1) On May 6, 1884, the first recorded tornado in Mississippi's history struck the town of Enterprise, killing at least 14 people and causing significant damage to homes and buildings.

2) In 1966, civil rights activist James Meredith resumed his "March Against Fear" from Memphis, Tennessee through Mississippi. On May 6, he was shot and wounded by a white supremacist near Hernando, Mississippi. The incident sparked protests and violence across the state.

3) On May 6, 1949, a plane carrying musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson (also known as "The Big Bopper") crashed near Clear Lake, Iowa. Mississippi native Jerry Lee Lewis had been scheduled to join the tour but had been replaced at the last minute.

4) In 1836, the town of Jackson, Mississippi was officially designated as the state capital. Previously, the capital had been located in Natchez, Washington, and even temporarily in a cave during the Civil War.

5) On May 6, 1957, future Mississippi governor Haley Barbour was born in Yazoo City. Barbour served as governor from 2004-2012 and later became a prominent political consultant and lobbyist.