At noon on Feb. 16, Berkley Hudson presents “Listening to the Mississippi Pictures of O.N. Pruitt.” Originating in the Jim Crow era from Columbus, Mississippi, the photographs of O.N. Pruitt (1891–1967) offer a vehicle to consider the vexing interrelations of photography, community, culture, race, and historical memory. During this SouthTalk, Columbus, Mississippi-native and author of “O.N. Pruitt’s Possum Town: Photographing Trouble and Resilience in the American South,” Hudson will share some of Pruitt’s photography and reflect on some of the images and themes captured.

Hudson is an associate professor emeritus of the Missouri School of Journalism. For 25 years he worked as a journalist, part of which at the Los Angeles Times. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi, where he majored in history and journalism. Later, he received a master’s from Columbia University and a doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was born in Columbus, Mississippi, and lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

SouthTalks is a series of events (including lectures, performances, film screenings, and panel discussions) that explores the interdisciplinary nature of Southern Studies. This series is free and open to the public, and typically takes place in the Tupelo Room of Barnard Observatory. However, as a result of the ongoing health crisis, some events will be virtual, free, and accessible on the Center’s YouTube channel after each live event. Visit southernstudies.olemiss.edu for more details. Locations listed here are subject to change, and more events may be added throughout the semester.