Author: Imported Author 2289001

NATCHEZ, Miss. – The William Johnson House will reopen Friday, Sept. 1, according to Lead Historian Jeff Mansell of Natchez National Historical Park. He said only the first floor will be open.

“The upper family living quarters will remain closed,” he said. “We have to rebuild the back galleries of both houses (William Johnson and McCallum House). The renovation in that area needs to be completed because structurally, it’s not safe.”

As in the past, the house will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p. m. Tours are free to the public. Space for visitors and the bookstore will be on the first floor.  A guide will also be available.

“We are in the process of doing the A and E (architect and engineering) work for the rebuilding of the galleries,” Mansell explained. “We are improving accessibility to the site and to the kitchen. We will install new exhibits in the kitchen downstairs.”

The William Johnson House is located at 210 State St., between South Canal and South Wall streets. It is one of five sites owned and operated by the Natchez National Historical Park. The house initially closed in 2020 because of COVID-19, and it remained closed temporarily because of the need for property maintenance.

Johnson reportedly built the house in 1842 using bricks taken from buildings destroyed in an 1840 tornado.

“We’re happy to have this first floor open to the public,” Mansell said. “We invite everyone to  come in and learn about William Johnson’s life and writings.”

Johnson (1809 -1851) was known as “The Barber of Natchez.” According to Mansell, Johnson trained many barbers, and he took in lots of children of mixed race relationships and trained them to become barbers.

Johnson is probably most famous for his 16-year diary, which was discovered in the 1930s in the attic of his house, said Mansell. His family sold the diary to Louisiana State University, and it was published in 1951. It remains in print to this day.

“It is considered the most important account of the antebellum south from the perspective of a free man of color,” Mansell said.

One of the things that people find controversial about Johnson is the fact that he was born a slave, and he became a slave owner himself, Mansell said. Even so, he left a legacy that is rich in history, and his house is one way to learn more about his interesting life.

For more information, on the William Johnson House, call 601-442-7047. For a look at excerpts from William Johnson’s diary, visit the Natchez National Historical Park Facebook page.

LORMAN, Miss. — Jerry Jenkins and his drums will be featured in a program on West African music at Alcorn State University. Jenkins will offer a historical look at African music and give demonstrations of how the music was played. He also will discuss its value as well as its impact on today’s culture in Southern Mississippi.

Jenkins’ presentation is titled, “A Look at Mande’ (West African) Culture through Traditional Music.” It will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, in Dumas Hall, Room 107, on the Lorman Campus of Alcorn State University.

“My lecture will focus on the music of Pre-Africa and what it was like,” Jenkins said. “We will look at the music and the people of that time period. Today we separate our artists from community. But what are the benefits of bringing them back together?”

Jenkins said he will engage the crowd as he often does in other presentations. He said he will bring extra drums for this purpose.

Jerry Jenkins

The event is hosted by the Southwest Mississippi Center for Culture & Learning and Alcorn State University School of Arts and Sciences. Teresa Busby, the center’s executive director, said the program is the first in the center’s Coffee & Culture series for fall 2023. The presentation is free to the public.

“We are delighted to host Mr. Jenkins at Alcorn State University,” Busby said. “His interactive presentation will delve into the influence of West Africa on American culture. He uses music to tell an important story and to engage his audiences.”

Jenkins is originally from Chicago. He grew up in Vicksburg, but now lives in Jackson. His work as a musician and educator has taken him across the state and to cities outside of Mississippi.

In February 2022, Jenkins played the drums and portrayed King Sori in a play on Prince Abdul Rahman Ibrahim held at the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture. The play was titled, “Isabella and the Prince: ‘Overcoming Struggles Through Courage & Faith.’” It featured local historian Jeremy Houston as the Prince and Shella Adams, an actual descendent of Ibrahim, as Isabella.

During his performance with the drums, Jenkins moved throughout the room and engaged the audience by having several people play the drums along with him.

Jenkins has given presentations at the Two Museums in Jackson and Juneteenth events in Vicksburg. He said he’s also performed for the Jackson–George Regional Library System on the coast. In addition to his performance at the museum, Jenkins also has given presentations at Concord Quarters, working with Debbie Cosey, the property’s co-owner.

Jenkins has been a lifelong student of African music. He is a member of the Mississippi Humanities Council’s Speakers Bureau. He also is listed as a performance artist on the Mississippi Arts Commission’s Artist Roster.

According to the commission’s website, Jenkins “provides engaging programming structured around West African stories, dramas and Djembe ensemble music.” Jenkins teaches various levels of advanced techniques in Djembe drumming and Mande culture through music.

“His unique approach to interacting with the audience creates a deeper and more meaningful experience,” the website states.

For more information on Jenkin’s presentation, call 601-877-6551. To request disability-related accommodations contact the Disability Coordinator at least five days in advance at 601-877-6460 (office) or email at disabilityservices@alcorn.edu