The MAX Welcomes Daughter of Civil Rights Leaders Medgar and Myrlie Evers for Film Screening + Conversation on June 13
MERIDIAN, Miss. (June 9, 2026) – The Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience (The MAX) will host a screening of the new documentary, Everlasting: The Life and Legacy of Medgar Evers, this Saturday, June 13, at 5 p.m., followed by a conversation featuring the Evers's daughter, Reena Evers-Everette. Produced by Mississippi Public Broadcasting, the documentary chronicles the life, sacrifice, and enduring legacy of Medgar Evers, the NAACP field secretary who was assassinated in his Jackson driveway in June 1963.
The free event is the conclusion of a series of statewide screenings and conversations in Cleveland, Decatur, Oxford, and Vicksburg by a coalition of partners that include the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute, Mississippi Humanities Council, and Mississippi Public Broadcasting.
Joining Evers-Everette in the post-film discussion will be the film’s director, Taiwo Gaynor, and moderator Michael Morris of the Two Mississippi Museums to explore the making of the film, the personal stories behind it, and why Evers’s life and work are as urgent as ever.
Prior to the screening, the Meridian chapter of the NAACP will offer a civic engagement workshop for Meridian-area youth about opportunities to participate as active citizens in a democracy. The NAACP Youth Council was a major cornerstone of Evers's organizing, sparking enthusiasm in young people like Roosevelt Mosley—a living legacy of Evers's legacy in Meridian. The NAACP will also have voter registration on site for people who are not yet registered.
The MAX will show an abbreviated, one-hour version of Everlasting on loop in the Alexander Family Church Gallery during regular business hours through Friday, July 3. The full-length version is available online, along with extras like the Evers Legacy interviews, educational materials, curriculum, and a workshop outline.
Speakers
Reena Evers-Everette is the daughter of civil rights icon Medgar Evers and legendary activist Myrlie Evers-Williams. Born in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, she witnessed her father's assassination at their Jackson home in 1963 when she was eight years old. She has devoted her life to honoring his legacy and today serves as executive director of the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute in Jackson.
Taiwo Gaynor, MPB's Chief Content Officer, has spent more than fifteen years documenting Mississippi's history and culture through film. His previous documentaries — including Fannie Lou Hamer: Stand Up and 1964: The Fight for a Right — have earned multiple Emmy, Edward R. Murrow, and Telly Awards.
Michael Morris, director of the Two Mississippi Museums, will be moderating the conversation from his deep expertise in Mississippi civil rights history and public memory. A Jackson State University graduate, Morris developed his scholarly grounding at the Margaret Walker Center and the Fannie Lou Hamer Institute on Citizenship and Democracy and has spent his career ensuring that Mississippi's stories are preserved, shared, and understood.
About The Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute
Founded in 1989, the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute represents the legacies of two of the strongest champions for change in the history of our nation. MMEI is committed to strengthening communities throughout the United States so that all Americans can live a life free of violence, exercise their liberty and right to vote, and pursue advancement opportunities. MMEI aims to strengthen the areas in our society that continue to stack the deck against everyday Americans, weaken communities and eliminate progress. MMEI’s goal is to inspire, educate, activate, heal, and empower the next generation of social and racial justice, civil rights and human rights activists.
About The Mississippi Humanities Council
The Mississippi Humanities Council is a private nonprofit corporation funded by Congress through the National Endowment for the Humanities to provide public programs in traditional liberal arts disciplines to serve nonprofit groups in Mississippi. The humanities are the study of history, literature, religion, languages, philosophy, and culture. MHC creates opportunities for Mississippians to learn about themselves and the larger world and enriches communities through civil conversations about our history and culture.
About Mississippi Public Broadcasting
Mississippi Public Broadcasting is a state agency located at 3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, Miss. MPB’s mission is to educate, inform and inspire Mississippians with quality programs and services. Through a statewide network, MPB also provides trusted information during emergencies. MPB’s locally produced programming reflects Mississippi’s unique culture and diverse heritage. Since 1970, MPB has won over 350 national, regional and statewide awards, including Emmy®, Edward R. Murrow and Parents’ Choice® Awards. For more information on MPB visit mpbonline.org or call 601-432-6565