05/22/2026
The Mules & Blues Fest is not just blues festival, it is a celebration of the powerful legacy born in through Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Poor People’s Campaign. It started to address sereve poverty that was displayed in the area. And yes, it started right here in Marks, MS.
After Dr. King’s assassination, more than 80 courageous people mostly from Marks ranging in age from infants to elders traveled from the Mississippi Delta to Atlanta, where they boarded trains bound for Washington, D.C. 🚄 Their journey became part of a historic movement demanding economic justice and human dignity for poor and marginalized communities across America.
They stood alongside Native American tribes, Appalachian communities, Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and others in one of the nation’s most important demonstrations for equality and opportunity.
Their courage helped pave the way for investments and programs that continue to impact millions of lives today, including Pell Grants, school lunch programs, Head Start, SNAP, WIC, and broader efforts toward fair housing, worker protections, and economic opportunity.
And it all traces back to Marks, Mississippi.
So we celebrate. We are descendants of those who fought for a future they may never have seen themselves. It is our responsibility to keep this history alive, continue advocating for meaningful change, and ensure our voices are always heard.
See you Ocotober 9-10, 2026 enjoying the blues, eating good food and in thanks for those who came before us.
Special thanks to Hilliard L. Lackey for keeping this history alive! We are beyond thankful for you as a community for never letting us forget who we truly are!❤️
