Mississippi Freedom Trail Marker Unveiled Honoring Howze Sisters of Shubuta 

SHUBUTA, Miss. — Visit Mississippi and the Mississippi Humanities Council unveiled a new Mississippi Freedom Trail marker in Shubuta on Monday honoring Alma and Maggie Howze. The Howze sisters were among six Black citizens slain at the infamous “Hanging Bridge” near Shubuta during the early 20th century.

The unveiling ceremony featured remarks from Shubuta Mayor Cedric Chapman; John Spann, program and outreach officer for the Mississippi Humanities Council; Dr. Jason Morgan Ward, history professor at Emory University and author of Hanging Bridge: Racial Violence and America’s Civil Rights Century; Sisters Sasha Taylor-Barnes and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, acclaimed American actress and civil rights advocate.

On Dec. 20, 1918, a mob seized sisters Maggie and Alma Howze, along with brothers Major and Andrew Clark, from the Shubuta jail and hanged them from a river bridge one mile north of town. Twenty-four years later, two teenage boys — Ernest Green and Charlie Lang — were lynched at the same site. These tragic events galvanized the NAACP’s anti-lynching campaign and underscored the threats of racial violence faced by Black women and children during the Jim Crow era.

The lynchings in Shubuta occurred during an early, yet pivotal moment in the Black struggle for freedom and equality in Mississippi. The victims and the site of their killings became powerful symbols in the national campaign against racial violence and hatred, linking this rural community to the broader Civil Rights Movement.

About the Mississippi Freedom Trail:

The Mississippi Freedom Trail pays tribute to Mississippi’s profound impact on the U.S. civil rights movement. The statewide initiative features over 40 markers commemorating the individuals, locations, and pivotal events that were instrumental in the struggle for civil rights. Administered by Visit Mississippi in partnership with the Mississippi Humanities Council, the Mississippi Freedom Trail is supported by a State Tourism Grant from the US. Economic Development Administration.

About Visit Mississippi:

Celebrated as The Hospitality State and proudly known as the Birthplace of America’s Music, Mississippi invites visitors to experience a rich tapestry of culture, history, and unforgettable adventures. From the soulful sounds of the Delta to the serene beauty of the Gulf Coast and Appalachian foothills, Mississippi is a destination where every journey tells a story.

Visit Mississippi, a division of the Mississippi Development Authority, serves as the state’s official destination marketing organization. As storytellers and cultural ambassadors, we champion Mississippi through strategic global marketing, innovative partnerships, and creative collaboration. Our mission is to elevate the state’s thriving tourism economy and inspire visitors from around the world to discover the magic that is Mississippi.

For more information, visit visitmississippi.org.