By: Yasmine Malone | April 13, 2026
Clarksdale, MS – On April 10, 2026, Thacker Mountain Radio was hosted on the Red Panther Brewing Company stage, where a wonderful mix of literary discussion and blues music coalesced into an entertaining and thought-provoking evening.
A live audience gathered in a stage setup between the Carnegie Library and Red Panther Brewing Company, as the evening sun cast warm shadows across the concrete. The humid Delta breeze mingled the scents of smoked barbecue, sweat, and the deep aroma of the brewery’s ongoing creations.
With Jim Dees and the Yalobushwackers house band carrying the tunes of the evening, the event featured dialogue from W. Ralph Eubanks, author of Darkness on the Delta. There were also blues performances from Grammy Award-winning artist Bobby Rush, as well as emerging artist Twurt Chamberlain.
Hearing Ralph Eubanks speak about Darkness on the Delta, it became clear that his journey of learning the history of the Delta also led to self-discovery. He uncovered a family history shaped by both slavery and privilege. He described how discovering his ancestry—including both enslaved people and slave owners—forced him to rethink his own identity. As he spoke about growing up in the Mississippi Delta, it was evident how deeply the region’s history influenced his life.
He emphasized that confronting painful truths about the past is necessary, even when it complicates how we see ourselves. Listening to him, it felt that his journey ultimately reflected the multidimensional ways slavery shaped the outcomes of life for families—both those who perpetuated it and those who were victimized by it—histories from which the author himself descends.
The radio hour also featured lively musical performances that kept the energy upbeat and engaging between segments. Bobby Rush had the crowd clapping along to his authentic blues sound.
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