Khafre, Inc
300 Main Street
Indianola, MS 38751
United States
ph: 662.347.8198
deltaren
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The 4th 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 4th 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 5th, (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
###
CALL FOR PARTICIPATION
The 4th 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:”
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.
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 4th 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:”
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 28th and 29th, at two (2) locations, in the Mississippi Delta:
In addition, the Khafre, Inc team is working in conjunction with MVSU to host the 3rd 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 14th 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!”
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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"
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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 2nd 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 2nd 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-2nd 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.
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(To download complete article, please click here)
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CALL FOR PAPERSThe 2nd 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:
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:
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
662.347.8198
www.khafreinc.org
Eulah Peterson, PhD
Conference Coordinator
info@khafreinc.org
Linda Rule, MA
Cotton Pickers Ball Coordinator
rocrule01@yahoo.com
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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:
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
Bolivar Commercial
July 5, 2012
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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 2nd 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~
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