City Councilman Chokwe Lumumba used a grassroots effort to get out the vote Tuesday May 21. He received more than 20,000 votes in the Democratic primary runoff out of 37,283 total ballots cast. Trip Burns
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Chokwe Lumumba doesn't want any person or business to leave Jackson just because he will probably be the city's next mayor.
But don't expect him to beg.
"Well, we won't be begging anybody to do anything. I think that principled people are going to give it a shot, and I think the majority of the people are principled," he told the Jackson Free Press on Memorial Day.
"Few people are going to leave Jackson that weren't on a path to leave Jackson in the first place. And anybody that does leave Jackson is making a mistake because this city is on its way up. This is a very important city. We're in a good position to start moving in a good direction, so I would urge everybody to stay, and I would urge everybody to pitch in."
Lumumba's victory in the May 21 Democratic runoff touched off social-media hysteria reminiscent of President Barack Obama's election and re-election. Some Jackson supporters of Lumumba's rival, businessman Jonathan Lee, and many whites in non-Jackson locales around the state wrote off the results as suggestive of a black electorate too ignorant to recognize that Lumumba would drive off the minority of white home and business owners who bear the burden of supporting the local economy.
Those suspicions, that Lumumba harbors anti-white hostilities, go back to his affiliation with the Republic of New Afrika, which bought land in Mississippi for a black-led nation in the 1970s, as well as his history of picking fights with what he would consider racist institutions, such as the courts, to say nothing of the adoption of an unusual and foreign-sounding name. Lumumba's opponents tried unsuccessfully to play on these fears and raise doubt in the minds of mainstream Jackson voters likely to vote in a municipal primary election.
Lumumba says the notion that he is divisive is erroneous.
"There may be some people who have misperceptions based upon some attitudes which aren't justified, and they may have a long-standing, long-running objection, but that's something we aren't going to be worried about. We're certainly always going to leave the door of the ship open for people to come on board, but we're not going to hold the ship back waiting for folks who have unfounded resentments to come around," he said.
Lumumba, 65, seemed especially agitated by what he called "absurd" comparisons between himself and Ross Barnett, the former Mississippi governor and namesake for a popular local tourist destination who expanded the powers of the Mississippi Sovereignty Commission, a state-sponsored spy agency, during the civil rights era.
"In no instance I'm aware of has anybody accused me of oppressing or suppressing somebody else's rights. I don't do that. I don't intend to do that. I never will do that. I think it's contradictory to what I'm fighting for. I'm fighting for a better society, not a worse one. I'm not trying to flip the script on anybody," Lumumba said.
Still, he knows he has his work cut out for him when it comes to unifying Jackson. For that, he has a simple plan: launch a citywide cleanup program and commence with street reconstruction. During the campaign, many voters ranked the condition of Jackson's streets and blight as among their top concerns, and Lumumba believes these issues transcend race and ward.
Lumumba also has started a sort of listening tour designed to take him outside the usual circles he normally travels in. On May 26, he attended services at First Baptist Church in downtown Jackson and has visited dining establishments owned by restaurateur and Jonathan Lee booster Jeff Good in effort to support businesses he believes are "showing loyalty to the city."
Convincing naysayers, particularly those dubious of Lumumba's past race-laced rhetoric, will be difficult, but the prominence of race issues in politics did not start during the 2013 Jackson mayor's race.
"The electorate in Mississippi has been polarized along the lines of race since emancipation. This is not a new phenomenon. Our history of politics has always been predicated by race," said Robert Luckett, director of the Margaret Walker Alexander National Research Center at Jackson State University and a professor of civil-rights and southern history.
Luckett believes the handwringing over Lumumba's election is probably unwarranted, noting that during Lumumba's time in city government, he has worked side-by-side with two white council members--Republican Quentin Whitwell of Ward 1 and Democrat Margaret Barrett-Simon of Ward 7--and has maintained professional relationships with both members.
Lumumba said he would also like some help from rank-and-file Jacksonians. He's confident that success in the early days of his administration will breed greater acceptance of his agenda. In the meantime, Jackson residents need to take responsibility for the city's future.
"You're going to hear me doing a lot of stuff about taking responsibility. I'm not going to be content with people just standing by the wayside being observers of history. They'll need to be makers of history," he said.
Tyler Cleveland contributed to this story.
