Visit Mississippi, in collaboration with the Columbus-Lowndes Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Mississippi Humanities Council, unveiled a new marker on the Mississippi Freedom Trail to honor Dr. Emmett Stringer. The ceremony took place on Thursday and featured speeches from members of the Stringer family, state Representative Kabir Karriem, Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin, and other local officials.
Dr. Emmett James Stringer, originally from Mound Bayou, pursued dentistry at Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in Nashville after his military service. He moved to Columbus in 1950 where he established a dental practice and his wife began teaching locally.
Stringer played a significant role in organizing the NAACP chapter in Columbus and led efforts to register Black voters. In 1953, he became the NAACP state president and was instrumental in recruiting Medgar Evers as Mississippi’s first NAACP state field secretary. His civil rights work made him a target for the KKK, resulting in economic challenges such as canceled insurance policies and his wife’s dismissal from her teaching job.
“We are proud to celebrate Mississippi’s historic efforts during the Civil Rights Movement, and with this newest Mississippi Freedom Trail marker, we [honor] the work of Dr. Emmett Stringer and his commitment to establishing equality for all,” stated Visit Mississippi Director Rochelle Hicks.
The Mississippi Freedom Trail acknowledges the state’s impact on the U.S. civil rights movement with over 40 markers that commemorate key individuals, locations, and events pivotal to civil rights struggles. This initiative is managed by Visit Mississippi along with the Mississippi Humanities Council and is funded by a State Tourism Grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
Visit Mississippi operates under the Mississippi Development Authority as its official destination marketing body. Its mission is to promote tourism through strategic initiatives that emphasize cultural experiences while fostering economic growth within the state.
