Mound Bayou: Tell me what you know... (Greenville, Clarksdale: home, living)

[GrandviewGloria]

On a Greenville thread, I just read someone's observation that Greenville could soon become "another Mound Bayou".

And now I'm wondering: Just what is Mound Bayou?

I've heard things, of course...probably the usual things....but don't want to start this out with any particular slant. So tell me, please, about the place, if you have any particular insight or sources of information.

[msrose601]

Mound Bayou is a all black town in the Mississippi delta on 61 hwy. Don't know anything about Greenville becoming another Mound Bayou. My home town is Clarksdale but i now live in central Mississippi.

[Delta Planter]

Statistically, for Mound Bayou, go here: //www.city-data.com/city/Mound-Bayou-Mississippi.html

I was raised in Cleveland, now live in Texas.

[jhadorn]

Mound Bayou is a small town in the Mississippi delta between Cleveland and Clarksdale. That racial makeup is about 99% black and 1% white or other.

It used to be if you were going from Clarksdale to Cleveland, you had to pass through Mound Bayou. It was already an economically depressed town, but I feel the bypass has made the situation worse. Less traffic means fewer sales.

I'm not sure what the usual things you hear are, i'm guessing racially motivated. I hear it occasionally too, mostly from older people who remember when things were different. Can't judge everyone based on a few.

[Delta Planter]

Originally Posted by jhadorn

Mound Bayou is a small town in the Mississippi delta between Cleveland and Clarksdale. That racial makeup is about 99% black and 1% white or other.

It used to be if you were going from Clarksdale to Cleveland, you had to pass through Mound Bayou. It was already an economically depressed town, but I feel the bypass has made the situation worse. Less traffic means fewer sales.

I'm not sure what the usual things you hear are, i'm guessing racially motivated. I hear it occasionally too, mostly from older people who remember when things were different. Can't judge everyone based on a few.

Include Merigold, Winstonville, Shelby, Alligator, Duncan, Bobo in that statement. Funny thing for me, though, I have yet to make that trek since the four-lane came through. Maybe I should one day, soon.

[maharper]

Mound Bayuo is a part of Af-Am history dating back to slavery. Centered around Benjamin Montgomery and his son Isiah. It is their struggle to find racial and economic equality in Mississippi for for African American people. It is a part of often forgotten African American history. I've recently been researching Benjamin and Isiah Montgomery, Joseph and Jefferson Davis, Davis Bend and Mound Bayou. It's a very interesting, fasinating and ignored part of American history. I am trying to contact someone in Mound Bayou that can give additional information about the area.

[maharper]

Originally Posted by msrose601

Mound Bayou is a all black town in the Mississippi delta on 61 hwy. Don't know anything about Greenville becoming another Mound Bayou. My home town is Clarksdale but i now live in central Mississippi.

Please read the post by maharper on 6-15-2011. I was attempting to responde directly to this post. Mound Bayou is a jewel of African American history. It shows success by ex-slaves in Mississippi against great odds. Truly a great story. I am planning a trip to the area after futher resaerch. I am now attempting to make contact with someone from that area has interest in the local history.

[Listener2307]

There is nothing particularly successful about Mound Bayou. It's just where a bunch a black folks live. If Mound Bayou was all white and filled with immigrants from Germany no one would ever talk about it.

[src22]

Just like so many cities in Mississippi, African American is the majority that makes up more than half of the population. Mound Bayou is an all African American city and Greenville their are more African Americans living there than whites and other races.

[oldenfatt]

Try contacting Luther Brown at Delta State in Cleveland. If he cant give you the information you're looking for, he'll know who can.