Final answer:
The song "Mississippi" was inspired by the murder of civil rights activists in Mississippi, during the tumultuous period of the 1960s when racial injustice and violence were prevalent.
Step-by-step explanation:
The event that inspired the composition of the song "Mississippi" was b. The murder of civil rights activists in Mississippi. This tragic event was part of the violence and turmoil that characterized the American political scene of the sixties, a period marked by significant events including the assassinations of great leaders, race riots, civil rights rallies, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and other important societal issues.
In the specific context of Mississippi, the song reflects the tensions and challenges faced by those who worked towards civil rights, including the assassination of Medgar Evers, the resistance to and results of the Freedom Schools, and the overall struggle for civil rights in an environment of profound racial injustice and violence.