Mississippi House Bill HC13

Mississippi 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/13/23
• Refer: 1/13/23
• Failed: 4/1/23

Caption

B.B. King or Elvis Presley; request the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress to approve the replacement of Jefferson Davis with either.

Impact

If approved, HC13 will contribute to changes in the National Statuary Hall Collection, which comprises statues honoring notable individuals from each state. This change signals Mississippi's intent to straddle its past while embracing its modern identity. Advocates for the bill argue that replacing the statue of Davis, a symbol of a contentious past, with icons like B.B. King and Elvis Presley will better reflect the current values of inclusion and celebration of cultural diversity within the state.

Summary

House Concurrent Resolution 13 (HC13) requests the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress to approve the replacement of the statue of Jefferson Davis, currently displayed in Statuary Hall, with a statue of either B.B. King or Elvis Presley. This resolution aims to honor influential figures in Mississippi's music history while promoting a cultural shift towards representations that reflect the state's evolution from its historic ties to the Confederacy towards a more inclusive representation of its diverse heritage today. The resolution aligns with Mississippi's identity as the 'Birthplace of America's Music'.

Contention

Supporters of HC13 contend that statues should represent the entirety of a state's citizens and heritage, particularly in light of Mississippi's rich musical lineage through King and Presley. Conversely, there may be resistance based on differing views of historical representations, where some may feel that removing Davis's statue risks erasing part of history rather than confronting it. Discussions around this resolution may evoke debates around historical memory, representation, and the appropriateness of honors given to divisive historical figures.