iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Look who I found also waiting to hear Kate McKinnon this morning at the Mississippi Book Festival! So glad you wore that shirt today, @mychal3ts.bsky.social. ♥️ #LibraryJoy

030 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Mississippi Governor's School 2026 kicking off! Classes start tomorrow. This will be the fifth year of "Radical Courage: Black Legislators in Mississippi's Reconstruction Government."

020 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Recording a Reconstruction episode for the Mississippi Humanities Council's "Reflecting Mississippi" podcast with Michael Morris, John Spann, and Jere Nash

062 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

"Covering Mississippi: Women Journalists in Conversation across Generations” panel with @donnerkay.bsky.social, Aundrea Self, and Shamira Muhammad. Thanks, MSU Gender Studies!

041 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

Part 2 of big project finished this morning: a public tree on Ancestry where subscribers can access genealogical info and tons of attached sources for Mississippi's 19th-century Black legislators: www.ancestry.com/invite-ui/ac... 2/3

110 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

Part 1 of big project finished this morning: a spreadsheet of all 162 Black legislators in Mississippi during the 1800s, tracking every documentation I could find for them on the US census: docs.google.com/spreadsheets... 1/3

spreadsheet of legislators on the census

242 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

The first counties to give us the Board of Supervisors' go-ahead made up the first round of applications submitted to the Dept. of Archives & History: Adams, Claiborne/Jefferson, Holmes, Lauderdale/Clarke, Lowndes, Marshall/DeSoto, Noxubee, Oktibbeha/Clay, Warren, Washington, and Wilkinson/Amite.

Coverage from Port Gibson, Claiborne County

100 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

Funded by a grant from Monument Lab, "Making Their Mark" (much-ado.net/legislators/...) is an initiative to install 22 historical markers at county courthouses across Mississippi to honor the state's first Black legislators. I submitted the applications for the first round of 11 markers last week. +

Composite portrait of the 1874-75 Mississippi state legislature, which was composed of more African American legislators than any other state.

100 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

Presenting "Until It Is Faced: Using Primary Sources to Teach the History of Civil Rights in Mississippi" at @asalh-bhm.bsky.social with @jperksmith.bsky.social, Al Dorsey, and Beth Kruse #ASALH2025

Jessica Perkins Smith, DeeDee Baldwin, Al Dorsey, and Beth Kruse at ASALH 2025

060 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

I'm aliiiiive! I'm out of Mississippi and in Atlanta for @asalh-bhm.bsky.social, so I was able to get on Bluesky! Full day of panels today. My panel with Jessica Smith and Al Dorsey, "Until it is Faced: Using Primary Sources to Tell the Story of Civil Rights in Mississippi," is tomorrow at 4:00.

030 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

During the first week of September, we'll be commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Clinton Massacre with several events in and around Clinton, Mississippi. Details at much-ado.net/legislators/.... Please help spread the word!

“REMEMBER IT WHEN I AM GONE” The Clinton Massacre 150th Anniversary Commemoration Events.
On September 4, 1875, racist violence erupted at a community picnic (learn more), leading to the deaths of unknown numbers of African Americans in the months that followed. 150 years later, in 2025, we commit ourselves to learn from the past, to honor those who lost their lives, and to do better in the future.

042 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

In today's mail! I've been waiting for this to come out. 😁 @upmississippi.bsky.social

Jere Nash's new book, Reconstruction in Mississippi, 1862-1877

130 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

Honoring Emmett Till's birthday at the national monument in Sumner, MS

The infamous sign that's been put up at NPS sites

Tallahatchie County courtroom where the Emmett Till murder trial took place

Till national monument sign with Confederate statue in foreground

050 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

This is the small newspaper clipping that I show to my Governor's School students to show the callous establishment reaction to the murder.

Marsh Cook Killed. MERIDIAN, July 25. F. M. B. Cook, a prominent and offensive Republican politician of Jasper county, was found dead in the public road, near Mt. Zion church, Tuesday evening, with eighteen buck-shot in his body. The Clarion Ledger, July 25, 1890.

