Parchman Farm, Mississippi's oldest prison established in 1901, has a brutal history reminiscent of slavery which includes forcing inmates to work in harsh conditions. Significant events include the incarceration of over 300 Freedom Riders in the 1960s who battled segregation. Recent protests over intolerable living conditions in Parchman led to the closure of most of Unit 29 in 2022. In a positive turn, a collection of writings by incarcerated men from Unit 29 was released in 2024, showcasing their creative expression through workshops led by a nonprofit initiative aimed at empowering marginalized voices.
In the 1960s, over 300 Freedom Riders were arrested and sent to Parchman as they attempted to challenge segregation laws across the country.
The increased awareness of the conditions faced by those living in Parchman led to most of Unit 29 closing in 2022-though part of it is still in use.
Against this backdrop, the written work of over 30 incarcerated men at Parchman's Unit 29 was released in 2024 as a book titled Unit 29: Writing from Parchman Prison.
Bourgeois said it made sense to try to publish the writings of incarcerated people-even though that had never been done before in the state.
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