Watch Spies of Mississippi

Spies of Mississippi is a 2014 documentary about the secret and covert activities of the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission. The film takes a deep dive into the nefarious activities of the commission that was created in 1956 to protect the state's sovereignty and prevent the rise of the civil rights movement. The story of the documentary is set in the 1950s and 1960s when Mississippi was still deeply segregated and African Americans were denied basic rights that they were entitled to. The film examines the covert activities of the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission, which included infiltrating civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, and putting its members under surveillance.

At the center of the documentary is the story of Clyde Kennard, a decorated Korean war veteran who wanted to attend college at the University of Southern Mississippi. Despite Kennard's outstanding qualifications, he was continuously denied admission purely based on his skin color. The documentary follows Kennard's story as he fights to gain admission to the university and is systematically thwarted by the state's Sovereignty Commission.

The film also delves into the story of Vernon Dahmer, who was a voting rights activist and a leader in the NAACP. Dahmer was instrumental in helping African Americans register to vote in Mississippi, a state where black voter registration was virtually non-existent. The film follows Dahmer's work in organizing voter registration drives and how the Commission tried to silence him.

The filmmakers also highlight the role played by the Governor of Mississippi at the time, Ross Barnett, in perpetuating the segregation of African Americans in the state. The film shows how Barnett worked closely with the Commission to deny basic rights to African Americans and crush the civil rights movement.

Spies of Mississippi is a powerful reflection on the injustices suffered by African Americans in the Deep South in the 1950s and 60s. The documentary sheds light on how state-sponsored racism systematically oppressed and marginalized people of color in Mississippi. The film features interviews with a range of individuals including Margaret Block, the daughter of the Commission's former head, as well as others who were targeted by the Commission.

In conclusion, Spies of Mississippi is a compelling and thought-provoking documentary that exposes the extent of racism and oppression that prevailed in Mississippi in the 1950s and '60s. The documentary offers important lessons for our present moment, as states continue to enact policies that restrict voting rights and perpetuate systemic racism. The film stands as a powerful reminder of the power of the state to inflict harm on its marginalized citizens and the importance of fighting for civil rights and equality for all.

Spies of Mississippi is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 53 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3.