Dr. C. Sade Turnipseed Launches “Truth-Telling Educational Primer Series”
Benjamin Thornton Montgomery: The King of the Cotton Kingdom
Indianola, MS – Public historian, professor, and cultural curator Dr. C. Sade Turnipseed proudly announces the launch of the Truth-Telling Educational Series — a new, groundbreaking primer series designed to enrich classrooms, inspire community dialogue, and deepen understanding of overlooked chapters in American history. The series debuts with its first volume, Benjamin Thornton Montgomery: The King of the Cotton Kingdom, produced through a dynamic collaboration between Khafre ,Inc., and Red Clay Productions.
This powerful new work shines a long-overdue light on Benjamin Thornton Montgomery (1819–1877)—an enslaved engineer, entrepreneur, father and uncle of Mound Bayou founders, and visionary who managed the 11,000-acre Davis Bend plantation complex owned by Joseph and Jefferson Davis in Mississippi.
• Hurricane: The largest of the holdings, with over 5,000 acres, owned by Joseph E. Davis.
• Brierfield: Located adjacent to Hurricane, owned by Joseph’s younger brother, Jefferson Davis. The property was initially about 1,000 acres but was expanded.
• Ursino: A plantation of over 2,000 acres, owned by the Wood family.
• Palmyra: The area’s original name, which also encompassed plantation land.
• Lake Pleasant / Quitman: A plantation owned by General John A. Quitman, who purchased the land from Joseph Davis.
Montgomery also invented a revolutionary steam-powered propeller but was denied a patent because of his enslaved status.
“Montgomery’s life is the story of brilliance in bondage,” says Dr. Turnipseed. “His achievements remind us that genius and innovation have always thrived within African-descended communities—even when history tried to silence them. This series is about teaching those truths and restoring their rightful place in our collective understanding of America.”
Through careful research and accessible storytelling, The King of the Cotton Kingdom invites readers—especially teachers and students—to explore the intersections of invention, resilience, and economic vision during one of the most transformative periods in U.S. history. Each primer in the Truth-Telling Educational Series is designed as an interdisciplinary teaching tool, aligning with history, social studies, and African American studies curricula.
The publication complements Khafre, Inc.’s broader public-history initiatives, including the Cotton Pickers of America Monument Project, which celebrates the contributions of agricultural laborers, and the ongoing development of educational materials that bring truth and context to American heritage.
The official book launch will be held at the Mound Bayou Museum, located at 200 Roosevelt Street, Mound Bayou, Mississippi, on November 1, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. The event will feature live readings, a community dialogue, and an exhibition of The Drs. Leo and Gloria McGee “Cotton in My Hands” Collection of Fine Art, along with rare historical documents from the Montgomery family archives.
Dr. C. Sade Turnipseed is a public historian and professor whose work bridges scholarship, community engagement, and cultural restoration. As founder of Khafre, Inc., she hsa dedicated her career to preserving African-descended heritage and advancing educational equity through history, the arts, and storytelling.
Khafre, Inc. is a 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization based in the Mississippi Delta, devoted to preserving, interpreting, and celebrating African-descended contributions to American history. Through projects like the Truth-Telling Educational Series and the Cotton Pickers of America Monument Project, Khafre, Inc. engages educators ,students, and communities nationwide in rewriting history through remembrance ,research, and truth.
Truth Rises Where Silence Once Ruled …
