Margaret Walker Center

Margaret Walker Center The Margaret Walker Center is an archive and museum dedicated to African American history and culture.

The Center was originally founded as the Institute for the Study of the History, Life, and Culture of Black People by Margaret Walker in 1968. Founded by Margaret Walker in 1968, the Center seeks to honor her literary legacy and commitment to Black Studies by expanding and promoting its manuscript holdings and oral history collections, interpreting African-American history and culture through its

museum and exhibits, coordinating public programs on campus and throughout the community, preserving historic structures central to the African-American experience, and advocating Black Studies at Jackson State University.

Yesterday, we were honored to have Ambassador Andrew Young tour our "Margaret Walker & the Power of Words" exhibit durin...
09/04/2026

Yesterday, we were honored to have Ambassador Andrew Young tour our "Margaret Walker & the Power of Words" exhibit during his visit to Jackson State University.

In a spontaneous, poignant moment, he began reciting "For My People" from memory, filling the exhibit with the words that helped cement Margaret Walker's legacy and that provided a rallying cry that still echoes today.

We thank Ambassador Young for spending time with us and for his dauntless work for social justice.

You were good to us, ! We're especially proud of our staff members Garrad Lee, Alissa Rae Funderburk, Angela Stewart, a...
09/03/2026

You were good to us, !

We're especially proud of our staff members Garrad Lee, Alissa Rae Funderburk, Angela Stewart, and Anastasia Taylor, who all presented on panels about the legacy of Margaret Walker and the work of the center during this year's conference.

As always, we appreciate everyone who attended the panels, asked questions, and provided feedback. See you next year!

The HBCU Radio Preservation Project brings you the a-sides, b-sides, and all the history hits!This week, meet Jennifer G...
09/03/2026

The HBCU Radio Preservation Project brings you the a-sides, b-sides, and all the history hits!

This week, meet Jennifer Gamble, a Fisk alumna who returned to WFSK in 2003 to host “All Things Fisk.”

Originally from Chicago, Jennifer fell in love with Fisk on her first visit and became a journalism student. Today, she is a councilwoman and owns her own public relations firm.

Learn more:

📻 Subscribe to our Substack

📻 Listen to the full interview on our YouTube channel

Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Cassandra Wilson, Jackson native and JSU grad who won two ...
09/02/2026

Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Cassandra Wilson, Jackson native and JSU grad who won two Grammy Awards and was honored with a Blues Trail marker, among many other accomplishments.

We remember her not only for her talent as a singer, songwriter, and producer, but also as a community member. We will always be grateful that she gave her time as a CASE Festival keynote speaker in 2022.

We are pleased to invite our community to join us at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, for an exciting evening celebr...
09/01/2026

We are pleased to invite our community to join us at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, for an exciting evening celebrating the publication of Margaret Walker’s groundbreaking novel.

Jubilee traces her great-grandmother’s journey from enslavement to freedom. The novel, a forerunner for such works as Beloved by Toni Morrison and Roots by Alex Haley, has never once been out of print.

Our 60th Anniversary of Jubilee event will take place in the F.D. Hall Music Center at Jackson State University. Student performances of selections from Jubilee: A Folk Opera will accompany a panel of fantastic authors and scholars: Maryemma Graham, Seretha Williams, and Randal Jelks. The evening will close with a reception.

This is an official Mississippi Book Festival event, and it's free and open to the public!

22-year-old Margaret Walker takes stock of her emotions and ambitions in today's .In this 1937 journal entry, she discu...
08/31/2026

22-year-old Margaret Walker takes stock of her emotions and ambitions in today's .

In this 1937 journal entry, she discusses why she is starting another journal, and how she hopes the journal will be an outlet for the many thoughts and emotions she is dealing with. The topics she lists range from the personal to the broadly societal.

We're certainly thankful for her "unquenchable eagerness" to write, so that we can study her journals today.

Let's discuss--comment your thoughts below!
- Margaret Walker mentions a variety of journaling subjects in this excerpt. Which do you most often find yourself writing about?
- The entry is dated January 31. How might the new year have impacted Walker's reflections?

Thank you to all the JSU students and faculty that joined us for the screening of Ava DuVernay's powerful film, "August ...
08/28/2026

Thank you to all the JSU students and faculty that joined us for the screening of Ava DuVernay's powerful film, "August 28: A Day in the Life of a People."

We were proud to be one of many sites nationwide to showcase the film as a part of the National Museum of African American History & Culture's 10th anniversary celebration.

Attention JSU students, faculty, and staff!!! Please join us TODAY at NOON in Student Center Ballroom A for a special sc...
08/28/2026

Attention JSU students, faculty, and staff!!! Please join us TODAY at NOON in Student Center Ballroom A for a special screening of Ava DuVernay's film, "August 28: A Day in the Life of a People."

The August 28th film highlights pivotal moments in Black history that all occurred on a single date. The Margaret Walker Center and JSU Student Center present this film to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

This meaningful film is usually shown only at the NMAAHC museum in Washington, D.C., so don't miss your chance to see it!

Reminder for tomorrow--Please share with any JSU students/orgs/departments!Don't miss your chance to see acclaimed write...
08/28/2026

Reminder for tomorrow--Please share with any JSU students/orgs/departments!

Don't miss your chance to see acclaimed writer and director Ava DuVernary's "August 28: A Day in the Life of a People" tomorrow at noon in the JSU Student Center Ballroom A!

We're proud to screen this film in honor of the 10th anniversary of the National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC).

Attention JSU students!!! Please join us TOMORROW at NOON in Student Center Ballroom A for a special screening of Ava Du...
08/27/2026

Attention JSU students!!! Please join us TOMORROW at NOON in Student Center Ballroom A for a special screening of Ava DuVernay's film, "August 28: A Day in the Life of a People."

The August 28th film highlights pivotal moments in Black history that all occurred on a single date. The Margaret Walker Center and JSU Student Center present this film to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

This film is usually shown only at the NMAAHC museum in Washington, D.C., so don't miss your chance to see it!

Address

P. O. Box 17008
Jackson, MS
39217

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

601-979-3935

Website

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