Mississippi Reveals Its Full History for America's Anniversary Year

The state's museums take an unvarnished look at its past, in contrast to federal efforts to ease the discomfort of America's history.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 10:09pm

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A cinematic painting of a solitary monument or memorial related to Mississippi's history of racial violence, bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying the weight and gravity of the state's confrontation with its difficult past.Mississippi's willingness to confront its dark past through powerful memorials and exhibits offers a stark contrast to federal efforts to downplay America's history of discrimination.Jackson Today

As the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, Mississippi has taken a bold approach in its official commemoration by revealing the state's full history, including its dark past involving Native Americans, enslaved people, and the Civil Rights era. This contrasts with the federal government's efforts under the Trump administration to ease the discomfort of America's sometimes brutal history.

Why it matters

Mississippi's willingness to confront its difficult past, even as the nation celebrates its founding, stands in stark contrast to the federal government's attempts to downplay or gloss over episodes of racial violence and discrimination. This highlights the ongoing struggle over how history is told and the importance of acknowledging the full truth, even when it is uncomfortable.

The details

The Two Mississippi Museums, which include the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Museum of Mississippi History, present a warts-and-all approach to the state's history. Exhibits feature the names of more than 600 victims of documented racial killings, as well as artifacts like a Ku Klux Klan mask. In contrast, the Trump administration has taken steps to eliminate diversity and equity efforts in the federal government and pressure institutions like the Smithsonian to present a version of history that is less focused on discrimination.

  • The Two Mississippi Museums opened in 2017.
  • President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.
  • Trump signed an executive order on his first day back in office eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the federal government.
  • In March 2025, Trump signed an executive order titled 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History'.
  • The nation's 250th anniversary celebration is taking place in 2026.

The players

Kiama Johnson

A visitor from Monroe, Louisiana, who was moved to tears while viewing the Lynching Victims Monolith at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.

Nan Prince

The director of collections for the Mississippi Department of Archives & History, who said the instructions for the museums were to 'don't brush over anything, don't whitewash anything' and 'just tell the absolute truth'.

John Horhn

The mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, who was a state senator when he began pushing for the Civil Rights Museum in 1999, and whose efforts were eventually supported by former Republican Governor Haley Barbour.

Haley Barbour

A former Republican National Committee chairman who became governor of Mississippi and supported the creation of the Civil Rights Museum, saying they 'weren't gonna try to justify what was done' and that 'we're not proud of this, but we're not going to deny it'.

Emmett Till

A 14-year-old who was kidnapped, tortured, and killed in 1955 after being accused of whistling at a white woman in a rural Mississippi grocery store, a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement.

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What they’re saying

“That's just the people that we know about. Just imagine the ones that we don't. Imagine the ones that's never going to be written in history books.”

— Kiama Johnson, Visitor from Monroe, Louisiana

“We said at the beginning we weren't going to hide anything. We weren't gonna try to justify what was done. That's what the people wanted—to say, 'Look, we're not proud of this, but we're not going to deny it.'”

— Haley Barbour, Former Republican Governor of Mississippi

“We still have issues, we still have a lot of challenges. But it's a demonstration that progress has been made.”

— John Horhn, Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi

What’s next

The nation's 250th anniversary celebration will continue throughout 2026, with Mississippi's museums playing a central role in the state's commemoration efforts.

The takeaway

Mississippi's decision to confront its difficult history head-on, even as the nation celebrates its founding, highlights the ongoing struggle over how history is told and the importance of acknowledging the full truth, even when it is uncomfortable. This approach stands in stark contrast to the federal government's efforts to ease the discomfort of America's sometimes brutal past, underscoring the need for a more honest and inclusive understanding of the nation's history.