MUW Student Wins Literary Honor

Kempker, Winter and Friar

COLUMBUS, Miss. — The work by Mississippi University for Women senior history major Christian Friar was recently honored at the 25th Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration.

Friar, who is from Booneville, was recognized as the William Winter Scholar in the Humanities for her work in creating a full-text database of local runaway slave advertisements and a digital exhibit that showcased the ads.

Her work on the runaway slave database and exhibit required a significant time commitment on her part, taking more than six months. She worked on the project during a summer internship at the Local History Room of the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library and in the history Capstone course in the fall. Friar’s work constitutes a significant contribution to the humanities, local history and the history of slavery.

The theme for the NLCC this year was “60 Years and Counting: Voices of the Civil Rights Movement.” Highlights from the NLCC conference included presentations by humanities scholars such as William Ferris; writers and artists such as Kathryn Stockett, author of “The Help;” and civil rights icon James Meredith. Both Stockett and Meredith were awarded Richard Wright Literary Awards at the conference.

Friar thought the most powerful presentation was that of investigative journalists Stanley Nelson and Jerry Mitchell and novelist Greg Iles titled “Why Not Let the Past Rest?” The three described their efforts to uncover and solve cold case files from the civil rights era and their desire to bring Klan murderers to justice. Particularly fascinating was Mitchell’s explanation of his work at the Clarion Ledger that ultimately helped convict Byron de la Beckwith in 1994 for the murder of Medger Evers. Friar also met Gov. William Winters, whose Education Reform Act in 1982 transformed education in Mississippi by requiring kindergartens and compulsory attendance.

“I have learned many things from this conference, not only about Mississippi but the Civil Rights movement as well,” Friar said. She believes that it is important for undergraduates to go to conferences like this because they not only celebrate important issues but students are “surrounded by scholars who share the same interest you do.”

The Office of the Provost provided financial support to enable Friar to attend the conference. For more information on the annual conference, please see: http://www.colin.edu/nlcc