Rebecca Moseman

Photographer

The Land Where Roots Grow Deep

Location: Virginia

Nationality: USA

Biography: Virginia native Rebecca Moseman received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1997 and her Master of Fine Arts from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2001. She has worked in academia, private industry, and... MORE

Boy on the street in Jonestown, Mississippi

Deserted Barber Shop, Clarksdal...side streets of Clarksdale, MS.

Deserted Barber Shop, Clarksdale MS.

A beauty sign sits askew in the window of a deserted barber shop on one of the side streets of Clarksdale, MS.

Mr. Hoover, Baptist Church

Mississippi Flooding, Crowder M...uent rain storms of the spring.

Mississippi Flooding, Crowder MS.

Crowder Mississippi is known for its cheap land and rich soil. It is located near two rivers, the Yocano River and the Coldwater River which flood easily during the frequent rain storms of the spring.

Preacher

Two Brothers in the Barber Shop...hop in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

Two Brothers in the Barber Shop, Clarkesdale, MS

Two young brothers await their turn at the local barber shop in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

School Boy, Jonestown, MS. A bo...treet in Jonestown, Mississippi

School Boy, Jonestown, MS.

A boy on his way home from school asks his mother if he could have his photograph taken on the street in Jonestown, Mississippi

Boy in Waiting Room, Clarksdale...ces of community in Clarksdale.

Boy in Waiting Room, Clarksdale, MS

A boy plays on his phone while waiting patiently for his father at the local barber shop in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Barber shops are places of community in Clarksdale.

Father and Son, Alligator MS A ...its large alligator population.

Father and Son, Alligator MS

A boy and his father in Alligator Mississippi. This small town (population of 187 in 2019) is named after Alligator Lake which was known for its large alligator population.

The Dress Shop, Clarksdale MS T...nts, festivals and restaurants.

The Dress Shop, Clarksdale MS

Three dresses hang from a wall in a dress shop in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Although the Mississippi Delta has a high unemployment rate, Clarksdale's economy remains healthy due to tourists seeking its rich history of Blues music, Juke Joints, festivals and restaurants.

Prom Shoes, Clarksdale MS Two p...asions rather than buy dresses.

Prom Shoes, Clarksdale MS

Two pairs of discarded prom shoes sit in the corner of a formal wear dress shop. It's more affordable for young women to rent formal wear for prom and other formal occasions rather than buy dresses.

Car and Trailer, Baptist Town, ...elp was filmed in Baptist Town.

Car and Trailer, Baptist Town, Greenwood MS.

A house trailer and car in Baptist Town, Mississipppi.
Baptist Town is a historical African-American neighborhood located in Greenwood Mississippi. It is known for its shot-gun houses and rich history of the Blues. Scenes from the movie The Help was filmed in Baptist Town.

Man In Storefront, Jonestown MS...e main street in Jonestown, MS.

Man In Storefront, Jonestown MS

A man stands in front of the local grocery store along the main street in Jonestown, MS.

Obama in the Diner, Clarksdale ... local diner in Clarksdale, MS.

Obama in the Diner, Clarksdale MS

A large portrait of President Obama and the First Lady hangs from the wall along with other memorabilia within a local diner in Clarksdale, MS.

Juke Joint, Clarksdale MS A loc...Blues hirosty and music venues.

Juke Joint, Clarksdale MS

A local man enjoys the music and nightlife at the local Juke Joint in Clarksdale, MS. Clarksdale is known for its Blues hirosty and music venues.

Night Club Owner, Greenville, M...w.areavibes.com/ greenville-ms

Night Club Owner, Greenville, MS

A night club owner stands within the lounge area of his night club in Greenville, Mississippi. Greenville is known for its cotton production, blues musicians and fertile agricultural land. It is also knowns for its gambling casinos which attracts tourism to the area. The crime rate, relative to Mississippi is higher than 71% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

https://www.areavibes.com/greenville-ms

Protection, Greenville, MS Thre...w.areavibes.com/ greenville-ms

Protection, Greenville, MS

Three boys run behind their neighbors fence after hearing gun fire from a neighboring street. Although many children run around their neighborhoods carefree the crime rate in Greenville, relative to Mississippi is higher than 71% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

https://www.areavibes.com/greenville-ms

Dance Club Waiting Room. Greenville, MS

Teenage Girl, Indianola, MS A t...as Ray Charles and James Brown.

Teenage Girl, Indianola, MS

A teenage girl plays outside of her home in Indianola, Mississippi. Indianola is considered the Crown of the Delta and is home to the BB King Museum and The Ebony Juke Joint which has hosted famous Blues singers such as Ray Charles and James Brown.

Wasting Time, Greenville, MS A ...w.areavibes.com/ greenville-ms

Wasting Time, Greenville, MS

A group of men gather outside a laundromat to talk and drink in Greenville, MS.

The unemployment rate in Greenville is 12%, which is 159% higher than than the national average. The poverty rate in Greenville is 36% which is 138% higher than the national average.
https://www.areavibes.com/greenville-ms

Deserted gas station, Greenvill...ess in Greenville, Mississippi

Deserted gas station, Greenville, MS

Many dilapidated buildings remain empty of business in Greenville, Mississippi

Hover Board Boy, Greenville MS ...se in Greenville, Mississippi.

