Author’s Note: Roughly 54 years ago, Black families in and around Indianola enjoyed a special place for wholesome recreation: the Sunflower River Recreational League, located just a few miles outside of town. This narrative tells the story of that place.
On a hot Mississippi Delta Saturday afternoon in 1972, the music of Chuck Berry playing from the jukebox inside the clubhouse’s activities room blended with the laughter of Black youth splashing in the outdoor pool. Just three miles north of town, down a long gravel road behind a gated entrance, Black people from all walks of life—farmers, tradespeople, educators, and professionals—came together to relax and spend time with their families.
The Sunflower River Recreational League sat on 129 acres of land that once grew cotton and soybeans. Bordered on three sides by the Sunflower River, the property featured a clubhouse, swimming pool, and caretaker’s house. Plans for future expansion included a softball and baseball diamond, picnic area, tennis court, and a nine-hole golf course.
According to a league brochure, more than 200 Black families formed a nonprofit corporation to help bring the facility to fruition. The idea for the Sunflower River Recreational League began in 1965, when Mr. John H. Lee, an FHA committeeman, discussed with the county FHA supervisor the possibility of establishing a recreational facility for rural communities. They secured a Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) loan as the appropriate funding option and confirmed that the site was located within an RC&D District established by the Soil Conservation Service.
Encouraged by the availability of funding and a suitable site, Mr. Lee organized a public meeting for Black citizens interested in the project. At that gathering, the FHA supervisor explained how the agency could assist in bringing the idea to life. The group unanimously agreed to move forward and elected Mr. L.R. Brown as chairman of a temporary steering committee. Other committee members included Mr. Lee, Mr. Johnnie Howard, Mr. Lonnie Byrd, Mr. Robert James, Mr. Theodore Keenan, Mr. Willie Johnson, Mr. James Rosser, Mr. Kenneth Beal, Mr. Q.M. McNair, Mr. J.H. Turnipseed, Mr. O.C. Peace, and Mr. Andrew Brown.
The committee wasted no time, collecting membership applications from 222 families across Sunflower, Washington, Humphreys, Leflore, and Bolivar counties. They also hired an attorney and an engineer and secured architectural plans before formally applying for the loan. Though the clubhouse was completed in June 1970, it wasn’t opened until December 1971 due to inadequate funds for furniture and equipment.
By July 17, 1973, the league had a formal leadership structure. Mr. Joseph Harris served as president; Mr. Andrew Brown as vice president; Mr. J.H. Lee as secretary-treasurer; and Mr. L.R. Brown as recording secretary. The Board of Directors included Mr. Walter Gregory, Mr. Johnny Howard, Mr. Jake Jackson, Mr. John A. James, Mrs. Mary J. Kent, Miss Floyd Mack, Mr. Henry Reed Jr., Mr. Bobby Rushing, and my mother, Mrs. Bernice M. White.
A general information sheet used for membership recruitment stated that the league was open to everyone—regardless of background, profession, or status. Although membership was open to people regardless of race, creed, color, or national origin, all of its members were Black families. Monthly dues were $10 per family or individual—equivalent to about $72 today.
The Sunflower River Recreational League quickly became a source of excitement and pride, offering Black families across Sunflower and nearby counties a rare outlet for social and recreational activities. Such a facility had never before existed for residents in and around Indianola.
During its brief existence, the league hosted numerous events that brought the community together, including a pre-Halloween carnival, public dances, card parties, fish fries, teen socials, and family nights. Wednesday evenings were set aside specifically for family gatherings.
One of my fondest memories is the birthday swimming party my parents hosted for my twin sister, Marsha, and me at the facility. Surrounded by friends and family, the day was filled with laughter, fun, and the refreshing cool of the pool on a hot summer day.
Despite its early success, the league faced challenges with construction delays and unfinished projects, leading to waning interest among members. Efforts to sustain the league, including loan extensions and new member recruitment, ultimately proved unsuccessful. The property was sold after going into foreclosure and was later purchased for private use.
While I’m unsure of the exact date it closed, a pre-Halloween carnival held on October 27, 1973, was one of the last events recorded in my mother’s notebook about the league.
In conversations with my parents later in life, I asked them why the community lost the Sunflower River Recreational League. One reason they gave was that, at the time, the league didn’t have access to Black attorneys who could guide and advise them through the legal and financial challenges they faced.
It’s hard not to wonder how things might have turned out differently had someone like Attorney Carver A. Randle Sr. or Attorney Alsee McDaniel been available then. Attorney Randle opened his law practice in Indianola in 1976—just a few years after the league closed—and would go on to become a respected attorney and a trusted voice in the NAACP and community leadership.
Attorney McDaniel, a graduate of Harvard Law School, has practiced law in Indianola for many years. He has long lent his legal expertise to the community through active involvement in numerous local projects.
Though its existence was brief, the Sunflower River Recreational League remains a cherished memory for those of us who experienced it—a place where Black families came together for wholesome fun and connection.
