Magnolia High alumni return to Moss Point for homecoming

The River City is hosting a huge homecoming, inviting back Magnolia High School alums from near and far to the city.

“Come home so they can stay in touch with each other, talk about times, reminisce, and see family. That’s what it’s all about.”

In Moss Point, this homecoming for alumni of the former Magnolia High School is a day filled with many smiles, hugs, and handshakes, greeting old classmates at the once all-black institution before the integration of Moss Point High.

A sea of purple and gold filtered into Downtown Moss Point to hear from Mayor Billy Knight at the Mayor’s Magnolia Homecoming Brunch.

Magnolia High closed in the 1970s during the height of desegregation across the U.S. The school would later become a junior high. Mayor Knight, who grew up during the time of segregation, still recants the struggle for black people to have adequate educational resources. “You know, there’s a misconception about the integration thing that when black students or black administrators were talking about integration, it wasn’t so much about ‘we want to go to school with white kids,’ it was about having the same resources that the other school had.”

Moss Point School District Superintendent Dr. Oswago Harper said, “Well, I think it helps our children today appreciate a lot of the advantages that they have in 2024. As you alluded to, a lot of things that they’re privy to now, in this day and time, individuals that were in this room are not, we’re not privy to those same advantages, and also take whatever you can as it relates to their wisdom and also basically use it as a springboard to continue to do great things.”

Magnolia High alumni come back every two years to show their pride. The pride of many hearts during a time they weren’t able to enjoy the freedom of choice, but for Mayor Knight the fight for the longstanding legacy of Moss Point is not done.

The homecoming festivities for the Magnolia High will continue into the weekend with a parade and banquet on Saturday.