Under Yazoo Clay: Episode Summary - "A Southern Ethos"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Under Yazoo Clay
• Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and Mississippi Museum of Art
• Episode: A Southern Ethos
• Release Date: March 6, 2025
• Description: Under Yazoo Clay delves into the hidden histories surrounding Mississippi’s former lunatic asylum. Discovered in 2012 during construction in Jackson, Mississippi, over 7,000 patient remains were unearthed, revealing a forgotten chapter of the state's history. Reporter Larrison Campbell explores the impact on descendant families and investigates how this dark legacy was obscured over time.

Introduction: The Enigmatic Yazoo Clay

The episode opens with Larrison Campbell setting the geological and historical context of Yazoo Clay in Jackson, Mississippi. Yazoo Clay, a highly absorbent mineral soil, poses significant challenges for construction and infrastructure, swelling dramatically when wet and shrinking when dry. This peculiar soil not only disrupts daily life with broken water mains and damaged foundations but also plays a metaphorical role in the concealment of history.

[02:06] Narrator: "Yazoo Clay forms a foundation for the wreckage secrecy can bring. But the breakdown of what came before can make for fertile ground."

The Forgotten Asylum: Discovery and Implications

In 2012, construction at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) unearthed human remains, later identified as belonging to over 7,000 former patients of the Mississippi State Lunatic Asylum, operational from 1855 to 1935. This grim discovery brought to light the extensive practice of burying patients on asylum grounds, a practice shrouded in secrecy for decades.

[02:06] Narrator: "The old asylum cemetery received that level of care and attention. What might the grounds in the asylum have looked like then?"

Family Histories and Artistic Representation

The narrative intertwines personal stories of descendants seeking to uncover their ancestors' fates. Noah Satterstrom, a Mississippi native artist, created a panoramic painting titled "Dr. Smith," depicting his great-grandfather’s life and mysterious disappearance into the asylum in 1925. The painting serves as both an artistic endeavor and a quest for historical truth.

[06:53] Noah Satterstrom: "Dr. Smith disappeared in 1925. I spent the last seven years researching and public and private archives to figure out his story."

Excavations and Legalities: Unveiling the Past

The discovery of the remains was not an isolated incident. Previous construction efforts had already unearthed bodies, leading to legislative actions in the 1970s that permitted the relocation of remains to accommodate ongoing development. Despite these measures, the full extent of the burials—approximately 7,000 individuals—remained largely unknown to the public until recent excavations.

[13:54] Narrator: "The medical center finds 7,000 graves. They've got the legal standing and paperwork in place to do what they need to do to solve their space issue."

The Asylum Hill Project: Bridging Past and Present

Lyda Gibson, coordinator of the Asylum Hill Project, and Dr. Ralph Didlake, director of the Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities at UMMC, spearhead efforts to address the dual needs of expanding medical facilities while honoring the buried patients. Their approach emphasizes ethical considerations and community involvement, striving to respect Southern cultural values surrounding death and remembrance.

[32:03] Lyda Gibson: "It was the vision of Dr. Ralph Didlake to handle this challenge of having a cemetery on the last remaining part of the campus... it needed to fit well into a Southern community."

Community Impact and Ethical Dilemmas

The episode delves into the emotional and ethical struggles faced by descendants seeking closure and truth about their ancestors. The silence surrounding the asylum’s history is attributed to societal shame and the stigma of mental illness. Efforts to excavate and preserve the site must balance respect for the deceased with the urgent healthcare needs of the living community.

[19:30] Lyda Gibson: "My suspicion there is the silence is the response to the shame."

Family members like Kimberly Jackson and Wayne Lee share their personal quests for answers, highlighting the generational pain and the importance of memory in Southern culture.

[24:16] Narrator: "Genealogy is a billion dollar industry... What if the last decades of the lives they lived were just washed off the canvas?"

Conclusion: Reconciling History with Progress

Under Yazoo Clay's final reflections encapsulate the ongoing struggle to honor the past while addressing present and future community needs. The soil that conceals so much also becomes a symbol of the secrets and resilience embedded in Mississippi’s history. The episode concludes by questioning how the community can move forward without erasing the memories of those who suffered in silence.

[37:59] Lyda Gibson: "I felt guilty reading the email... Would doing right by the living shortchange the debt?"

[43:33] Ryan Seacrest: "That’s coming up on Under Yazoo Clay."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Larrison Campbell [02:06]: "Yazoo Clay forms a foundation for the wreckage secrecy can bring. But the breakdown of what came before can make for fertile ground."

• Noah Satterstrom [06:53]: "Dr. Smith disappeared in 1925. I spent the last seven years researching and public and private archives to figure out his story."

• Lyda Gibson [19:30]: "My suspicion there is the silence is the response to the shame."

• Kimberly Jackson [24:16]: "Genealogy is a billion dollar industry... What if the last decades of the lives they lived were just washed off the canvas?"

• Lyda Gibson [32:03]: "It was the vision of Dr. Ralph Didlake to handle this challenge of having a cemetery on the last remaining part of the campus... it needed to fit well into a Southern community."

Reflections

"A Southern Ethos" masterfully intertwines geological challenges, historical injustices, and personal narratives to shed light on a neglected aspect of Mississippi’s history. Through meticulous storytelling and compelling interviews, the episode underscores the enduring impact of past actions on present communities and the vital need for transparency and reconciliation.

For listeners unfamiliar with Under Yazoo Clay, this episode offers a poignant exploration of how soil can both hide and reveal the truths buried beneath, urging a deeper understanding and acknowledgment of forgotten histories.