEARING NOW!!!

da’ House of Khafre RULES!!!!

105 Main Street

Downtown Indianola, MS 38751  USA

On the heels of receiving a Congressional Recognition, by Congressman Bennie Thompson, da House of Khafre is proud to offer world literacy and healthy living classes. Each class will be taught by a highly trained lecturer and is customized specifically for Mississippi Delta residents.

da’ House’s weekly/monthly classes include the following:

• S.O.U.L.* Food Cookin’ 101                                   $10.00/class
• Let’s Read Books-(book of the month club)          $5/month
• Let’s talk French 101*                                             $3/class
• World Travel 101   (Delta Travel Club)                 $3/class
• Embracing your Femininity 301*                           $5/class
• Videography 101                                                          $5/class
• Line Dancing 101, 201*                                           $3/class
• African Dance 101                                                    $5/class
• Poker 101                                                                   free
• Bid Whist 101                                                            $1/class
• Chess 101                                                                  $1/class
• Poetry/ideology Workshop 101                                $5/class

101 = beginning—all ages;  

201 = intermediate—all ages;

301 = advanced—adults only

SOUL = sustainably, organic, unprocessed, living

Not everything that goes on in da’ House must stay in da’ House. Our intent is to share. We invite all community-based experts in any field to become a part of the challenge to address issues of: unemployment, entrepreneurship, illiteracy, poor self-esteem, teen pregnancy, obesity, hopelessness, communication skills, journalism and creative writing, etc. Our hope is the skills learned will shine bright in the Delta community to one and all. Knowledge is power…each one teaches one!

Check our calendar for class schedules and updates.

www.khafre.us, info@khafreinc.org

or, call Sade @ 662.347.8198

______________

Monument Proposed to Honor

Cotton Pickers Legacy

by Chance Wright

Bolivar Commercial

July 5, 2012

____________________

NEWS RELEASE ~ NEWS RELEASE ~ NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Sade Turnipseed at 662.347.8198,

Robert Terrell at 630.935.0038,

Email deltarenaissance@aol.com

Website: www.khafre.us

da' House of Khafre

Celebrates its 2nd Anniversary!

May 23, 2012Indianola, MS da' House of Khafre (also known as, ''da' House'') opened its doors on Friday, June 3, 2010. Situated on the bayou waterfront at 103 and 105 Main Street, in historic downtown Indianola, da' House is the place where folks come together in the spirit of unity and love for Mississippi Delta culture, particularly its blues, spirituals and teacakes! David Honeyboy Edwards came by just prior to the opening to bless its humble beginnings. The legendary bluesman said, People are going to come from all over the world to see this place...and eat those delicious teacakes. And, indeed they have. On the historical Wall of Fame are signatures by musicians from Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, Norway, Belguim, China, Japan, France, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire and Mississippi, of course. Beginning Friday, June 1, 2012, at 7 pm, the folks at da' House will be carrying on in grand teacake style, until Sunday June 3rd, around midnight. Celebrating da love that is shared all around the world for da Delta music, art and culture.

The 2^nd Anniversary Celebration is dedicated to Deltas own David Honeyboy Edward, David Lee Durham, David Thompson and Mississippi Slim. These legendary bluesmen have recently joined the ancestors and will be honored by several local artists and civic leaders: Mickey Rogers, Dr. Alphonso Sanders, Variety, Columbus Toy, Chris Ivey and very special guest N. Carolina songstress Lacee. These artists and many others will perform on da historical Front Porch stage where the legendary bluesman Sam Chatmons music room door is gracefully hinged. The door, the traditional quilts, the African art, the sweet smell of Soul Food and the Delta cotton provide a rural sophistication and ambiance that is reminicient of the culture and folk art once owned and coveted by grandmamma-nem. Indeed, it is "The home for artful giving, music and songs," as Chicago-based Blues promoter Lynn Orman Weiss described da' House on her most recent visit to the Delta. And, since da' House is located at the epicenter of the Cotton Kingdom, visitors can expect that authentic soothing, and often times healing, Mississippi Delta experience to be dosed up in abundantly royal fashion, every time they come to da' House!

Co-owners Robert Terrell and C.Sade Turnipseed extend a personal and heartfelt invitation for everyone to come on out to da House and help celebrate two-years of Delta art, music and culture. And, to come see why the late-great Honeyboy Edwards believed this is the coolest, most unique cultural arts gallery and coffee house in the Delta.

Meet us at da' House...We are moving towards a Delta Renaissance ^sm~

###

THE SUNFLOWER COUNTY FREEDOM PROJECT
IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DA HOUSE OF KHAFRE PRESENTS:

30 Years from Now
An original Play

The Sunflower County Freedom Project:
The Freedom Project uses the history of the 1960s civil rights movement to motivate young people growing up in Sunflower County, MS, to be-come capable and compassionate leaders.

The Play:
Inspired by true events in Drew, MS, this 45minute play which won Best Original Play at the MTA 2012 Theater for Youth Festival Competi-tion exposes the struggles faced during the desegregation of southern public schools in the 1960s and examines how segregation in education remains a real problem today.

