The Delta Diaspora

The Delta Diaspora Reflecting on a powerful week in the mississippi delta

The workshop culminated with a lecture that integrated knowledge from many different themes that the participants explored throughout the week. These themes, often intersecting and converging, gave the educators plenty of material to reflect on, sparking ideas of how to involve their workshop experience in their curriculum.

After a week jam-packed with learning, exploring, inquiring and networking, the participants synthesized their own knowledge about the rich history of the Mississippi Delta.

Dr. John Strait and the "Delta Diaspora"

Associate Professor of Geography at Sam Houston State University, Dr. John B. Strait gave a fascinating lecture about the ‘Delta Diaspora’ covering topics from the evolution of the Blues genre to the Great Migration of blacks from Mississippi to northern cities like Chicago and Detroit. During this session, the different strands of knowledge that experts had spun throughout the week wove into an intricate, colorful tapestry that encompassed the Most Southern Place on Earth.

Final Taste of the Day

In line with Dr. Strait’s discussion of the Great Migration, the taste of the day represented foods that could keep well for a long time. Decadent slices of pound cake paired with hot fried chicken filled the classroom with sweet, fried smells like a fair.

Before saying their goodbyes and departing Cleveland to return home, participants were given time to reflect on the workshop and digest some of the feelings, thoughts and emotions that had accumulated throughout the week.

Taking this rich knowledge back to their schools across the nation, each participant was equipped with a nuanced perspective about the Delta region and now had the opportunity to spread this knowledge to their students.

Participants made 'Mojo Bags' to remember their time in the Mississippi Delta.

Appreciate