1. In 1861, the state of Mississippi voted to secede from the Union, becoming the second state to do so after South Carolina. This decision ultimately led to the start of the American Civil War.
2. On February 23, 1965, civil rights activist James Meredith was shot while leading a protest march against segregation in Mississippi. Meredith survived the attack, but it further highlighted the violence and resistance faced by those fighting for racial equality in the state.
3. Country music star Charley Pride was born on February 23, 1934 in Sledge, Mississippi. Pride was one of the first African American country musicians to achieve mainstream success, and became a trailblazer for diversity in the genre.
4. The small town of Rodney, Mississippi was founded on February 23, 1828. Once a bustling river port on the Mississippi, the town suffered from natural disasters and economic downturns, leading to its eventual abandonment and current status as a ghost town.
5. On February 23, 1885, Mississippi granted a charter to the University of Mississippi Medical Department, which would later become the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Today, the medical center is a leading academic and research institution in the state, and is known for its innovations in healthcare.