MARCH 23, 2012

DA HOUSE OF KHAFRE

105 MAIN STREET, INDIANOLA, MS

6:30 PM

CONTACT: JUSTINE AT THE SCFP 662-569-2441
OR ROBERT AT 630-935-0038

________________________________

A Community Holiday Reception
in honor of
Dr. Donna Oliver
President, Mississippi Valley State University

featuring the musical stylings of
T.H.I.S.

Students of the Fine Arts, MVSU

Thursday December 15, 2011
6:30pm

at

da House of Khafre
Cultural Arts Center
105 Main Street ~ Indianola, MS 38751

Dr. Donna H. Oliver is the sixth president and first woman to lead Mississippi Valley State University. She is also the first African-American female president to lead a Mississippi public university. Since assuming her position on January 1, 2009, she has launched The Valley Renaissance, the institutions five-year strategic plan, which is pictorially depicted by the African Adinkra symbol of a Sankofa a bird that flies with his head facing
backwards as he advances forward without getting off track.

(Dr. Olivers vision and accomplishments)

Hosted by:
Senator Willie Simmons District #13, Representative Sara Thomas District #31, Sunflower County NAACP #5333, Arthur Marble (former Mayor), Mississippi Delta Arts AllianceKhafre Inc, Queen of Jook Foundation, Delta Renaissance Cultural Arts Show/ WABG TV/NBC-33, da' House of Khafre, Highway 2 Health Chiropractic Center, Pinetop Perkins Museum, Fannie Lou Re-Enactment Society, B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, Stephenson Community Park, Bettys Place, Docs Trophy Shop, Georges Lounge, The Blues Corner Caf, Indianola Floral Designs, 2 Classy Civic
Organization, Gentry High School, Sunflower County Library System, Young Publishers Network (YPN), Delta Housing Development Corporation, Representatives of Supreme Elegance (ROSE), Sunflower County School District, Lillies Bed & Breakfast, Mic Magazine, Sam Baity Lodge #262, Beasley Lodge #66, and other Delta residents.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: C.Sade Turnipseed~sade@khafreinc.org 662.347.8198~www.khafreinc.org

"Let's Make History"

Campaign Rally for

Johnny DuPree

Gubernatorial Candidate

Monday October 24, 2011

7pm @ da' House

___________________________

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

LACEE

Southern Soul Impact

with special guest performances by:

Shirley Jones and Michael Angelo

All Happening LIVE

ON da' FRONT PORCH STAGE

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

9PM SHOWTIME

105 MAIN STREET, DOWNTOWN INDIANOLA, MS

$10 AT DA' DOOR

The 34th Annual Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival

The world's longest running Blues Festival was a major success!!!

photo credit: Al White

Cyreio Hughes, Musical Director WGNL radio and C.Sade Turnipseed, Host/Producer Delta Renaissance Talk Show on NBC-TV, were the emcees.

To download the Blues Legends' Historical Tribute

(CLICK HERE)

______________________

Archival image from the

33rd Annual Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival

photo credit: Robert Terrell

Funeral today for blues legend David "Honeyboy" Edwards

CHICAGO - Private funeral services were scheduled for today for a man who made a lasting and favorable impression on the blues industry. Grammy-winning blues musician David "Honeyboy" Edwards, believed to be the oldest surviving Delta bluesman and whose roots stretched back to blues legend Robert Johnson, died early Monday, Aug. 29, in his Chicago home. (more of the story...click here)

__________________________

Big Jockey, Cyreio Hughes, Dale Cusic and

Sade Turnipseed

are the hosts for the

34TH ANNUAL MISSISSIPPI DELTA BLUES & HERITAGE FESTIVAL

Washington County Convention Center Fairgrounds
GREENVILLE, MS

September 17, 2011

Featured artists:

Bobby "Blue" Bland, Bobby Rush, Willie Clayton, Grady Champion, Ruby Wilson, Victor Wainwright, Patrice Moncell and J. Blackfoot!!!

BE THERE!!!

_________________________________

da House of Khafre
Presents..

NATHANIEL KIMBLE

Singing Sweet Southern Soul Music

LIVE

Saturday September 3, 2011

DJ Music by

CASPER

"The Friendly Host"

Doors open at 8pm

__________________________________________

16th Annual
MISSISSIPPI JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL
www.JazzMississippi.com


Panel Discussion

"PRESERVING OUR MISSISSIPPI AFRICAN AMERICAN JAZZ LEGACY"

Friday September 2, 2011

4:00pm

da' House of Khafre
105 Main Street
Indianola, Mississippi

PANELISTS

Sade Turnipseed, M.B.A., PhD (candidate)
Founder & Executive Director, KHAFRE, Inc.
Cotton Pickers Monument/Sharecroppers Interpretive Center
da' House of Khafre
Indianola, Mississippi

Dr. London Branch
Professor of Music (Retired)
Jackson State University
Jackson, Mississippi

Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D.
Founder & Chairman
National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF)
National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC)
National Association of Juneteenth Jazz Presenters (NAJJP)
www.NationalJuneteenth.com
Belzoni, Mississippi



662-347-8198
www.khafreinc.org www.khafre.us

Live Podcast!
(details to be posted soon)

________________________________

Rose Stiffen, PhD

Author of

"Walk in Bethal"

Sunday, July 3, 2011

3pm

(download flyer)

Triple Soul Impact

Calvin Richardson, Lacee,

and Columbus Toy

Whether categorized as retro-Soul, neo-Soul, or southern-Soul,
they are the epitome of Soul and Blues musicians who are re-introducing the
rich Mississippi Delta cultural heritage and sound to mainstream audiences worldwide.

