Cleveland, Mississippi – Two young scholars, Jenna Smith and Vishal Jammulapati, have been recognized for their efforts to document the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement in the Mississippi Delta. Smith and Jammulapati spent the summer of 2022 driving around the Delta region, interviewing community servant leaders about their experiences during this pivotal period of American history.
The pair were part of the Community Summer internship program at the Delta Center for Culture and Learning. This was a partnership with the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program at Duke University and University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Since 2006, the Delta Center has hosted young scholars like Smith and Jammulapati, providing them with the opportunity to learn about the Delta’s rich cultural heritage and contribute to its preservation.
Their work resulted in the development of the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area Civil Rights Heritage Archive Digital Storytelling Project. The project launched in February 2023 to coincide with Black History Month. it showcases the stories of individuals who played important roles in the struggle for civil rights in the Mississippi Delta.
Their project has now caught the attention of NBCU Academy Equity Lab, a journalism and content creation training program within the NBC television broadcasting company. The program has featured the project, recognizing Smith and Jammulapati’s hard work and dedication to documenting the region’s history and its ongoing impact.
