1. In 1850, Mississippi's first state prison was established. Located in Jackson, it was known as the "Mississippi State Penitentiary" and is still in operation today.

2. On January 5, 1875, the Mississippi State House of Representatives voted to remove the "Black Code" from the state's legal system. This was a significant step in the fight against institutionalized racism in the United States.

3. In 1932, Mississippi native and civil rights activist Medgar Evers was born. Evers worked tirelessly to push for racial equality and voting rights in the American South, and was assassinated in 1963.

4. On January 5, 1976, the Mississippi Legislature officially adopted the state's current flag. The design features a blue canton with 13 stars representing the original 13 colonies, and a red and white horizontal stripe representing Mississippi itself.

5. In 2013, the University of Mississippi (also known as Ole Miss) officially opened the William Magee Center for Wellness, Education, Diversity and Prevention. The center provides a range of support services for students, including mental health counseling, health screenings, and educational programming on topics like diversity and inclusivity.