Autumn of Grace
In March 2013, Brownsville native and internationally acclaimed art photographer Jerry Taliaferro returned home to Haywood County to photograph a remarkable group of women whose lives reflect generations of history, strength, and grace. As part of his celebrated traveling exhibition Women of a New Tribe, Taliaferro photographed 24 Haywood County women, each over the age of 85.
Taliaferro describes the project as “a photographic study of the physical and spiritual beauty of the Black American women we see around us every day.” A distinctive feature of the exhibition is the inclusion of women from each community where the exhibit appears, connecting the national project with local stories and experiences.
The 16 x 20 portraits of these extraordinary Haywood County women are featured in the Black history art display at Brownsville City Hall titled Autumn of Grace, presented during the month of February. These images represent only a small portion of the more than 1,200 photographs Taliaferro captured during a single weekend photo session held at the historic Carver Gymnasium in March 2013.
Together, the portraits honor the lives, dignity, and enduring legacy of women whose experiences span nearly a century of Haywood County history.
150th Anniversary Gettysburg Address
In 2013, marking the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, a group of Haywood County residents gathered at the Dunbar Carver Museum to honor the enduring words that helped redefine the meaning of freedom and equality in America. Each participant read a portion of the historic speech, joining their voices together in a shared act of remembrance.
This recording represents their collective reading of the Gettysburg Address, connecting the history of a defining moment in the nation’s past with the voices of the present-day Haywood County community.
The Harvest & Panel Discussion
On November 3, 2025, a screening of the documentary The Harvest, produced by Douglas Blackmon, was held at The Ned R. McWherter Cultural Arts Center in Jackson. The film examines the history of school desegregation in Leland and tells the story of the first class in the state to experience integration from first grade through high school graduation.
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Following the screening, a panel discussion brought together former students from counties surrounding Jackson, Tennessee, who shared their personal experiences and reflections on the challenges and changes that accompanied the era of school integration. Their perspectives provided a powerful connection between the history presented in the film and the lived experiences of those who witnessed and participated in the transformation of public education in the region.