Mound Bayou. Built in Defiance. Powered by Black Self-Determination #TheBlackTable

Mound Bayou was founded in 1887 by Isaiah Montgomery, a former slave, and his cousin, on 840 acres of swampland in Mississippi. It was envisioned as a self-governing, all-Black community, designed to foster economic independence and social progress for African Americans. This initiative served as a foundational model for Black self-determination in the United States.

Herman Johnson Jr. states, 'Mount Bayou is a model for, I think, for the African-American community... it was basically in a very small way its own country and it was designed that way.' Reverend Daryl Johnson adds that the founders had a vision 'to have on the inside of them a country and where they could get a place where God and freedom live.'

Despite its challenging beginnings on undeveloped land, Mound Bayou achieved remarkable innovations and economic success. It established the country's first Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and the first African-American manufacturing venture. The town also developed its own banking system, led by Charles Banks, and even had its own telephone exchange, demonstrating advanced infrastructure for its time.

Herman Johnson Jr. highlights, 'The first HMO in the country was here. The first African-American manufacturing venture in the country was here.' Reverend Daryl Johnson mentions Charles Banks starting a bank around 1907-1908, which was 'the seat of finances and commerce for this area.'

Mound Bayou attracted and nurtured numerous influential figures. Booker T. Washington visited and praised the town as an example of Black achievement. President Theodore Roosevelt visited in 1907, calling it 'the jewel of the delta' and noting its 100% Black population. Medgar Evers began his civil rights work in Mound Bayou, and Emmett Till's mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, found a safe haven there during her son's murder trial, utilizing the town's independent telephone exchange.

Reverend Daryl Johnson states, 'Booker T. Washington hung around Mount Bay... Theodore Roosevelt shows up 1907... He called it the jewel of the delta and these are 100% black people.' He also notes, 'Omega Evers had such a powerful thought right in line with Az Montgomery... My dad sits down in that same office and takes his job here in Body, Mississippi.'

Herman Johnson Sr., father of the current museum directors, played a pivotal role in Mound Bayou's civil rights and economic development. He succeeded Medgar Evers in a key position, navigated discriminatory voting practices by paying poll taxes for years, and founded the Mound Bayou Development Corporation to spur economic growth. His efforts secured significant federal funding for the city despite initial skepticism.

Herman Johnson Sr. recounts taking Medgar Evers' job, paying poll taxes, and founding the Mound Bayou Development Corporation. He details how he and the mayor secured $5 million in federal funding when state officials expected them to get nothing.

The Mound Bayou Museum of African-American Culture and History, co-founded by Herman Johnson Jr. and Reverend Daryl Johnson, serves as a critical repository of this history. It houses collections, including an Emmett Till exhibit featuring props from recent films, and aims to educate the public about Mound Bayou's significance. The Johnson brothers are actively seeking community involvement, donations, and investment to revitalize the town and restore its historical prominence as 'ground zero for African-Americanism.'

Herman Johnson Jr. states, 'This museum is critical information for the country because of Mount Bayou's... way it came through.' Reverend Daryl Johnson describes the Emmett Till exhibit and the museum's role in 'exposing that story.' Both brothers emphasize the need for investment and community engagement for revitalization.