Artwork: Sculpture by Ed Dwight
Indianola, MS — For nearly two centuries, the Mississippi Delta has been called the “Cotton Kingdom,” its soil watered by sweat, tears, and dreams. Yet, the stories of those who planted, chopped, and picked the cotton that built America’s wealth remain largely untold.
Khafre, Inc., a nonprofit based in the Mississippi Delta, is determined to change that narrative. The organization is leading a bold initiative to build the Cotton Pickers of America Monument and Sharecroppers Interpretive Center — a first-of-its-kind historic complex dedicated to honoring the enslaved people, sharecroppers, and Black farmers whose labor made cotton “king.”
“This is more than a monument,” says Dr. C. Sade Turnipseed, Executive Director of Khafre, Inc. “It’s a cultural reckoning — a chance to give dignity back to those whose sacrifices shaped this nation, yet whose names were never recorded in history books.”
The monument, designed by world-renowned sculptor Ed Dwight, will rise 30 feet high and sit on 20 acres of historic cotton land in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. Adjacent to the monument will be the Sharecroppers Interpretive Center, a 20,000-square-foot museum and cultural hub featuring exhibits, research facilities, oral histories, and interactive educational programs.
The Center will celebrate the Delta’s rich cultural contributions — from the field hollers that birthed the blues to the agricultural innovations that transformed global markets. It will also serve as an educational resource for students and teachers, including partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the region.
“Our goal is to inspire pride in young people,” says Turnipseed. “When they understand the integrity, artistry, and resilience of their ancestors, they begin to see their own potential differently.”
Khafre, Inc. envisions this project as more than a static monument. It’s part of a larger social movement to reclaim narratives, empower youth, and drive economic revitalization in the Delta.
The project will include:
• Sharecroppers Home Museum Trail — authentic “shotgun” houses converted into living-history exhibits across 18 counties of the Mississippi Delta.
• Mississippi Delta Blues…Back to Africa Program — a cultural exchange connecting the Delta’s blues heritage to its African roots.
• Youth Empowerment & Finishing School Initiative — leadership and personal development programs designed to nurture the next generation of Delta storytellers, innovators, and community leaders.
These efforts will spark what Turnipseed calls a “Delta Renaissance” — restoring dignity to the past while creating opportunities for the future.
The Mississippi Delta is where African American creativity blossomed despite extraordinary hardship. From spirituals and gospel to jazz and the blues, the music born in the cotton fields now defines much of what the world celebrates about American culture.
But the deeper story — the hands that made that creativity possible — remains overlooked.
“Cotton pickers endured back-breaking labor, systemic oppression, and racial terror,” says Turnipseed. “And yet, they gave us resilience, innovation, and the soundtrack of freedom. This monument is our ‘thank you.’”
Two primary sites in the Mississippi Delta were selected for their cultural and historical significance.
The development will transform the Delta into a premier cultural heritage destination, attracting domestic and international visitors. Economists estimate the project could stimulate millions in tourism revenue, leading to new jobs, business opportunities, and historic preservation efforts.
Local leaders, state legislators, and members of Congress have already voiced strong support. Among the early champions are the late Dr. Maya Angelou, who penned an original poem for the project, Dr. B.B. King, who called it “an overdue tribute to the hands that fed America,” and Dr Bobby Rush, who currently serves as the Honorary Chair of this Movement.
In a country filled with monuments, there is not a single national memorial dedicated to cotton pickers and sharecroppers — the very people whose labor fueled the nation’s economic rise. Khafre, Inc. intends to change that by securing National Park Service designation for the site, ensuring its preservation for generations to come.
“Every brick, every sculpture, every story we collect is about restoring dignity,” Turnipseed explains. “This is America’s story. And it’s time we tell it.”
How to Support the Monument
Khafre, Inc. is calling on foundations, philanthropists, corporations, entertainers, athletes, and everyday Americans to contribute to this landmark project. Funding will support monument construction, educational programming, cultural exchanges, and economic development initiatives across the Delta.
About Khafre, Inc.
Khafre, Inc. is a Mississippi-based nonprofit dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and promoting the history, culture, and contributions of African Americans in the Mississippi Delta. Its flagship project, the Cotton Pickers of America Monument and Sharecroppers Interpretive Center, seeks to educate, inspire, and heal through truth-telling, cultural preservation, and community empowerment.
For more information or to donate, visit www.cottonpickers.us or contact Khafre, Inc. at info@khafreinc.org | 662-347-8198.
