MS fastest growing population will get its own exhibit on display for a special evening viewing this Thursday.

With a unique combination of oral history and contemporary photography, the Mississippi Museum of Art in partnership with Mississippi Humanities Council and Immigrant Alliance for Justice and Equity is presenting “Nuestro Mississippi,” an exhibit documenting how Hispanic immigrants have found a home in the Magnolia State for decades. 

The exhibition will be open until Oct. 13, but museum go-ers will get a special chance to take a look at it this Thursday, Aug. 15, from 5 to 9 p.m. as the museum invites guests to see the photography display of Mississippi’s Latino community with a twist: a night at the museum. 

“Guests can expect a celebration of our Hispanic communities here in Mississippi through food, dance, art and a panel discussion with community leaders about the challenges, joy and contributions of their people,” Jasmine Williams, associate curator of public programs and community engagement at The Mississippi Museum of Art, said in a statement. 

The project started with The Mississippi Humanities Council, which wanted to find a way to raise visibility about the state’s Latino community, the fastest-growing population in the state with numbers projected to double between 2020 and 2024.

Enlisting the Immigrant Alliance for Justice and Equity, or IAJE, they selected Austin-based photographer Roj Rodriguez, who has made a name for himself documenting communities along the Texas-Mexico border. The two organizations brought Rodriguez to Mississippi for two multi-day tours of the state, where he was tasked with documenting Mississippi’s diverse Latino population.

“We have college professors. We have a rancher. We have folks who work in the poultry industry. We have archivists. A really wide array of folks,” said Stuart Rockoff executive director of the Mississippi Humanities Council. “What I love is the richness in the stories that reflect both the history and the contemporary times.”

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In both English and Spanish, Rodriguez and IAJE interviewed a variety of immigrants from Latin America, documenting their stories in an oral history series on YouTube.  

At the museum, visitors will get an in-person look at Rodriguez’s images, Mississippi Museum of Art’s Associate Curator Kaegan Sparks said in a statement. Each image will be paired with the subject’s name, where they currently live and where they were born. 

“Our hope is that the exhibit will get visitors to understand the diversity in our state and to appreciate and recognize a community whose stories have not always been incorporated into the larger Mississippi story,” Rockoff said. 

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The after museum experience is also a chance for visitors who don’t have the time to see the museum by day to visit its galleries by night. Every third Thursday, the museum keeps its doors open late, offering live music, pop-up exhibitions, an open bar, food trucks and other activities that aren’t normally available during regular daytime hours. 

“Nuestro Mississippi,” open Thursday evening for a night of stunning portraits and live music, lives up to its name, bringing the community together in and outside of the frame.

“The title of the exhibit is very intentional, and our goal was to give these members of the Latino community an opportunity to show and share what their Mississippi is,” Rockoff said. “The title ‘Nuestro Mississippi’ means ‘our Mississippi.’ The people on those walls are part of Mississippi.”

STARKVILLE – When Mississippi State’s women’s soccer team opens its 2024 season Thursday against Baylor, it will do so with its highest preseason ranking ever. The Bulldogs were ranked No. 15 in the TopDrawerSoccer Preseason Poll this week.

The Bulldogs, who finished last season 12-6-5 and advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament, won their two exhibition games last week. They defeated Kennesaw State 3-1 on August 3 and Louisiana-Monroe 5-0 on August 9.

Mississippi State isn’t the only SEC team ranked in the top 25. Texas (4), Georgia (11), Arkansas (17) and South Carolina (22) are all ranked in the preseason poll.

MSU’s season-opening game on Thursday will be broadcast on SEC Network+ at 6:30 p.m.

No games scheduled.

No games played.

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On his first win with Texas Tech, against New Mexico: “It’s kind of like doing surgery with a chainsaw instead of a scalpel. We had pieces and parts flying everywhere. It turned out in our favor. We’ve just got to clean it up the next time around.”

STARKVILLE — Grant Jackson appears to be the chicken wing-eating champion among Mississippi State football’s offensive linemen. At least he was one night near the start of the Bulldogs’ preseason camp. 

“I think Grant had over 30 (wings) and his fiancé had to stop him,” center Ethan Miner said in early August. 

Trips to Buffalo Wild Wings for all-you-can-eat chicken wings are one example of how Mississippi State’s offensive linemen are gelling together before the 2024 season kicks off on Aug. 31 against Eastern Kentucky (5 p.m., SEC Network+).

The group is completely revamped with all five starters from last season departed. The Bulldogs also have a new offensive line coach in Cody Kennedy, hired by first-year coach Jeff Lebby after three seasons at Arkansas. 

Talent is necessary at offensive line, but so is the cohesion that’s been noted by Mississippi State coaches since the start of preseason practices. 

Miner, a North Texas transfer who’s started 35 consecutive games, appears to be a leader of the group. According to Jacoby Jackson, another offensive lineman transfer, the position group has made trips to church together and had Bible study sessions. Miner conducts it. 

“Sometimes we go to Ethan Miner’s house,” Jacoby Jackson said Tuesday. “We go, eat some good food, just bond. You know offensive linemen, nine times out of 10 when we bond, we’re going to bond over some good food, so it’s a good thing that we do.”

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Mississippi State’s coaches have pointed out the offensive line’s chemistry

At the start of preseason practice, Kennedy said the group’s closeness has been something he’s already picked up on.

“That’s been the biggest thing that I’ve seen through my time here is their ability (to) want to hang out with each other,” he said. “They care for each other. That used to always be a given in the O-line world. Now with the fabric of the game and how you’re managing rosters, it’s kind of been a lost art.”

Then after Sunday’s first Mississippi State preseason scrimmage, Lebby noted the offensive line as one of the most improved positions on the team.

“I think the group is really taking great strides since we ended spring ball, and maybe the group that’s made the most improvement between the end of spring and fall camp,” he said. “And then it’s continued to get better. I appreciate their spirit, their work ethic, their toughness and their camaraderie.”

Strong friendships aren’t interfering with competition

Jackson and Miner are about as experienced as teams can find in the transfer portal. Mississippi State also added Memphis transfer Makylan Pounders, who started 10 games last season, and LSU transfer Marlon Martinez, who’s made 45 appearances and four starts in four seasons. 

They mix with a group that lacks experience. 

“I’ve been at places where you transfer in and the guys don’t like you because it’s a threat,” Miner said. “They’re coming in to compete for a spot. That wasn’t the case at all. It’s definitely brought us closer together.”

Sam Sklar is the Southern Miss beat reporter for the Hattiesburg American. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.