010 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

"If you want to dismantle democracy, take out the people who can prove why it needs to exist." @staceyabrams.com at @mmei63.bsky.social on why authoritarians are afraid of teaching about people like Medgar Evers

03713 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

This lady made my day by celebrating Reconstruction in Mississippi! @joyannreid.bsky.social

1201 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Great conversation about the stories we tell - and don't tell - with @wralpheubanks.bsky.social, @joyannreid.bsky.social, and Dr. Ebony Lumumba. Thank you, Joy, for the shout-out to Reconstruction!

Ebony Lumumba, Joy Ann Reid, Ralph Eubanks

031 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Powerful talk about Medgar Evers by Michael Vinson Williams

000 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Amazing panel with Bettie Dahmer, @reenaevers.bsky.social, and @kerrykennedy.bsky.social telling wonderful stories about their fathers, civil rights martyrs. Moderated by @joyannreid.bsky.social. Powerful kickoff to a weekend celebrating the 100th birthday of Medgar Evers.

Joy Ann Reid, Bettie Dahmer, Reena Evers Everette, and Kerry Kennedy

Reena Evers Everette, daughter of Medgar Evers

Bettie Dahmer, daughter of Vernon Dahmer

Kerry Kennedy, daughter of Robert F. Kennedy

030 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

In today's mail: my official copy of the Mississippi Senate's resolution to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Clinton Massacre and honor the lives lost, including legislators James G. Patterson and Charles Caldwell #TeachReconstruction

022 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

My Mississippi Governor's School students spent the afternoon analyzing Reconstruction-era treasures (like a John R. Lynch letter and a Blanche K. Bruce document) from the MSU Libraries' archives, touring the Grant Presidential Library, and making buttons and magnets in the Digital Media Center.

Hanging out with the general at the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library

Students looking at an original letter written by writer, lawyer, and Reconstruction legislator John R. Lynch

Document from Senator Blanche K. Bruce's time as Sheriff of Bolivar County

001 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

Each June, Chuck Yarborough gives my Mississippi Governor's School scholars an overview of Columbus' rich African American history, including a visit to the gravesites of Lowndes County Reconstruction legislators Robert Gleed and Jesse Freeman Boulden.

Class at the gravesite of Jesse Freeman Boulden

031 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

We had a GREAT first day at Mississippi Governor's School! Students had conversations as national historical figures in the @zinnedproject.bsky.social's Reconstruction Mixer. Tomorrow, they start meeting the legislators!

041 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

The 2025 session of the Mississippi Governor's School starts Monday, and my "Radical Courage: Black Legislators in Mississippi's Reconstruction Government" classroom is ready!

040 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

From the 2017 Mississippi Book Festival, to the grand opening of the Grant Presidential Library here at Mississippi State, to her conversation with Michelle Obama at @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social in New Orleans in 2018, every minute I got to be in the same room as Carla Hayden was a privilege.

Carla Hayden and I at the grand opening of the Grant Presidential Library, 2017

Michelle Obama and Carla Hayden at ALA 2018

030 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

You have to appreciate the amount of effort it took to copy-paste the issue I called about into an entirely unrelated form email. Why even bother? Not replying at all would have been better than this apathetic "run along now."

Thank you for contacting me to express your concern regarding the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. I am glad to have the benefit of your views on this issue.

As your U.S. Senator, I closely monitor legislation affecting Mississippians and the communities across our state. My service on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senate Commerce Committee, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Senate Rules Committee provides me with opportunities to influence a broad range of legislation.

Be assured I will keep your comments in mind as Congress considers legislation affecting Mississippi. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can ever be of assistance.

With best wishes, I am

Sincerely yours,

Roger F. Wicker
U.S. Senate

120 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Another important Mississippi State program lost to the NEH purge. Here's an article about the Field School's work from @heatherharrison.bsky.social a couple of years ago: www.mississippifreepress.org/the-work-of-...

Flyer for the Starkville Colored Cemetery Field School

023 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

When the world is crappy, get yourself a hug from @kiese.bsky.social. Beautiful conversation between him and @nezhukumatathil.bsky.social. 🥰

071 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

In June 2022, I had the privilege of paying my respects to two Mississippi heroes buried in Arlington: Medgar Evers and John Roy Lynch. They can't erase history unless we let them, and we WON'T let them. #BlackHistory #DefendDEI #TeachTheTruth #BlackLivesMatter

030 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

I'm not exaggerating when I say that this is one of the greatest honors of my life.

