History is Lunch: The Fisher People looking into Vietnamese beginnings on Mississippi Gulf Coast
A large audience of history buffs attended a special screening of the second episode of The Fisher People, a four-part documentary series by Mississippi State University Television Director David Garraway. The screening was part of the History Is Lunch series at the Two Mississippi Museums and it comes ahead of the documentary’s premiere next month on Mississippi Public Broadcasting.
Panelists Emma To, certified registered nurse anesthetist and assistant professor at the University of Southern Mississippi; Deanne Stephens, co-director of the Center for the Study of the Gulf South and professor of history at the University of Southern Mississippi; and Garraway fielded audience questions at the conclusion of the screening.
As the Vietnam War entered its final days in 1975, many South Vietnamese citizens looked for a path to a better life. For some, that path ended in Mississippi.
“The commercial seafood industry made the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” said Stephens, who appeared in the film. “In the beginning of the seafood industry, you did have locals who worked in the industry. But there were not enough locals, and the labor demands, once you began the processing plants, were so great that there had to be a different labor source.”
The documentary explores the immigration experiences of Vietnamese refugees on the Mississippi Gulf Coast that have defined life along the shore for the past fifty years.
The film’s second episode gave a glimpse of a rocky start for refugee fisherman and how change didn’t come quickly.
“My dad would bring his boat by (locals’ boats), and then they would have their shotguns out on their shoulders,” said To, who also appeared in the film. “And it's almost like they didn't say anything, but it was almost like, know your place. It was almost like a silent threat, if that makes sense.”
To also reflected on the resilience and gratitude shared by many first-generation Vietnamese families.
“I feel like our parents kind of want to be unseen, not making a commotion. They just are grateful that they're in America, and they don't want to complain too much,” To said. “(Our parents) feel like this is already a blessing that we are here.”
Stephens noted that many Vietnamese refugees arrived in Mississippi seeking peace and stability.
“I am not surprised that it is not talked about,” Stephens said. “They came here with all good intentions. They meant no harm. They wanted to just have a quiet life for their families.”
“And that was not what greeted them at the beginning.”
Produced by MSU TV, The Fisher People offers an in-depth look at the history, culture, and lasting impact of Vietnamese communities on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The four-part documentary series premieres on Mississippi Public Broadcasting on Oct. 2 at 8:30 p.m., with new episodes airing weekly through Oct. 23
MDAH’s History Is Lunch series is presented Wednesdays at noon in the Craig H. Neilsen Auditorium of the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson and is free to the public. These programs explore Mississippi history and culture through presentations by scholars, authors, and experts from across the state and nation.
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