This motley, but hopefully fun, playlist is stocked with a mix of music, movies, and art that put me in a Mississippi frame of mind. I recommend pressing play on all. Play on, Playa!

July 27, 2021

RaMell Ross’ “Hale County This Morning, This Evening”
Outkast’s “Elevators (Me & You)”
Rungano Nyoni’s “I Am Not a Witch”
Julie Dash’s “Daughters of the Dust”
Solange’s “When I Get Home”
Beyoncé’s “Formation” directed by Melina Matsoukas
Instagram: @kevonstage, @thechristishow, and @notkarltonbanks
Wagner Moura’s “Marighella”
Shuler King’s Videos
Tina Mabry’s “Mississippi Damned”
Dr. E. Dewey Smith Jr.’s seminal sermon on the church and queer identity
Federico Fellini’s “Amarcord”
The Canton Spirituals’ “Live in Memphis”
Vera Hill’s “Jesus is My Easter Bunny” (and anything else she plays)
Fannie Lou Hamer’s Testimony to the Credentials Committee at the Democratic National Convention in 1964
The bands of FAMU, Morris Brown College, TSU, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, JCSU, and Tuskegee University playing Richard Smallwood’s “Total Praise”
“The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel”: “Is My Living in Vain”
Arthur Jafa’s “Love Is the Message and the Message Is Death”
Leon Bridges’ “River”
Allison Janae Hamilton’s “Wacissa”
Roberto Rossellini’s “Rome, Open City”
Big K.R.I.T. feat. Ludacris, Bun B., “Country Shit”

Lyta’s Juke Joint: Bonus Playlist by Greg Tate

Aunjanue was recently nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Hippolyta Freeman on HBO’s beloved (but recently canceled) “Lovecraft Country.” Inspired by her mind-blowing “I Am” episode, writer, musician, producer and cultural critic Greg Tate made Aunjanue this Spotify playlist, which he calls “Lyta’s Juke Joint.” Thanks to Greg‚ and Aunjanue, for sharing it with us.