Mississippi Historical Society award of merit for Against All Odds website

6694 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

William L. Woods from Tougaloo kicks off the Mississippi Historical Society panel on the impact of John Dittmer's scholarship on civil rights in Mississippi, with Robby Luckett, Emilye Crosby, @francoisehamlin.bsky.social, and Christina Thomas.

040 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Mississippi Historical Society day two! I really enjoyed this presentation by @bougieprofessor.bsky.social Cassandra Hawkins, "Documenting the Voices of African American Women in Mississippi's Rural Communities."

122 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

First panel at Mississippi Historical Society: "Breaking the Silence: The Emmett Till Interpretive Center and the Journey to Truth-Telling and Racial Healing," with Daphne Chamberlain, Jessie Jaynes-Diming, Benjamin Saulsberry, and Jay Rushing.

010 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

"Your work has never been more essential... Truth matters." -Judge Carlton Reeves at the Mississippi Historical Society conference

092 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

In Jackson today and tomorrow for the Mississippi Historical Society conference!

031 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

LaWanda Dickens of Jackson State University will be joining MSU and Starkville on Monday, March 3 to kick off Women's History Month! 1:00 - Unknown Women in Mississippi History, MSU Libraries 4:00 - The Magnolia Literacy Project, Starkville Public Library

LaWanda Dickens speaking at MSU library and Starkville Public Library on March 3

011 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Mississippi State's Holmes Cultural Diversity Center and Safe Zone pages are gone. Even when you knew it was coming, it's still a gut punch.

141 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

The legacies of Mississippi's first Black legislators continue to ripple across US history. Oliver Randolph, son of legislator John W. Randolph, went on to serve in the NJ Assembly and introduced a segregation ban at their 1947 constitutional convention. Transcript at much-ado.net/legislators/...

Click link in post for full text of newspaper article

173 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

Months ago, I contacted Rep. Zakiya Summers to ask about the process of bringing up a resolution for the state legislature to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Clinton Massacre. She said she would do it if I sent her the info, and she did. billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/his...

Information page for Mississippi House Resolution 49

130 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

It's #DouglassDay at Mississippi State University libraries! One student transcribed a page, wrote down the URL, and said she wants to do more in her spare time! 🥰

283 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Mississippi State folks, join me in the library atrium on Friday between 10:00-1:00 to try your hand at transcribing historical documents in celebration of #DouglassDay! @douglassday.bsky.social #BlackHistoryMonth #DefendDEI

Graphic promoting Douglass Day at Mississippi State

1104 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

African American Read-In at the Black Prairie Blues Museum in West Point. I read a passage from Michelle Coles' Black was the Ink, where a modern boy goes back in time and meets Senator Hiram Revels. #AfricanAmericanReadIn #BlackHistoryMonth

Book cover of Black was the Ink by Michelle Coles

1141 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

It was nice to see Frederick Douglass's face in my coloring app today. I'm depending on all the little things that keep me afloat right now.

Partially colored portrait of Frederick Douglass

0140 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Local/MSU people, join us in the library on Tuesday to learn the fascinating story of Abdul Rahman Ibrahima, a prince who was enslaved in Natchez, presented by the wonderful @roscoebarnes3.bsky.social!

Flyer for lecture on Abdul Rahman Ibrahima, February 5, 2:00 pm, Grisham Room, Mississippi State University Libraries

1113 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

"Not unlike past administrative changes." "As in past years, the agencies will soon return to normal." Look, I know they don't want people freaking out. But pretending this is all routine and normal is not it.

Mississippi State email about webinar for staff and faculty concerned about grant and contract disruptions

292 0

DeeDee Baldwin @deedeebaldwinms.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

Falkor is finished! Thanks to Whimsy Tattoo in Columbus, MS. 🥰

Tattoo of Falkor the luck dragon from Neverending Story

240 0