SEEN AND HEARD

A FORUM FOR YOUTH IN MISSISSIPPI

Young Mississippians have some of the most insightful and informed perspectives. Unfortunately, their voices are often suppressed by an expectation to remain seen and not heard, the belief that being expressive as a young person is a show of disrespect. The Magnolia Literacy Project established Seen AND Heard to counter this philosophy. We encourage constructive, open expression among youth, which we believe is crucial to developing creativity, critical reasoning skills, and personal agency. The Magnolia State is home to many writers and artists who reached success at young ages through their abilities to express themselves freely. Richard Wright, born in Roxie, Mississippi, was only 16-years-old when his first short story was published. Jackson native, Angie Thomas, a former teen rapper, was still a student at Belhaven University when she started writing The Hate U Give. Tik Tok star, La’Ron Hines, famous for his “Are You Smarter Than a Preschooler?” videos, filmed in Brookhaven, Mississippi, was asked to appear at the 2021 Golden Globes when he was 19-years-old. Seen AND Heard is a resource that young Mississippians can utilize to verbalize their interests and concerns while showcasing their work.