Under Yazoo Clay: Episode Summary - Introducing: Under Yazoo Clay

Release Date: February 27, 2025
Hosted by: iHeartPodcasts and Mississippi Museum of Art
Hosted by: Larison Campbell

Introduction to Yazoo Clay

In the premiere episode of Under Yazoo Clay, host Larison Campbell sets the stage by exploring the enigmatic and treacherous nature of Yazoo clay—a distinctive soil found in central Mississippi. Campbell introduces the listeners to the physical and metaphorical significance of this soil, emphasizing its role in both preserving and burying secrets of the past.

Larison Campbell [00:07]: "Dig below the surface in central Mississippi, and odds are good you'll find a burnt orange color looking back up at you. It's called Yazoo clay, and there's one thing it's known for, wreaking havoc on anything buried in it. It is the strangest, most destructive soil I've ever dug in before. You never get what you expect."

Campbell's vivid description underscores the unpredictable and often destructive impact Yazoo clay has on what lies beneath it, setting a tone of mystery and discovery.

The Unveiling of Hidden Graves

The episode delves into a pivotal event that brought Yazoo clay's secrets to light. In 2012, a construction crew unearthed a significant number of human remains at the site of Mississippi's former state lunatic asylum in Jackson. Initially estimating around 1,000 graves, the number rapidly escalated to over 7,000 as excavations continued.

Unknown Speaker A [00:47]: "They may have thought they only found 1,000, and then once they realized, okay, wait, wait, 2,000. Wait a minute, 7,000."

This staggering discovery raises critical questions about how such a large number of graves could remain concealed for decades, highlighting potential oversights and negligence in maintaining records and oversight of the asylum's operations.

The Forgotten Asylum and Its Cemetery

Campbell provides historical context about the Mississippi state lunatic asylum, which ceased operations in 1935. Post-closure, the cemetery associated with the asylum seemingly vanished from public memory, becoming just a "sprawling green island" amidst the contemporary landscape of Mississippi's largest medical center.

Larison Campbell [01:12]: "This is a story about family."

The juxtaposition of the serene present-day medical center with the hidden massacre of lives long past symbolizes the erasure of uncomfortable histories and the deliberate forgetting of those who suffered within the asylum's walls.

Impact on Descendant Families

The discovery of the graves has deeply affected the descendants of those interred, unveiling long-buried family mysteries and prompting a quest for truth and reconciliation. Families are now grappling with uncovering the real stories behind their ancestors' placements in the asylum and the circumstances of their deaths.

Unknown Speaker A [01:55]: "This was my family's mystery. You know what I'm saying? What happened to grandma Zani?"

These personal narratives bring a human element to the broader historical and societal implications, illustrating the profound emotional and psychological toll of uncovering such hidden pasts.

The Soil as a Metaphor for Suppressed Truths

Yazoo clay is not just a physical barrier but also serves as a metaphor for the deeper societal attempts to suppress and obliterate uncomfortable truths. Campbell reflects on how the soil seems to possess a "mind of its own," stubbornly hiding the remnants of the past.

Unknown Speaker A [02:18]: "It gets buried down so deep that any kind of scratch of the surface has to be tamped down quick."

This sentiment encapsulates the ongoing struggle to confront and acknowledge historical injustices, suggesting that the elements working against uncovering these truths are both natural and human-imposed.

Reckoning with the Past

The episode concludes by addressing the broader theme of reckoning with history. In Mississippi, there's an implicit responsibility among the state's residents and officials to "right wrongs," acknowledging the shame and its lingering effects without fully facing them.

Unknown Speaker A [02:49]: "If you have any standing in the state of Mississippi, part of your work is righting wrongs."

Campbell poses a poignant question about the feasibility of truly uncovering and understanding the past, especially when it has been meticulously concealed by both natural and societal forces.

Larison Campbell [02:59]: "In Mississippi, keeping secrets is as old as the soil itself. So can the truth ever really be uncovered?"

This rhetorical query invites listeners to ponder the complexities involved in historical reconciliation and the challenges of bringing suppressed narratives to light.

Conclusion

In the introductory episode of Under Yazoo Clay, Larison Campbell masterfully intertwines geological phenomena with deeply human stories of forgotten lives and hidden histories. Through engaging storytelling and poignant interviews, the episode sets the foundation for a series dedicated to uncovering the layered secrets buried beneath Mississippi's soil. Listeners are left contemplating the delicate balance between preserving the past and confronting uncomfortable truths, all while navigating the intricate legacy of Yazoo clay.

For more episodes and to listen to Under Yazoo Clay, tune in wherever you get your podcasts.