Filmmaker Talamieka Brice and Mississippi2 present a community gathering event: ‘From Douglass to Duck Hill’
By Brinda F. Willis, Ph.D.
JA Contributing Writer
On July 5, 2026, filmmaker Talamieka Brice and Mississippi2 will present a community gathering event – “From Douglass To Duck Hill” – at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Jackson. The event will bring together community members, artists, scholars, faith leaders, and advocates for an evening of remembrance, reflection, storytelling, and racial healing.
Brice said this year’s event serves as a bridge reflecting “upon the enduring words of Frederick Douglass that continue to be apropos today and the tragic 1937 lynching that befell Roosevelt ‘Red’ Townes and Robert ‘Bootjack’ McDaniels in Duck Hill, Mississippi. Historical truths will be remembered because remembering matters. … The gathering-event invites participants to confront difficult history while imagining a more just and connected future as the community gathering connects the Legacy of Frederick Douglass to Mississippi’s history of racial terror and the ongoing work of healing.”
The event features keynote remarks by acclaimed author, scholar, and National Book Award Winner Imani Perry. Her work explores race, history, identity, and the ongoing struggle for justice in America. Perry will engage in a virtual conversation with the audience.
Topics will include historical reflections on the lives of Roosevelt “Red” Townes and Robert “Bootjack” McDaniels, community dialogue, racial healing experiences, live artistic and cultural presentations, and opportunities for reflection, remembrance, and civic engagement. Participants will be invited into a collective act of remembrance, while reflecting on the unfinished work for justice, democracy, and belonging in America.
The event is open to the public. Both in-person and virtual options are available. Registration is free. To register online, please visit Eventbrite.com/e/fromdouglass-to-duck-hill-tickets-1990288787340. For more information, call 601-790-0259 or visit www.mississippi2.com.
Brice is the Founder and Executive Director/CEO of Mississippi2, a Mississippi-based nonprofit dedicated to racial healing, civic engagement, arts, culture, and community storytelling through film, dialogue, and creative programming. Mississippi2 works to build a more just and connected future while honoring the stories that shape our collective past.
