Federal spending cuts are having an impact on Mississippi, beginning with state agencies that must adjust to a much leaner budget with fewer federal dollars—or none at all.
The Mississippi Humanities Council was notified late Wednesday night that its federal funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities was terminated, effective immediately, MHC Director Stuart Rockoff said.
The revoked funds include monies already appropriated to the MHC.
“We have $1.5 million in either money that was awarded to us or already appropriated to us that we are not able to draw down,” Rockoff reported. “You basically have to withdraw as you spend it.
We have 35 open grants that we have given to nonprofit organizations, and we can no longer access the funds that we owe them under those grants. It is crazy.”
According to Rockoff, the email arrived around 11:45 p.m. from the Department of Government Efficiency, using an unfamiliar email address. Other grants in Mississippi have been awarded in addition to those from the Humanities Council, but Rockoff is unsure of their status.
“It’s just chaos,” he explained. “And, it’s not the result of a thoughtful, considerate process.”
Rockoff stated that while federal funds account for roughly 70% of the organization’s funding, other sources include endowment funds, donations, and cash reserves.
“We’re not closing up shop tomorrow,” he informed me.
Rockoff is urging Mississippians to contact their congressional delegation and ask them to help reverse the order and restore funding to the humanities.
The Mississippi Humanities Council was started more than 50 years ago to help bring about social change. At first, the mission was to discuss issues such as desegregation, which expanded later to other initiatives that unite people and celebrate the state’s rich and diverse history.
Among the initiatives and programming that MHC has helped with include the Mississippi Blues Trail, the Eudora Welty House and Garden and the B.B. King Museum.
Some of the current programs include Ideas on Tap, Prison Education, Youth Reading and the Mississippi Freedom Trail.
As of Thursday, all MHC programs funded by federal dollars, including the Speakers Bureau and Tracy Carr’s April 10 engagement, were suspended indefinitely.
In addition to its own programming, the council supports projects with the state’s universities, libraries, museums, arts councils, and even small groups whose programs contribute to a better understanding of the human experience in Mississippi.
To receive funding, programs must be provided for free.
Dianna Freelon Foster of Grenada is part of a group that collaborated with MHC to preserve the history of school integration and the civil rights movement in her community.
“I’m not surprised,” Foster said upon learning of the cuts. “I expected it.”
To her, it is reminiscent of her childhood, when she was beaten because “I was not wanted in a school I had a right to attend.”
“It aligns with all the things that have been done (in the past), just for the right to have dignity, to have quality education, just for the right to be human, the right to be a citizen,” she told the audience. “To experience all of that…” I mean, I knew it could happen, but it’s nothing like when it actually hits you.”
Foster believes that Americans’ civil rights are once again in jeopardy, as they were in the past when Black Americans in the South were denied the right to vote or equal access to businesses, education, and other benefits to which all Americans are entitled.
She cited Fannie Lou Hamer, who in 1964 asked, “Is this America?” when she and other Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party delegates were not seated at the national Democratic Convention. Instead, the Democratic Party delegation, which was entirely white, took their seats.
Foster claimed Hamer never answered that question, but Foster does.
“Yes, this is America,” she answered. “It always has been and we’ve tried so hard to change that.”
VisitNatchez Cultural Heritage and Tourism Manager Roscoe Barns said he’s been following all the recent changes in federal government, but this one hits close to home.
“You’re really hurt and disappointed when it comes to your area,” Barnes said. “It’s like it trickles down from the national scene all the way down South to Natchez, Mississippi. I was heartbroken and very disappointed.
“It will be a tremendous loss to southwest Mississippi and the entire state if we were to lose the support and funding for the Mississippi Humanities Council.”
Barnes stated that the MHC played an important role in helping the city recover from the coronavirus pandemic by assisting museums such as the Rhythm Night Club, Dr. John Banks’ house, and the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture in refreshing and preparing to welcome visitors again, including new exhibits, displays, and programs.
In Natchez, once home to the state’s largest slave market, leaders believe it is critical to share the entire history, both good and bad.
“That includes people from all backgrounds,” Barnes stated.
With only $1 million in federal funding in 2024, the Mississippi Humanities Council will present 750 programs in 90 communities and support 65 grants to various groups, according to an email announcing the cuts.
“It was such a gut-punch this morning to get this news,” said Ellen Daniels, director of the Mississippi Book Festival. “The Humanities Council helps so many organizations around the state.”
Book Festival organizers frequently consult with Humanities Council leaders about possible programs and initiatives.
Daniels praised the council’s efforts to improve education for incarcerated people through coursework and book clubs held inside the prisons. She also stated that the council collaborates with indigenous communities to provide humanities programs and to share their cultures with the rest of the state.
Daniels suggested that supporters make donations to the Mississippi Humanities Council to help the organization continue for as long as possible.
“With the announcement of this, I have given a donation so they can keep doing their work across the state,” according to her.
She hopes that others will follow her example.
“We need the humanities in this state.”
According to Daniels, the state has provided significant funding for the humanities. Even at the national level, two of the 12 directors have come from Mississippi: William Ferris, a Vicksburg native, and Jon Parrish Peede, a Brandon native.
“They highlight all the wonderful things about our state — and our troubled past that we reckon with and how we can learn from those mistakes,” said Governor Daniels.
