OXFORD, Miss. – Students in a Southern studies graduate seminar course at the University of Mississippi will present “Queer Mississippi: An Oral History Performance” at 7 p.m. Wednesday (April 25) at Burns-Belfry Museum and Multicultural Center.
Throughout the semester, eight graduate students interviewed LGBTQ Mississippians in Oxford and North Mississippi about their life histories. The interviews revealed themes of activism, religion, violence, finding community and continuity and change. The students have used segments of these interviews to create a dialogue, which they will perform Wednesday.
The event, part of the Radical South conversation series, is free and open to the public. A reception will follow the performance.
The course was led by Jessica Wilkerson, assistant professor of history and Southern studies.
“Our intent is to encourage reflection on and participation in an emergent historical discourse,” Wilkerson said.
Although she has taught courses in the past with an oral history component, this is the first of its kind.
“This is the most ambitious project I’ve ever done,” she said. “I’m thinking longer term with this and considering how to build the project and collaborations around the region.”
The performance will begin with a short documentary featuring parts of the interviews.