History on the Move

Hey there, HOM South. It’s been far too long but I wanted to share this news and, if you’re interested in a good (but tough) read that goes farther into the history of the larger site, take a look at The Barn by Wright Thompson. Hope you are all doing well! —mfk

With a $1.5 million donation from Shonda Rhimes, the Mississippi barn where 14-year-old Emmett Till was abducted, tortured, and killed in 1955 will be turned into a public memorial, the Emmett Till Interpretive Centre announced.

The site, located outside Drew, Mississippi, was purchased to create a sacred space honouring Till’s life and legacy. Till, a Black Chicago teen, was falsely accused of making "lewd advances" towards a white woman, Carolyn Bryant, in a rural grocery store. He was then taken from his great-uncle’s home by two white men, brutally murdered in the barn, and found weighted down in the Tallahatchie River.

According to historian Timothy Tyson, Bryant later confessed in 2007 that her story was a lie.

Till's mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, insisted on an open-casket funeral, exposing the horrors of his murder and galvanizing the Civil Rights movement.

The Center plans to open the barn to the public by 2030, ahead of the 75th anniversary of his death, with 24-hour surveillance, floodlights, and security cameras.

The memorial aims to educate visitors, honour Till, and prompt reflection on justice and human rights.

(📷: Getty/Valerie Terranova)

Hey HOM South!

Putting peanuts in Coke is the new trend that's going viral in the South. Here's why. Full recipe 👇 💬

Who remembers eating here?

The oldest Chinese restaurant in America The Pekin Noodle Parlor in Butte, Montana has been serving up Chinese cuisine since 1911

These made me laugh. Miss you all! —mfk

I Illustrated National Parks In America Based On Their Worst Review And I Hope They Will Make You Laugh (16 Pics) I'm an illustrator and I have always had a personal goal to draw all 62 US National Parks, but I wanted to find a unique twist for the project.

Yay, Mollie DeMoor-White!

Congratulations to my former UL history intern and later my curatorial assistant Mollie DeMoor of Scott, Louisiana -- mais, she's a Trahan on her mother's side! -- who just today started her new job in Special Collections at Oxford University! I'm very proud of her!

We’re hoping to find 5 more people to pour beer on Saturday from 2:00-4:00 in Parc International at the Boudin Cookoff and Acadiana Bacon Fest. Raising money for a local family. If anyone can take a shift it’d be appreciated. Thanks. Perks galore. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050a44afa829a7fd0-boudin

Thinking about running an HOM All Stars Trip. Does anyone know where Zhen is these days?

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Would you expect to see this in the Zion Wilderness? If you had a choice, would you want to? People come from all over the world to see Zion. Many of them have seen beautiful photos of canyons and sandstone formations. None of those iconic photos feature graffiti.

Graffiti is a growing problem on our public lands, possibly a side effect of their increasing popularity. As more and more people visit these places, the number of people that are misinformed can grow as well. There is no specific group to blame. Graffiti occurs on many trails and in many forms but make no mistake, leaving your mark behind is inappropriate and illegal. The Federal Magistrate has set the penalty for vandalism (a Class B Misdemeanor) at up to 6 months in prison and/or up to $5000.00 fine.

This is where you come in. You are visiting our National Parks. You are talking about them on social media. You have a voice too. Ask people to stop if you see them engaged this activity. Report what you see to a park ranger. Share your thoughts on social media. Spread the word. Take the .

If you need specific reasons, try these:
-National Parks protect natural features as they are, you cannot improve them.
-National Parks belong to everyone today and in the future, you do not have their permission to damage them.
-Graffiti is a form of vandalism and is illegal. The proper way to visit a park is to Leave No Trace.
-Graffiti in any form usually damages an area for a long time.
-Humans have left their mark for thousands of years but today that is unnecessary and, given the sheer numbers of visitors, irresponsible. Use a post card, social media, or photo editing software, but don't leave anything behind.

Learn more about Leave No Trace and take the Zion Pledge here: https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/zion-pledge.htm

NPS Photo

🤦🏻‍♂️ - Packing the car for an epic road trip to Wyoming and Montana and I find a waterproof stuff sack with two brand new HOM 2010 shirts. 💕

And . . . . . .OMG . . . . . They even made a cake with my picture on it! 🤩 Sweet. The fragility of life.