Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/972111
many, many opportunities to better under- stand the importance of the contributions made by Africans and African-American people who are a vital and significant part of the story of Natchez. The cultural contributions of African- Americans are at the heart of the history of Natchez. Whether artistic contribu- tions through the craftsmanship that allowed the creation of the stately man- sions that survive today, to the rich sounds of blues music, to foods that mean "Southern," or the suffering and struggles so many faced during both the Civil War, as well as the Civil Rights movement, Natchez is home to extraordi- nary stories of African-American people who have made a tremendous difference in the world. The influences of Natchez writers and musicians have literally spread around the globe. The daily diaries kept by barber William Johnson from 1835 to 1851 are taught in college history classes across the country and are referenced in many publications about the antebellum South. The writings of Richard Wright have gar- nered international acclaim for his straightforward portrayal of the lives of African-Americans and the effects of racism that he witnessed in the early 1900s. More heritage tourism sites and specially-created tours are bringing the history and cultural contributions of African-Americans in the Natchez area into the mainstream of the Natchez visitor experience. Natchez gave birth to world-famous musicians. Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield, known as "the Black Swan," rose from her 1824 birth as a Natchez slave to become America's first black concert singer at her 1851 debut. At the other end of the spectrum is Hound Dog Taylor, a blues guitarist and singer and Natchez native who recorded albums, toured nationwide with Muddy Waters, and was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1984. Blue music contin- ues to live on today with such extraordi- nary talent as Y.Z.Ealey, honored with his family of musicians, with a Mississippi Blues Trail Marker. Natchez was also home to major influ- ential politicians, including Hiram Revels, U.S. Senator, who was the first African American to sit in either house of the U.S. Congress, and John Roy Lynch who was brought to the antebellum home Dunleith as a house slave, and went on to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. Natchez, with its rich, diverse history and unparalleled beauty located on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi, provides a unique and unforgettable experience whether visitors are here for a conference or meeting, a reunion, or simply traveling to explore one of the most remarkable cities in the country. • • • JACKSON • • • Discover an authentic setting for your meetings in Jackson, Mississippi, the "City with Soul" that's just the right B M & T ••• March/April 2018 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 38 AREA GUIDES • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Natchez Grand Hotel 119 Magnolia Bluffs Casino Hotel 141 EXHIBITION FACILITIES NATCHEZ CONVENTION CENTER Total Exhibit Space 32,000 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 8 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Natchez (800) 647-6724 info@visitnatchez.org Sunset over Natchez Jackson, Mississippi, cityscape Photo Credit: Natchez C.C.