Colleen Buyers from Jade Lake Media out of San Francisco has been putting together a GPS walking tour of approximately 1.4 miles about the history of Clarksdale.
The walking tour can be downloaded on a phone and individuals have an opportunity to learn about the history of the community.
Nearly 20 voices of local individuals have been recorded and can be heard during the walking tour.
Buyers came to Clarksdale pro-bono and stayed at Charles Evans’ house. She was only reimbursed for travel expenses.
The completed version of the tour was introduced at its starting point at the main stage by the Delta Blues Museum during Juke Joint Festival Thursday afternooon.
“For the last month, I’ve been talking with each of these people individually,” Buyers said. “I met with (archaeologist) John Connaway in his office and Gilroy and Sally Chow in their home.”
Griot students in Clarksdale were also recorded and can be heard on the walking tour.
“It was so exciting to see them at work,” said Bubba O’Keefe, executive director of Coahoma County Tourism. “She pulled it off and engaged with the kids at Griot at Meraki.”
O’Keefe was excited to take another step forward in promoting the community.
Clarksdale mayor Chuck Espy’s mother, Vicki, was one of the voices on the walking tour.
“It’s a wonderful venture,” Espy said. “My mother spoke very highly of you. We had some wonderful conversations about the probing detail.”
Espy said everyone is starting to step up and momentum in the city of Clarksdale is starting to gain.
“Only a month in Clarksdale feels like it’s just skimming the surface, but I wanted to extend a thanks from the bottom of my heart to all of you who trusted some stranger with your stories and expertise,” Buyers said. “We have an amazing community of so much knowledge and so much passion for Clarksdale.”
Buyers said one of the first stops of the tour is by the Crossroads Cultural Arts Center.
“Chandra Williams has this wonderful, poignant moment about talking about the history of the blues is something that is going back generations,” Buyers said.