Hover Board Boy, Greenville MS

A boy plays with his hover board outside of his house in Greenville, Mississippi.

Laundromat, Baptist Town, MS A ...gun houses and Blues musicians.

Laundromat, Baptist Town, MS

A woman sits alone in a laundromat in Baptist Town, Mississippi. Baptist Town is a historically African-American town known for its shot-gun houses and Blues musicians.

Mississippi Flooding, Crowder M...ooding in Crowder, Mississippi.

Mississippi Flooding, Crowder MS

A family deserts their trailer due to the standing water from flooding in Crowder, Mississippi.

Jonestown Pool Hall, Jonestown,... get a beverage for a customer.

Jonestown Pool Hall, Jonestown, MS

The owner of a pool hall in Jonestown, Mississippi reaches into a refrigerator behind the bar to get a beverage for a customer.

Spring Break, Glendora, MS A bo...ge live below the poverty line.

Spring Break, Glendora, MS

A boy plays basketball with his friends along the train tracks in Glendora, a town deep within the Delta that is noted for its astonishing poverty. In an application for federal assistance, town officials noted that the Glendora median household income is 70% below the state average, 68% of families live below the poverty line, and just 18% of the adults have earned a high school education. According to numbers published by Glendora Mayor Johnny B. Thomas in 2017, 86% of children in the village live below the poverty line.

Boy with Basketball,  ... his Baptist Town neighborhood.

Boy with Basketball, Baptist Town MS.

A boy plays basketball on a makeshift basketball court in his Baptist Town neighborhood.

The Black Bayou, Glendora MS A ...ng down the Tallahatchie River.

The Black Bayou, Glendora MS

A boy stands on a bridge over the Black Bayou in Glendora. The bridge, located on the south end of Glendora is thought to be the bridge that Emmitt Till's body was thrown from before being discovered floating down the Tallahatchie River.

Fields Underwater, Crowder MS. ...ississippi during flood season.

Fields Underwater, Crowder MS.

The landscape in Crowder, Mississippi during flood season.

Boys on the Bridge, Glendora MS...ng down the Tallahatchie River.

Boys on the Bridge, Glendora MS

A group of boys play on a bridge which spans the Black Bayou. The bridge, located on the south end of Glendora is thought to be the bridge that Emmitt Till's body was thrown from before being discovered floating down the Tallahatchie River.

Woman in Doorway, Baptist Town,...gun houses and blues musicians.

Woman in Doorway, Baptist Town, MS

A woman peeks out of her shot-gun house to check on her children in Baptist Town, Mississippi. Baptist Town is a historically African-American town in Greenwood, Mississippi known for its shot-gun houses and blues musicians.

Boys of Glendora. A boy walks a...ng down the Tallahatchie River.

Boys of Glendora.

A boy walks along toward the bridge that spans the Black Bayou. The bridge, located on the south end of Glendora is thought to be the bridge that Emmitt Till's body was thrown from before being discovered floating down the Tallahatchie River.

Baptist Town Family, Greensboro...eet in Greensboro, Mississippi.

Baptist Town Family, Greensboro MS

A family stops along the street in Greensboro, Mississippi.

Little Girl in Baptist Town, MS...h in Baptist Town, Mississippi.

Little Girl in Baptist Town, MS

A little girl plays on her front porch in Baptist Town, Mississippi.

Family room, Egypt Plantation, ... Plantation, Egypt Mississippi.

Family room, Egypt Plantation, Egypt MS.

The family room of the plantation house. Egypt Plantation, Egypt Mississippi.

Woman in Greenville, MS A woman...ome in Greenville, Mississippi.

Woman in Greenville, MS

A woman poses outside of her home in Greenville, Mississippi.

The Thrift Shop, Sumner MS

Mother, Greenville MS A mother ...w.areavibes.com/ greenville-ms

Mother, Greenville MS

A mother watches over a group of children in Greenville, Mississippi. In Greenville you have a 1 in 29 chance of becoming a victim of any crime.

www.neighborhoodscout.com
https://www.areavibes.com/greenville-ms

Mt. Zion's Baptist Chur...chorus during a church service.

Mt. Zion's Baptist Church's chorus during a church service.

Pool Hall in Jonestown, MS

A group of children play outside their house in Greenville, MS.

Three boys from Glendora, Spring Break

A group of boys play on a bridg...ng down the Tallahatchie River.

A group of boys play on a bridge that spans the Black Bayou. The bridge, located on the south end of Glendora is thought to be the bridge that Emmitt Till's body was thrown from before being discovered floating down the Tallahatchie River.

Alligator, Mississippi.

Two men outside a store in Alligator, MS.

Shotgun House.

Baptist Town, Greenwood, Mississippi.

Basketball Boys A group of boys...ge live below the poverty line.

