Travel to Mound Bayou

Mound Bayou, Mississippi is one of the most powerful yet often overlooked chapters in Black American history.

Founded in 1887 by formerly enslaved people Isaiah T. Montgomery and Benjamin Green, Mound Bayou was established on land between the Mississippi River levees as an all-Black, self-governing town created by Black people, for Black people, during the height of the Jim Crow era. At a time when racism, violence, and exclusion defined the South, Mound Bayou stood as a bold declaration of Black independence, excellence, and self-determination.

Often called “the jewel of the Delta,” Mound Bayou thrived economically and culturally. The town built its own banks, schools, farms, hospitals, businesses, and newspapers, proving that Black communities could flourish when given autonomy. It became a national symbol of what was possible beyond oppression and was visited and supported by prominent leaders such as Booker T. Washington, who saw Mound Bayou as a model of Black progress.

As you walk through Mound Bayou today, you are standing on sacred ground land shaped by resilience, vision, and courage. This tour is not just about history; it’s about honoring a community that challenged the limits placed on Black people and created a legacy of pride, ownership, and hope that still speaks to us now.

Mound Bayou reminds us that Black history is not only a story of struggle but also of brilliance, leadership, and intentional freedom.