Comments
SusanM 10 years, 11 months ago
I'm amazed that a lot of the same people who thought electing Frank Melton was a good idea are now freaking out because our likely next mayor is Chokwe Lumumba. Melton really was a complete disaster from the start. Anyone who stayed in Jackson through his term sure as hell should stick around and give Lumumba a chance. I promise he will be better than Melton.
Although I am basically okay with the people who are running the stealth Whitwell campaign moving to the 'burbs. Their implicit assumption (that black folks won't "bother" to go to the polls because they believe Lumumba has it locked up) is disgusting. Jackson doesn't need residents who would try to "steal" the election when they think majority black citizenry isn't looking.
And for the record, I'm white, and I'm staying right here in Jackson. I'll be happy to keep on doing what I can to make this a better city, including supporting Mr. Lumumba and his initiatives to do things like clean up the city and get the streets in good shape.
sarahmina 10 years, 11 months ago
I'm not sure I read this correctly. Lumumba and Ross Barnett? I can clearly understand why that would be upsetting and quite frankly, down right INSULTING to Mr. Lumumba? If History is correct, Mr. Barnett, abhored Black people, calling them inferior, using the "N" word, voting to suppress their right to EXIST, denying them access to the very basic of human rights throught the White Citizens' council.. Supporting the degradation and intimidation of Black people. He fostered Jim Crow laws that considered Black people to be subhuman. PLEASE, show me ONE instance were Mr. Lumumba has done anything similar. If the Jackson Free Press wants to be accurate, you might want to tell people what was going on in Mississippi and this country when Mr. Lumumba was a nationalist - 40 YEARS AGO!! It is as if, you don't want to acknowlege the horror inflicted on Black people by your relatives during those years. You often say that, it was them, not us, but as Tim Wise says, even in your silence, you reaped the benefits. For some reason you want to keep harping on Mr. Lumumba's affiliation with an organization that was dedicated to fighting the injustice - the state sponsored murders and lynchings and Jim Crow laws. You write as though those things were just incidental to the times. Quite the contrary, they permeated every aspect of our lives with FEAR. A Black man's life was worthless. It was the intervention of men like Mr. Lumumba who gave us courage to stand UP!! What, pray tell are white Jacksonians afraid of - retribution? Doing to them what was done to Black people in this state/country? Is that your FEAR? To do that would make us NO BETTER than the lowest of the human race. Nothing that Chowke Lumumba has said or done translates to anything even remotely close to that suggestion. He has consistenly called for the inclusion of the citizens of Jackson. Maybe the fear is that this man wants to make sure that the majority of Jackson's citizens get a FAIR share of any city contracts, they get employed, invested etc., Since most of Jackson's citizentry is Black, is the fear that the 20% of whites living in Jackson would not continue to be the primary recipients of contracts, economic, social, and political control. Now if that is the fear, that is something whites must require of themselves to "GET OVER". Sharing POWER is always scary to the poweful. We can't help that. You've got to come to terms with that one and take the opportunity to work with the people in the mayor's office to build viable coalitions with Black, White, Hispanic, East Indian, and other ethnic groups. Work with the schools system to build viable, inclusive, progressive schools. Unquestionably, with your involvement the city with reach it's goals faster. But don't be mistaken, we will do it without you too. Its an open invitation so get involved, to swallow your fear and open your hearts.
sarahmina 10 years, 11 months ago
To THE JACKSON FREE PRESS,
Instead of pointing out the differences, why don't you take the lead and point out the similarities and how we can work together? You might want to read one of your own, Tim Wise. He goes a long way in helping people understand why feel and act, about race, like they do. It should be a MUST read for all at the Jackson Free and the Clalrion Ledger
donnaladd 10 years, 11 months ago
One of our "own"? Not sure I'm following, sarahmina.
We have been known to write about race issues from time to time. We'll see if we can get around to again. (smile)
ldavis 10 years, 11 months ago
It seems hat the JFP is determined to negatively exploit Lumumba's purported anti-white comments. Lumumba has never behaved in a manner to suggest that he is anti-white. In fact, his former socio-political positions were made within a systemic oppressive state and capitol city that treated blacks less than human. Further, the reason this state continues to lag behind is not due to men like Lumumba rather White male Republicans, such as our pathetic governor, who consistently embrace legislation and policies that are harmful to consumers, individuals, patients, workers and families all while claiming to be prolife. That's the story that JFP should be writing about, but it's much easier to target Lumumba rather than taking on this oppressive system that keeps most Mississippians (Blacks, Whites and Latinos) in poverty.
