Isaiah Montgomery wanted to build a haven for black people in Mississippi. Isaiah would call his new town "Mound Bayou". The town was self-contained for all blacks. This town freed and prevented blacks from harassment and violence from southern towns. In 1890, Isaiah was the only black delegate to the Mississippi State Constitutional convention and hoping to protect Mound Bayou from violence. Isaiah states, "I'm willing to sacrifice a hundred and twenty-three thousand men in order for white people to give us some breathing room. Little we stand back and let you have the political arena we will let you have the franchise just give us a little bit of room so, we could do a few things".
