For nearly six months in 2019, the lower Mississippi Delta flooded due to monumental rainfall and a historically high Mississippi River — combined with the key factor of drainage pumps blocked by the Environmental Protection Agency out of fear of destroying a neighboring wetland forest. Roughly 500,000 acres of land remained under stagnant water that had nowhere to go without the pumps.
Agriculture is the regional lifeblood, and the changing climate has presented immense challenges to local farmers and businesses. With COVID-19 presenting additional trials to one of Mississippi’s poorest regions, survival is a real struggle.
The one constant is Chuck’s Dairy Bar in Rolling Fork, Mississippi. Chuck’s is an iconic eatery that has been a mainstay for generations, feeding farming families and serving as a meeting place where locals stay connected. It’s a rare enduring fixture in an area where the economy and population are dwindling.
Being based an hour north of this flood zone, I noticed just how underreported this region is. The lower Delta is so rural and under-funded, that I had to do a lot of this reporting on spec — before I was able to pitch the content to national outlets. I will continue to document the area, both in reference to the flooding and pandemic response. It's important to keep sharing this story because flooding will inevitably happen again with the changing climate. Throughout all the chaos, I am confident that Chuck's will remain the meeting point that the community depends on.
With grant support, I'd love to produce a framed photo exhibit to be launched right inside Chuck's. And the exhibit would also be donated to Chuck's, so that the images can be used to spark conversation long after the exhibition launch. I believe I can fit about 20-25 images inside the restaurant. If there is additional funding available, I'd use to that to continue my reporting in the area.