Furthermore, I am offended that JFP would refer to white homeowners and business owners as the saviors of the Jackson economy. Perhaps you need revisit Jackson, particularly North Jackson, and check out the significant number of black home owners.
J 10 years, 11 months ago
These are great first steps on the part of Mr. Lumumba, and I hope to see more. I think he will find a lot of whites willing to work with him if he will repudiate the worn out notions of racial separation or independence that he espoused in the past. This he has not fully done. Had he reached out in this way during the primary, he might have enjoyed more support from white voters.
donnaladd 10 years, 11 months ago
ldavis, you are lifting words in the above story out of context. The JFP did not say that white business owners are the savior of the local economy. Here is the full sentence for you to read again:
Duan 10 years, 11 months ago
Some Jackson supporters of Lumumba's rival, businessman Jonathan Lee, and many whites in non-Jackson locales around the state wrote off the results as suggestive of a black electorate too ignorant to recognize that Lumumba would drive off the minority of white home and business owners who bear the burden of supporting the local economy.
Now don't get me wrong - I'm not faulting the JFP for making that comment, because it's a legit observation and leads me to this point with the current state of Mississippi politics - it's all about the messenger and not the message! That bodes for anti-Lumumba people and anti-Lee people.
But the root of the problem is fair and balanced representation in the political spectrum. Some felt Jonathan would ignore them and others felt Lumumba would ignore their issues if elected.
But if you look at the system as a whole,the questions are not being asked by the people on what it is they deem important and how we should pay for it as taxpayers? In turn, giving you (constituents) the fear of non-representation. But basically we've been electing the same ol' same ol' and expect them to go figure it out and then get fighting mad when there's no evident improvement? However, come election time - we go right back to the polls and put them right back in office - because we are afraid of change and too lazy in the brain to think for ourselves.
It's high time we start looking in the mirror and see why we are not making it better? Why didn't I vote, if I had the opportunity? Why didn't I support this or support that in my own backyard? What did I do to make the city better?
We can't keep expecting other people to fix our problems and not communicate with those in our community about the matter and that's all I've witnessed in the last 20 years when it boils to everything Jackson. You just can't cut tail and run everytime something doesn't go your way. I'm not saying you need to go along to get along - but at the same token we need to start thinking on a WIN/WIN basis and kill that WIN/LOSE mentality when it comes to Jackson and the surrounding scenerio - PERIOD!
js1976 10 years, 11 months ago
"It seems hat the JFP is determined to negatively exploit Lumumba's purported anti-white comments."
So I guess your here to sweep those "purported" comments under the rug?
donnaladd 10 years, 11 months ago
OK, folks, many of you have no idea what "racist" means. Mr. Lumumba has never, to our knowledge, done anything to keep white people from having equal rights and access to resources, which is what racism is. You just can't turn him into a "racist" in order to justify your own hate. It's not logical.
bill_jackson 10 years, 11 months ago
Separtist is the word, not racist.
donnaladd 10 years, 11 months ago
To be factual, Bill, there is no evidence that Mr. Lumumba wants races to live "separate" in today's world. When the RNA formed, it was in response to black people being killed indiscriminately, including by Jackson police, and nothing being done about it. There was a certain necessity to them, then, of black people moving to a separate place to take care of each other.
Now, considering, how many white families fled both the public schools and Jackson itself for then-white enclaves after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled over Christmas break 1969-70 that public schools must integrate right away, it seems that the RNA folks weren't the only ones who were trying to live separately. If you believe now that Lumumba must still hold the same "separatist" views, then you must also apply the same logic to all those white folks.
And I don't recall ever seeing you, or most of the people now inaccurately calling Lumumba "racist," here or most anywhere repudiating white racism and separatism. Nothing if not inconsistency.
The vast phenomenon of white people fleeing neighborhoods when they were no longer the vast majority even has a sociological name: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipping_...">tipping point. So if we want to complain about separatism, let's make sure we include everything in the conversation.
js1976 10 years, 11 months ago
"To be factual, Bill, there is no evidence that Mr. Lumumba wants races to live "separate" in today's world."
He doesn't seem to have a problem speaking at New Black Panther Party conventions! Now please be aware I'm speaking of the "New" BPP which has no affiliation with the original BPP. I can offer quotes all day long from this organization, and they all preach "seperation" or even extermination!
Very few could argue that this is indeed a "racist" organization, and Mr Lumumba has been a guest speaker at their conventions within the last few years. So no one is turning him into a racist, his affiliations have already done so.
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