Mississippi Native: Roderick Red

"Mississippi forces you to see the world for what it really is: layered, complicated, and often contradictory."

What does it mean to call Mississippi home? Why do people choose to leave or live in this weird, wonderful, and sometimes infuriating place? Roderick Red believes storytelling has the power to shift culture. As the founder of

RED SQUARED

, he brings Mississippi stories and history to life through filmmaking and media production. A Jackson native, Roderick has big ambitions for his hometown and home state. He believes Mississippi could be a hub for film production: “The goal wouldn’t just be to attract productions—it would be to build a sustainable film ecosystem that keeps talent here and fosters generational wealth.” Today, Roderick shares how Mississippi has shaped his career trajectory and value system.

Roderick Red is the owner of RED SQUARED.

Where are you from?

I’m from Jackson, Mississippi.

How long have you lived in Mississippi?

I’ve lived in Mississippi for my whole life. I was born and raised in Jackson and went to college at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. I moved back to Jackson after college.

What does “home” mean to you? How does Mississippi fit into that definition?

I really came to understand what home meant to me after traveling solo quite a bit, specifically around the summer of 2016. I was able to visit very different parts of the country over the course of a few weeks, and when I returned home, I realized that there was so much that we had in common, in spite of how different the people and the locations were. That helped me gain a new appreciation for my home and what home is. Home is where your community is, those that support you. To me, that’s what home is. Mississippi is my home.

How have you cultivated community in Mississippi? Who are the people who have made you feel rooted here?

Being born and raised in Mississippi, a deep sense of rootedness was already instilled in me. The people who shaped me—my family, my community—are grounded here. My mother, my sister, my uncle, and the friends I grew up with have been part of my life from the very beginning. Many of them are still here, living and working in the same city and state, continuing to shape the fabric of this place just as it shaped us.

Roderick Red with Dr. Matthew Holden at the History is Lunch event and screening of the film “Promised Land: The Story of Mound Bayou” at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.

What’s the weirdest question or assumption you’ve encountered about Mississippi (or about you as a Mississippian) by someone who’s never been here?

I’ve heard some wild ones, like the classics "Do you even have WiFi down there?" as if we are completely cut off from modern technology, or "Do people still ride horses to work?" like we’re in some Old West time capsule. But the weirdest assumption I’ve encountered would be an unspoken one. Once, while screening a documentary I directed in Washington DC about Mississippi’s Civil Rights Movement, some people walked up to me with concerned looks on their faces and talked about how “brave” I was to make the film, as if I made it “secretly against all odds,” not realizing the film was commissioned by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

How has living in Mississippi affected your identity and your life’s path?

Living here has definitely given me an underdog mentality, as most Mississippi residents would attest to. It is also interesting as I really feel like being from and still living in Mississippi is a credibility boost to my work and experiences as being in the fight and doing what I’m doing here from building businesses, making documentary films and trying to structurally transform my community. Over the past few recent years, the underdog mentality has started to shift into a badge of honor and pride. Mississippi is home to such resilient people who have created and built amazing things in spite of our history, current leadership and reputation. That has made me want to dedicate my life to the transformation of my community.

What is something that you’ve learned about Mississippi only by living here? In what ways has Mississippi lived up to your expectations?

One thing you can only truly learn by living in Mississippi is how to navigate dualities—how progress and stagnation, resilience and hardship, hope and frustration exist side by side. Mississippi forces you to see the world for what it really is: layered, complicated, and often contradictory. It teaches you how to move between different worlds, understand different perspectives, and thrive despite challenges.

In many ways, Mississippi has lived up to my expectations by being exactly that—a place that requires you to hold multiple truths at once. It’s a place where deep-rooted traditions and cutting-edge creativity coexist, where people can be both incredibly warm and deeply resistant to change. Living here prepares you for the world by making you adaptable, perceptive, and grounded in a way few other places can.

Left: Roderick Red speaking at a community screening of the film “Promised Land: The Story of Mound Bayou” at John F. Kennedy High School in Mound Bayou, Mississippi. Right: Roderick Red speaking at the screening of the film “Promised Land: The Story of Mound Bayou” at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum during the History is Lunch event.

Do you ever consider moving away someday? Does a sense of duty keep you rooted here? Do you have a “tipping point”?

I used to want to move back in high school, but now, no. There is a sense of duty I have to Mississippi. I want to transform my community, for the folks who are here and don’t have the privilege I have to just leave. Being able to travel and live in different places for periods of time is enough for me. I don’t have a tipping point because I don’t think it could get much worse here for me a black man and my family economically, spiritually or structurally.

Mississippi has lived up to my expectations by being a place that requires you to hold multiple truths at once. It’s a place where deep-rooted traditions and cutting-edge creativity coexist, where people can be both incredibly warm and deeply resistant to change.

What do you wish the rest of the country understood about Mississippi?

I feel like the country is starting to understand what it's like to live in Mississippi, especially with this current administration so I think there isn’t much more I want the country to understand. You can see it now.

Is there a Mississippi change-maker who you think everyone needs to know about?

I recently wrote about Dr. Matthew Holden, a brilliant political scientist whose work has been influential but often overlooked. I think it's important to celebrate people like him—those who have made significant contributions but don’t always get the spotlight they deserve.

Beyond that, Mississippi is full of change-makers who inspire me daily. Dr. Nashlie Sephus, for example, is leading the charge in tech and economic development, bringing innovation and opportunity to Jackson and beyond. Stephen Brown is another force for change, advocating for the community and arts. And that’s just the beginning—there are so many local leaders whose work is reshaping the state in ways people outside Mississippi rarely hear about.

I believe that telling their stories is just as important as telling the stories of Mississippi’s more well-known figures. The impact they’re making now will define the state’s future.

Roderick Red and Sarah Campbell on the set of the television show “Atlanta on Film” on WABE talking about their film “The Defenders.”

If you had one billion dollars to invest in Mississippi, how would you spend your money?

If I had a billion dollars to invest in Mississippi, I would focus on capturing a share of the film industry that’s decentralizing from LA, building the infrastructure and workforce needed to make Mississippi a true hub for production. Just a fraction of that industry’s economic power could be transformational, not only reshaping how the world sees Mississippi but also creating long-term opportunities for local creatives, technicians, and entrepreneurs. The goal wouldn’t just be to attract productions—it would be to build a sustainable film ecosystem that keeps talent here and fosters generational wealth.

Beyond film, I’d invest heavily in people and communities doing the work to push Mississippi forward. That means supporting the Tech District, strengthening neighborhoods like Midtown and downtown, food systems work, community co-ops and coalitions and creating a connected, thriving creative economy. I’d also prioritize creative workforce development and education so that Mississippians—especially young people—have real opportunities in industries that are shaping the future.

At the core of it, I’d use that money to build something that lasts, something that fundamentally changes Mississippi’s trajectory and creates a model for how the state can thrive on its own terms.

What or who do you want to shamelessly promote? (It can absolutely be a project you’re working on, or something you are involved in.)

I want to promote my Substack (redsquared.substack.com) as well as my business RED SQUARED and The Hangar!

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With over a decade of experience in filmmaking and media production, Roderick Red is a director, writer, and strategist who believes in the power of storytelling to shift culture. He is the founder of RED SQUARED, where he has led creative campaigns and directed documentaries that amplify voices, engage audiences, and leave a lasting impact. His work sits at the intersection of creativity, leadership, and purpose—centering narratives that matter.

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