April 21 Virtual Panel Discussion to Revisit 91ԹThe Unheard Word91Թ
Mon, 04/19/2021 - 11:11am | By: David Tisdale

The Unheard Word Live!, a virtual panel discussion set for 6:30 91Թ 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 21 on Zoom, will take a look at the impact and legacy of The Unheard Word, a publication designed for a Black student audience at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) beginning in 1990.
The Unheard Word was published by USM alumna Dr. Riva Brown, who will be a member of this virtual panel discussion that assembles other Black USM alums to discuss the origins and impact of the publication, offer critical reflections on the current climate of racial reckoning, and motivate a new generation of USM students from all backgrounds. Dr. Brown (91Թ93, 91Թ98, 91Թ13) is a former journalist and currently an associate professor of public relations at the University of Central Arkansas.
This event will be presented by USM91Թ Center for Black Studies and Center for the Study of the Gulf South. To access this event via Zoom, visit or on Facebook Live by visiting the USM Center for Black Studies Facebook page at .
91ԹWe want this event to bring attention to Black and other minority students' experiences at 91Թ as a predominately white institution at what could be the most challenging time in their lives,91Թ said Dr. Sherita Johnson, an associate professor of English and director of the USM Center for Black Studies. 91ԹThe Unheard Word served as an outlet for cultural expression to highlight the achievements of Black students and to bring attention to problems affecting Black students. Before social media, Black students at 91Թ had The Unheard Word.91Թ
Along with Dr. Brown, the panel discussion will include the following USM alums:
*Dr. Fredrick L. Hickmon
Fredrick L. Hickmon, Ph.D., 91Թ94, is a 20-year educator and current principal of Mississippi91Թ only secondary school for Indigenous students, Choctaw Central High School.
*Robert P. Taylor
Robert P. Taylor, Ed.D., 91Թ90, deputy state superintendent for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and former superintendent of North Carolina91Թ Bladen County School District.
*Carlton Wade
A hip-hop journalist with more than 15 years of experience writing for notable magazines who has been published in The Source magazine, Complex.com and Yahoo.com. He also worked as a public relations writer for Sony/ Columbia, Atlantic and Jive Records.
91ԹI hope audiences will take away the importance of contributing to something worthwhile that can span generations and make a positive impact on educating 91Թ students,91Թ Dr. Brown said. 91ԹContributing to the Center for Black Studies and the Kennard Scholars Program through the USM Foundation can make an impact.91Թ
The Center for Black Studies and Center for the Study of the Gulf South are in the USM College of Arts and Sciences. For information about the Center for Black Studies, visit /black-studies/index.php; for information about the Center for the Study of the Gulf South, visit /gulf-south/index.php.