In 1976, Mount Pleasant, Mississippi, was gripped by a panic when 15 students fell to the ground writhing, leading school officials to suspect drug use. However, no drugs were found, and the incident was attributed to mass hysteria, with rumors of 'hexing' spreading through the community. At one point, one-third of the school's 900 students stayed home for fear of being cursed, reflecting the deep-seated belief in supernatural forces in the rural South.

The Mount Pleasant hexing panic has been referenced in works of Southern literature and folklore that explore the intersection of superstition, fear, and community life. The event has inspired writers to examine the persistence of folk beliefs in modern society and the power of rumor to shape behavior. It also serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of rural communities to mass delusion and the role of culture in shaping the expression of collective anxiety.