How Black People Remade Mississippi

How Black People Remade Mississippi

Down in the Mississippi Delta, the Lester Family made a space for themselves and claimed their land–and they didn’t need “40 Acres and a mule” to do it.

In February 2023, Pearline Lester passed away peacefully. We’re revisiting this story about her family’s legacy in her honor. Her husband, Elbert Lester has lived his full life in Quitman County, Mississippi, on land their family owns. That’s exceptional for Black people in this area today, but at one time, Black farmers owned the majority of this land. What happened to change that? Host Kai Wright goes on a search for the truth. With help from historians John Willis and Eric Foner, he uncovers a story about an old and fundamental question in American politics – Who are the rightful owners of this country’s staggering wealth?

This episode was originally published as ‘40 Acres in Mississippi’ on January 30, 2020. Listen to more episodes here.

Companion listening from our archives:

A Secret Meeting in South Bend (2/27/2020)Who Owns the Deed to the American Dream (9/29/2016)

“Notes from America” airs live on Sunday evenings at 6pm ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts. To catch all the action, tune into the show on Sunday nights via the stream on notesfromamerica.org or on WNYC’s YouTube channel.

We want to hear from you! Connect with us on Instagram and Twitter @noteswithkai or email us at notes@wnyc.org.

Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithkai on Instagram and X (Twitter). Email us at notes@wnyc.org. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your phone and emailing us, or record one here.

Notes from America airs live on Sundays at 6 p.m. ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts.

Jaksot(424)

Episode 7: This Is Your Brain on Politics

Episode 7: This Is Your Brain on Politics

Stress is a part of everyday life. But in this election filled with bombast, 24-hour news coverage, and October Surprises emerging at nearly every turn, the road to November 8th often appears overwhel...

3 Marras 201641min

Episode 6: The Kids Are Not Alright

Episode 6: The Kids Are Not Alright

Gang violence and a drug epidemic might not be the first things one thinks about when they picture the American suburbs, but they have become prominent facts of life for many residents in Suffolk Coun...

27 Loka 201640min

Episode 5: White Like Me

Episode 5: White Like Me

Once again, race has become a central issue in a presidential campaign. But this time, it's not all about people of color. It's also about white Americans, and what their place is in 21st century Amer...

20 Loka 201633min

Episode 4: Down the Rabbit Hole

Episode 4: Down the Rabbit Hole

So how did we get to this point? Where a nominee for a major party has been heard bragging about assaulting women. The United States of Anxiety has been listening carefully to Trump supporters in an e...

13 Loka 201637min

Episode 3: This Land Is My Land, That Land Is Your Land

Episode 3: This Land Is My Land, That Land Is Your Land

Tom McCarthy, a retired NYPD detective and lifelong Long Island resident, has spent much of his adult life straddling two very different worlds. Each day he would leave the calm of his suburban commun...

6 Loka 201631min

Episode 2: Who Owns the Deed to the American Dream?

Episode 2: Who Owns the Deed to the American Dream?

The idea of an idyllic 'suburbia' has been a touchstone along the cultural landscape of America for over 70 years. From Norman Rockwell's 1943 Freedom from Want to the printed pages of Martha Stewart'...

29 Syys 201627min

Episode 1: How Did We Get Here and Where Are We Going?

Episode 1: How Did We Get Here and Where Are We Going?

For many voters, this election is not simply about deciding the next President of the United States, or even setting the landscape of national politics. Instead, it serves as a referendum on what it m...

22 Syys 201629min

Welcome to The United States of Anxiety

Welcome to The United States of Anxiety

About the show: In a Presidential election cycle big on negativity and short on discussion of issues, anxiety is proving to be a dominant theme -- over the economy, national security, and indeed, what...

19 Syys 20169min

Suosittua kategoriassa Politiikka ja uutiset

uutiscast
aikalisa
politiikan-puskaradio
ootsa-kuullut-tasta-2
rss-ootsa-kuullut-tasta
tervo-halme
rss-asiastudio
rss-vaalirankkurit-podcast
otetaan-yhdet
rss-podme-livebox
the-ulkopolitist
rss-raha-talous-ja-politiikka
et-sa-noin-voi-sanoo-esittaa
rss-kaikki-uusiksi
rss-hyvaa-huomenta-bryssel
rss-ulkopoditiikkaa
rss-pinnalla
rss-50100-podcast
rss-kuka-mina-olen
rss-girls-finish-f1rst