In Medgar's Driveway
In this country, we have a keen interest in visiting places where famous people died. This is especially true for events of the 1960s: People visit Dallas to see where President Kennedy's enjoyed his final moments before being struck in the back and head. You can visit the Lorraine Motel in Memphis where Martin Luther King Jr. was shot on the balcony. It is now the National Civil Rights Museum (the front of the museum is the same facade as the old motel).
In Her Words: Myrlie Evers-Williams
Members and friends, for some reason I feel just a little bit nervous. That's unusual, but I think it's emotion more than anything else--emotions that have all of you here, my daughter here. Seeing where we have come from 50 years ago, I've seen Tougaloo accept the gift from the Evers family and to move forward into the future with all that can be done with this gift, I thank you.
Mr. Dylan, Mr. Evers
It was raining the morning of May 17, 2003. I was in my office, worrying about what the Jubilee! JAM organizers must be going through. It's hard to make this festival pay off in good weather, not to mention in times of thunderstorms and crime hysteria. I knew the rain, coming on the JAM's big day—Cassandra Wilson, Bob Dylan and Gerald Levert were scheduled that evening—would be playing hell with the moods of the organizers.
Memories of Medgar
A week and a half before he met his fate outside his family's Jackson home, Medgar Evers, the Mississippi field secretary for the National Association of Colored People, said if he died, it would be for a good cause: fighting for America.
The Wrong Kind of Unity
By the time you read this, the 2013 mayoral election will be part of our city's history.
You Can’t Have It Both Ways, Gov. Bryant
Gov. Phil Bryant stepped in it Monday. As part of a Washington Post Live event, he was asked how America had ended up so "mediocre" in educational outcomes. He answered: "I think both parents started working. The mom got in the work place."
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Blacker'
Wyatt Emmerich, whose (white) grandfather stood up for civil rights when he held an editor's pen, has proclaimed himself up as the arbiter of "all things black."
At a Curbside Near You
Brother Hustle: "Aunt Tee Tee and I have been blessed with the positive attributes of initiative, discipline, and ambition to become successful in business, entrepreneurship, community activism and technology."
Moody About Jackson’s Bond Rating
Credit rating service Moody's last month downgraded the rating on the city of Jackson's water and sewer system revenue bonds from Aa3 to A1 and set an outlook for the city waterworks' borrowing capacity of "negative."
Lawsuit Puts Prison Mental Health in Focus
Victor Voe warned them: "Don't let them kill me. I be hearing them say they going to kill me. I am hearing voices that others don't hear."
Jackson Upgrades Bus Stops, Hires Election Consultant
The Jackson City Council had a busy night May 28. In the absence of Ward 1 Councilman Quentin Whitwell, the council voted unanimously to hire an election consultant, to provide funds to Stewpot Community Services, and to accept a bid for a construction contract that should bring several city bus stops and sidewalks into compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
Giving and Taking the Reins
More than 30 years of service to a city and a state culminated in one 4,000-word speech at the Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center May 29.
Incoming Urban Disaster?
The whole thing about a write-in campaign (...) is just too bizarre for words.
Question o' the Week: We are celebrating the life of Medgar Evers this week; if you could say anything to him, what would it be?
We are celebrating the life of Medgar Evers this week; if you could say anything to him, what would it be?
Chokwe Lumumba Celebrates Victory
The atmosphere in the Clarion Hotel's ballroom was electric moments before Chokwe Lumumba arrived on the scene to celebrate his election victory Tuesday. Lumumba was officially Jackson's next mayor.
The Press and Politicians
Over the weekend, New York Times columnist Frank Bruni wrote about politicians' new "controlled and controlling approach" for talking to voters.
Debrynda Davey
Debrynda Davey graduated from S.D. Lee High School in Columbus, Miss., in the early 1970s and began a long and successful career as a nurse and nurse educator.
Anticipating the Best
Without the facts, people cannot make good decisions for themselves. They cannot come together in social or activist forums; they can't celebrate what's great about their community while tackling what's not so great.
The Crest of the New Wave
Daniel Guaqueta, the 36-year-old drummer, introduced me to his other two mates, guitarist Brent Varner, 23, and bassist Tyler Baker, 24. This trifecta of talent became Buddy & the Squids after a chance meeting at the church during the summer of 2011.