Indianola Freedom House
After the 1965 bombing of the Indianola Freedom School, local resident Estell “Tide” King didn’t hesitate to act. For just $15 a month, he rented a small, three-room house in Indianola’s Bears Den neighborhood, transforming it into a new headquarters for the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP), co-founded by Fannie Lou Hamer.
Inside the modest structure, civil rights workers met twice a day to coordinate voter registration efforts throughout the Delta. With just a typewriter and a mimeograph machine, they educated, organized, and empowered local African Americans to claim their right to vote.
Constructed around 1920, the Indianola Freedom House still stands today as a testament to community courage and grassroots activism. Now owned by Dr. Felicia King, granddaughter of Estell King, the home is being reimagined to honor its role in the Civil Rights Movement and continue its legacy of justice and change.
Dr. Felicia King, a chiropractor in Jackson, Mississippi, was born and raised in Indianola, MS. Her curiosity about natural healing led her to Atlanta, GA, where she pursued her chiropractic education at Life University. Her studies there opened up a new way of thinking about healthcare, rooted in holistic and natural practices. Yet, it was her own personal journey that deepened her understanding of life and health. Through her experiences, Dr. King developed a passion for helping others break free from limiting beliefs and embrace the power within to shape a healthier life.
Dr. King graduated from Gentry High School in Indianola in 1993, went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with a Biology minor from Alcorn State University in 1997, and achieved her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life University in 2002. That same year, she founded Highway2Health Chiropractic Center, Inc., which continues to serve the Jackson area, helping patients with tools such as chiropractic adjustments, Qi Gong, acupressure, and nutritional guidance. As founder and president of Indianola Freedom House Charities, Inc., Dr. King remains actively engaged in community initiatives.
Throughout her career, Dr. King has been involved in various organizations, including Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. (since 1995), and she’s served in roles such as Chair of the Holistic Health Committee of Spirit of Oneness, Inc., and Assistant Secretary and Health Committee Chair for the NAACP Sunflower County Branch. In July 2023, she made history as the first black appointee to the Mississippi State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, appointed by Governor Tate Reeves.
Today, Dr. King’s work in Jackson reflects her commitment to bringing alternative healthcare to the community and empowering her patients to live consciously healthy lives.
To learn more about the Indianola Freedom house, flip through the Spring 2021 issue of Elevation by clicking the button below.