The Place
Mound Bayou
Founded in 1887 by formerly enslaved people, Mound Bayou became a Black town built through local leadership, economic activity, and community institutions in the Mississippi Delta.
Caravan of Hope: How WDIA and a One-Mile Miracle Saved Mound Bayou
Mound Bayou Museum Films
Stories of Mound Bayou on Film
Film offers another way to document the people, institutions, and collective work that shaped Mound Bayou. Explore the museum’s featured documentary, which has now been released and presented at public screenings.
Now Screening
Caravan of Hope
How WDIA and a One-Mile Miracle Saved Mound Bayou
Released Documentary
Caravan of Hope is a feature-length documentary that tells the story of how the historic Black town of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, and WDIA, the first Black-operated radio station in the United States, came together during a financial crisis that threatened the town’s survival.
Through WDIA’s public platform, communities across the South were called to support Mound Bayou. Their response became a one-mile-long caravan of Stingray cars, marking a collective effort to stand with the town during a critical moment in its history. The film has now been released and shown at screenings, bringing this history to audiences in Mound Bayou and beyond.
Get Memphis Screening TicketsBehind the Film
The history at the center of Caravan of Hope
The Broadcast
WDIA Radio
WDIA used radio as a force in Black public life, connecting listeners across the South and using its reach to rally support for Mound Bayou during a period of financial danger.
The Response
The Caravan
A one-mile-long procession of Stingray cars became a visible expression of organized support for Mound Bayou and the community effort to protect the town during a vulnerable moment.
The Film
Documenting the History
Through interviews, historical records, and community voices, the film brings this history to audiences who may never have encountered the story of Mound Bayou and WDIA.
On Screen Next
Memphis welcomes Caravan of Hope
Join us at Malco Paradiso Cinema Grill & IMAX for an upcoming screening of Caravan of Hope. The film brings the history of WDIA and Mound Bayou’s Caravan of Hope to the screen through historical records, interviews, and community memory.
Reserve TicketsExplore the Museum
Continue learning about Mound Bayou
Visit the museum to explore exhibits and community history connected to Mound Bayou’s development and its place in Black history.