Quiana Peterson

Quiana Peterson grew up in Mound Bayou, Mississippi. Former slaves founded Mound Bayou, and the town remained an all-black community until seven or eight years ago. "We run everything," Quiana remarked. "We take care of ourselves. No one has been able to come in and take it over." The community's self-sufficient history stands a mark of pride for the town residents, though now much less than in the past. "We used to cover more of the history of this area, but now it’s only taught during black history month."

Quiana attended John F. Kennedy High School, but left the community to attend Mississippi State University. She returned to Mound Bayou largely in order to give something back to the community that provided so much for her. She now teaches in the nearby town of Shelby.

Mound Bayou remains a very isolated community. Many of the young people have never even traveled to the next town. In such a community teachers become paramount. They act as the students’ window to the world outside of the Delta. Quiana commented, "chances are they won’t see it if teachers don’t take them out to see it."

Quiana commented on the relationship between the schools and the churches. She sees this relationship as essential to a well-rounded education. Quiana highlighted her own church’s efforts to educate its youth. "Every Sunday a youth from the congregation reads the historical reflection. The reflection is usually about a major historical event or figure who has made a difference in the black community." Quiana feels that history connects the church to the real world. "Most of the time historical reflection exposes the kids in the congregation to history that they aren’t learning in school."

Quiana doesn’t believe that the ties between church and school have weathered well. "In the past more kids were in church, they were involved in the church. Today the kids don’t have the same understanding of what’s right and wrong."