1. In 1965, civil rights activist James Meredith began his "March Against Fear" from Memphis, Tennessee to Jackson, Mississippi. The march aimed to bring attention to the continued struggle for African American voting rights and ended in violence when Meredith was shot by a white sniper on the second day of the march.

2. On March 7, 1890, the Mississippi Legislature passed the Mississippi Plan, a set of laws designed to prevent African Americans from voting by imposing poll taxes, literacy tests, and other requirements. The plan remained in effect until the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

3. In 2017, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed a bill into law that allowed for churches and other religious organizations to provide armed security in order to protect their members. The bill was controversial and drew criticism from gun control advocates.

4. On March 7, 1942, the U.S. Army established Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The camp served as a training site for soldiers during World War II and later became an important National Guard training facility.

5. Mississippi musician and songwriter Jimmie Rodgers, known as the "Father of Country Music," was born on March 7, 1897 in Meridian, Mississippi. Rodgers' unique style blended elements of blues, jazz, and country music and greatly influenced future generations of country music performers.