Free [exclusive] State Of: Jones Moses

In the 2016 film Free State of Jones , starring Matthew McConaughey, the character of Moses is heavily featured. While the film does a service by bringing his name to the public eye, it takes creative liberties.

Moses represents a critical truth about the Free State of Jones: It was a complex struggle where the lines of race blurred in the face of a common enemy. Moses Washington reminds us that the fight against the Confederacy was not solely a white endeavor—Black Mississippians like him seized the chaos of war to claim the freedom they deserved. free state of jones moses

During the height of the Civil War, Jones County became a haven for deserters from the Confederate army. While many of these men were simply tired of fighting a "rich man’s war," a smaller group, led by Newton Knight, actively fought against Confederate tax collectors and cavalry units. In the 2016 film Free State of Jones