LIVE in da House
105 Main Street
Downtown Indianola, MS

FRIDAY JUNE 24, 2011

Come with your favorite soul mate
Showtime 9pm
$15 before 9pm $20 thereafter

For more information or ticket reservation contact:
Robert Terrell 630.935.0038
robterrelll@gmail.com
DeltaRenaissance@aol.com
www.khafre.us

(click here to download flyer with images)

___________________________________________

http://mayaangelou.com/images/Maya_Angelou.jpg

KHAFRE, INC.

Laying foundation for monumental projects

changing our world forever

March 8, 2011Indianola, MSJust days after receiving her most prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom Award, Dr. Maya Angelou agreed to graciously lend her name to the Cotton Pickers of America Monument and Sharecroppers Interpretive Center project that is in development, in the Mississippi Delta. C.Sade Turnipseed, Founder of the Monument project and Executive Director of Khafre, Inc, recently made the announcement in a community meeting held at da House of Khafre, in Indianola. I am overjoyed that Dr. Angelou has decided to lend her name to this project as our Honorary Chairperson. In so doing, Dr. Angelou reaffirms the significance of our work in the Mississippi Delta. Our teams collective effort honors the sacrifices made by millions of Americans and purposefully gives dignity back to the legacy of those who spent their entire lives working, tirelessly to build this country.

Dr. Angelou, a world-renowned author/poet and Z. Smith Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University, joins a long and growing list of American citizens, who have also expressed the desire to support this project and demonstrate their respect and gratitude to every man, woman and child that picked cotton and were never thanked, nor properly compensated as enslaved workers or as sharecroppers, throughout the American south.

The Khafre, Inc team is composed of a governing Board of Directors, a Steering Committee, a Board of Advisors and several political and community leaders that include faculty members from the History Department at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). The governing Board selected world-renowned monument designer, Ed Dwight, to develop the thirty-foot statue and sculptural park. It will be located on approximately twenty acres of prime cotton land. Bolivar County, MS has been identified as the ideal location for the Monument. In conjunction with architect Eric Davis, the Monument construction is expected to get underway later this year.

Khafre, Inc.is a 501(c) (3) not for profit community based organization.Its mission is to build monumental programs that will have a favorable impact on the youth in the Mississippi Delta. It offers educational workshops, seminars and conferences for the entire community that celebrate Mississippis culture and its contributions to world history, including music, cuisine, writing, andotherartistic expressions. Khafre, Inc. is headed up by C. Sade Turnipseed, PhD (student) in Public History at MTSU. Turnipseed is also the host of Delta Renaissance, the number one cultural arts television talk show in the Delta, which airs weekly on WABG-TV, WABG-Radio and Delta Fox-10 television networks.

Plans are also underway to incorporate the completed work into the National Parks Services, to insure prosperity and proper maintenance of the Monument. To help the Cotton Pickers of America Monument and Sharecroppers Interpretive Center be included as part of the National Parks System, please sign the online petition. To have name(s) of family members included in the Monument, download a Legacy Brick application; both petition and application are available on the Khafre, Inc. websites: khafre.us; khafreinc.org (under construction). For more information please call 662.347.8198 or 662.887.2900. The e-mail address is info@khafreinc.org.

###

Cultural Competency

workshops in the Mississippi Delta

YUGO SATO
Japanese Bluesman performs in the Delta!

March 3, 2011Indianola, MSYugo Sato, one of the most talented musicians on the Tokyo scene will have his American debut on the Front Porch Stage, in da House, located at 105 Main Street in historic downtown Indianola, MS. On the Porch with Sato will be legendary blues guitarist Mickey Rogers and his band. The performance is Saturday March 5th at 9pm. Mr. Sato returns to the Front Porch Stage solo, on Sunday March 6th, at 6pm, to kick off the Cultural Competency workshop series. These are on-going cultural appreciation classes presented for the first time in the Delta, by Khafre, Inc (a Mississippi-based non-profit organization).

Sato, who was born and raised in Japan, will introduce to American audiences his interpretation of Mississippi Delta Blues and perform on one of his traditional instruments called a Samisen. These performances promise to be not only unique, but a special experience for everyone who attends!

For more information, please contact Sade Turnipseed, 662.347.8198, or just show up for BOTH performances:

SAT, MARCH 5th w/ legendary guitarist Mickey Rogers, 9pm
SUN, MARCH 6th KHAFRE, Incs Cultural Competency workshop 6pm
(Bring an instrument or just your good-ole Southern hospitality)

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