In late spring 1968, many people in Marks helped lobby for better jobs and wages as part of the Poor People’s Campaign, first envisioned by Martin Luther King, Jr. Earlier that spring, Dr. King had explained, “I was in Marks, Miss., the other day, which is in Quitman County, the poorest county in the United States. And I tell you I saw hundreds of black boys and black girls walking the streets with no shoes to wear.”
A walking train of about 100 people left Marks on May 13, 1968, heading to Washington, DC. Known as the Mule Train, the group included 15 wagons pulled by mules that helped demonstrate the improvised status of many Americans.
Each year, the people of Marks observe the anniversary of the start of the Mule Train and remember their role in bringing attention to issues of poverty in America.
The Marks Project and its network of community partners share a vision that empowering people through education and training will help individuals acquire better jobs.