Wading through History: Back Bay Mission and the Legacy of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Wade-Ins

On Monday, June 23, 2025, staff members and volunteers from Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, Miss., stood alongside community elders, organizers, and neighbors for Wading Through History—a commemoration of the historic Civil Rights Wade-Ins that forever changed the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The event marked not only a historic commemoration, but also an important chapter in the story of Back Bay. For Back Bay Mission, Wading Through History was than just an event to attend—it was part of the Mission’s story.

The Biloxi wade-ins were three protests that were conducted by local African Americans  on the beaches of Biloxi, Miss., between 1959 and 1963. The demonstrations were led by Dr. Gilbert R. Mason Sr. in an effort to desegregate the city’s 26 mi (42 km) of beaches on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. This was a local effort, without involvement from the state or national NAACP.

In 1963, when brave souls staged the final wade-in on Biloxi’s beaches, Back Bay Mission stood beside them. Back Bay staff and volunteers were arrested that day for their solidarity and commitment to justice. Staff members paid a price—in response to the protests, members resigned from their churches, and the Mission faced months of attacks, including a cross burned outside its doors.

The Wading Through History event began with a Bridge Memorial Walk and Roll Call at nearby Jones Park, led by community elders, youth, and incredible organizers from Mississippi Votes and Legacy Business League. The activities honored the names and spirits of those who paved the way—many risking their lives —to challenge segregation and demand dignity.

Following theBridge Memorial Walk, the Wade-In Commemoration and Cultural Expo at Coast Transit Authority in Gulfport, Miss., celebrated the courage, resilience, and rich culture that define the Gulf Coast Commission community.

Because of the historical significance, Walking Through History was more than a gathering—it was a living reminder that the fight for justice isn’t locked away in history books. It’s woven into the sands of our beaches, the stories of our elders, and the work we carry forward every day. So when Back Bay Mission learned that Wading Through History would take place the same evening as a pre-scheduled Town Hall on Homelessness, Back Bay Mission changed the schedule. Executive Director the Rev. James Pennington and the rest of the team knew that Back Bay Mission belonged at Wading Through History—standing shoulder to shoulder with the same community that stood for justice in 1963.

“We cannot talk about housing justice, poverty, or equity without also acknowledging the legacy of racial justice work here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” Pennington said. “The wade-ins remind us that making ‘good trouble,’ as Congressman John Lewis so famously encouraged, is how progress happens.”

Staff left that evening deeply moved—by the stories shared, by the strength of elders, by the determination of youth. And they left more committed than ever to continue making good trouble—for housing, for dignity, for justice—on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

To Back Bay Mission’s neighbors, organizers, and everyone who keeps this history alive: Thank you. Let’s keep wading forward—together.