Basketball Boys

A group of boys play with their basketball along the train tracks in Glendora, a town deep within the Delta that is noted for its astonishing poverty. In an application for federal assistance, town officials noted that the Glendora median household income is 70% below the state average, 68% of families live below the poverty line, and just 18% of the adults have earned a high school education. According to numbers published by Glendora Mayor Johnny B. Thomas in 2017, 86% of children in the village live below the poverty line.

A young barber waits for his ne...ace of community in Clarksdale.

A young barber waits for his next customer at the local barber shop, a place of community in Clarksdale.

Three young friends play on the...e in Baptist Town, Mississippi.

Three young friends play on the porch of a home in Baptist Town, Mississippi.

PLAY

STOP

GRID

FULL

LOVE

Thumbnail of Boy on the street in Jonestown, Mississippi

Thumbnail of Deserted Barber Shop, Clarksdale_ side streets of Clarksdale, MS.

Thumbnail of Mississippi Flooding, Crowder MS_quent rain storms of the spring.

Thumbnail of The Land Where Roots Grow Deep

Thumbnail of Two Brothers in the Barber Shop,_shop in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

Thumbnail of School Boy, Jonestown, MS. A boy_street in Jonestown, Mississippi

Thumbnail of Boy in Waiting Room, Clarksdale,_aces of community in Clarksdale.

Thumbnail of Father and Son, Alligator MS A b_ its large alligator population.

Thumbnail of The Dress Shop, Clarksdale MS Th_ints, festivals and restaurants.

Thumbnail of Prom Shoes, Clarksdale MS Two pa_casions rather than buy dresses.

Thumbnail of Car and Trailer, Baptist Town, G_Help was filmed in Baptist Town.

Thumbnail of Man In Storefront, Jonestown MS _he main street in Jonestown, MS.

Thumbnail of Obama in the Diner, Clarksdale M_a local diner in Clarksdale, MS.

Thumbnail of Juke Joint, Clarksdale MS A loca_ Blues hirosty and music venues.

Thumbnail of Night Club Owner, Greenville, MS_ww.areavibes.com/ greenville-ms

Thumbnail of Protection, Greenville, MS Three_ww.areavibes.com/ greenville-ms

Thumbnail of Dance Club Waiting Room. Greenville, MS

Thumbnail of Teenage Girl, Indianola, MS A te_ as Ray Charles and James Brown.

Thumbnail of Wasting Time, Greenville, MS A g_ww.areavibes.com/ greenville-ms

Thumbnail of Deserted gas station, Greenville_ness in Greenville, Mississippi

Thumbnail of Hover Board Boy, Greenville MS A_use in Greenville, Mississippi.

Thumbnail of Laundromat, Baptist Town, MS A w_-gun houses and Blues musicians.

Thumbnail of Mississippi Flooding, Crowder MS_looding in Crowder, Mississippi.

Thumbnail of Jonestown Pool Hall, Jonestown, _o get a beverage for a customer.

Thumbnail of Spring Break, Glendora, MS A boy_age live below the poverty line.

Thumbnail of Boy with Basketball,  B_n his Baptist Town neighborhood.

Thumbnail of The Black Bayou, Glendora MS A b_ing down the Tallahatchie River.

Thumbnail of Fields Underwater, Crowder MS. T_Mississippi during flood season.

Thumbnail of Boys on the Bridge, Glendora MS _ing down the Tallahatchie River.

Thumbnail of Woman in Doorway, Baptist Town, _-gun houses and blues musicians.

Thumbnail of Boys of Glendora. A boy walks al_ing down the Tallahatchie River.

Thumbnail of Baptist Town Family, Greensboro _reet in Greensboro, Mississippi.

Thumbnail of Little Girl in Baptist Town, MS _ch in Baptist Town, Mississippi.

Thumbnail of Family room, Egypt Plantation, E_t Plantation, Egypt Mississippi.

Thumbnail of Woman in Greenville, MS A woman _home in Greenville, Mississippi.

Thumbnail of Mother, Greenville MS A mother w_ww.areavibes.com/ greenville-ms

Thumbnail of Mt. Zion's Baptist Churc_ chorus during a church service.

Thumbnail of A group of children play outside their house in Greenville, MS.

Thumbnail of Three boys from Glendora, Spring Break

Thumbnail of A group of boys play on a bridge_ing down the Tallahatchie River.

Thumbnail of Alligator, Mississippi. Two men outside a store in Alligator, MS.

Thumbnail of Shotgun House.  Baptist Town, Greenwood, Mississippi.

Thumbnail of Basketball Boys A group of boys _age live below the poverty line.

Thumbnail of A young barber waits for his nex_lace of community in Clarksdale.

Thumbnail of Three young friends play on the _me in Baptist Town, Mississippi.

Public Story

The Land Where Roots Grow Deep

Date of Work Mar 2017 - Ongoing

Updated Jan 2021

Topics Adolescence, Black and White, Children, Civil Rights, Community, Discrimination, Documentary, Environment, Lifestyle, Photography, Portraiture, Poverty

This series of photographs is part of an ongoing project about the African American people living in America’s deep south. My photographs strive to weave a layered story of the African American people of the Delta, their socio-economical and psychological challenges, their battles with natural hardships such as flooded land, as well as their rich cultural traditions, inspired charm and persistent resilience.