News
Announcements, events, and stories from the Margaret Walker Center.
Blog
Jubilee Picnic
Help us celebrate the birthday of our founder, Margaret Walker Alexander! Born on July 7, 1915, Dr. Alexander founded the Institute for the Study of the Life, History, and Culture of Black People (later the Margaret Walker Center) in 1968 at Jackson State University. This year, on July 7 at noon, join us in Ballroom…
56th Annual Gibbs-Green Commemoration
Our 56th Annual Gibbs-Green Commemoration is a poignant reflection on the 1970 police shooting at Jackson State University. The event honors the lives of Phillip Gibbs and James Green while also celebrating the Class of 1970 and their enduring inspiration. This year, the event will take place on May 14th, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. on…
Jubilee Opera
The Margaret Walker Center is extremely proud to be part of this reimagining of our founder’s classic novel. Please check this page periodically for updates, exciting news, event information, and more. If you have specific questions about the opera project, reach out to us at mwa@jsums.org. About Jackson State University and Yale University have…
2026 CASE Festival
About In partnership with Jackson State University and the Mississippi Arts Commission, the Margaret Walker Center is proud to host the 20th Annual Creative Arts & Scholarly Engagement (CASE) Festival, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 10 & 11, 2026. The CASE Festival will feature a keynote address by Dr. Evie Shockley, an award-winning poet…
History in Conversation: Dr. Lelia Gaston Rhodes and The First Hundred Years
Head to the H.T. Sampson Library Instructional Room at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, for History in Conversation: Dr. Lelia Gaston Rhodes and The First Hundred Years—An Ode to Women’s History Month and the Trailblazer Who Documented the Institution’s First Century. The event will feature a moderated panel and book discussion with Angela Stewart, Dr. Robert Luckett, Gailya Porter, and…
CASE Fest Q&A
Couldn’t join us for our Zoom presentation on Tuesday, February 17? No problem! View the full recording of the CASE Fest Q&A presentation on our Substack. Keep reading to find the link to the slides, the Call for Proposals, and ways to get in touch with us. Watch the video now via our Substack. (You…
1980s Forum Rings True Today
As we examine legacies of commemoration and ongoing discussions centered around Black History Month, we’re featuring a collection of speeches presented at the “Heritage for New America” public forum, funded by the Mississippi Committee for the Humanities (now the Mississippi Humanities Council) at Jackson State in February 1980. The forum was centered around the question,…
COFO Civil Rights Education Center Parking Update
The COFO Civil Rights Education Center and Gallery 1 are currently open during the John R. Lynch Street construction project! Due to the road closure, we ask that visitors park in the Short Street parking lot. Please see the instructions and map below. Please also be advised that reservations may be subject to potential changes…
2026 MLK Birthday Convocation and For My People Awards Luncheon
Deciding that she would rather celebrate his birth and achievements rather than focus on his death, our founder, Margaret Walker, sponsored one of the first birthday convocations for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on January 12, 1969, at Jackson State University. As part of Dr. Alexander’s legacy, the Margaret Walker Center continues this annual event.…
2026 CASE Festival: Call for Proposals
Call for Proposals The Margaret Walker Center invites proposals for papers, presentations, and panels for the 20th Annual Creative Arts & Scholarly Engagement (CASE) Festival, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 10 & 11, 2026. The CASE Festival will feature a keynote address by Dr. Evie Shockley, Director of Creative Writing and Writers and the…
Margaret Walker Center
College of Liberal Arts
Jackson State University
Ayer Hall
1400 J.R. Lynch Street
P.O. Box 17008
Jackson, MS 39217
Phone: 601-979-3935
mwa@jsums.org
Schedule your visit today! · Sign up for the MWC Listserv
