[Greggs] The Vanilla City
This next statement pains me to admit: I live in Madison. There, I said it. It's not that I don't love my home out here in the country. I do. Its "free-rentness" is a large factor in why I love it so much. Its ability to stay approximately 40 degrees during the entire month of August is another reason. But there is obviously some shame for me in the admission, as I love Jackson and everything about it.
[Stiggers] Have No Fear, Suburbanites!
"High prices have crippled fixed incomes of broke people. Poor folk clench on to the little money they have and remain trapped in the ghetto. Idle minds of the poor and unemployed retaliate with desperate deeds against their own community. No money, no fun, no adventure, no justice, no peace.
[Grayson] Save the Arts That Saved Me
As a Lanier High School graduate, I am proud (and aware) of the importance of my school's heritage as one of the most historic black public schools in the area—and know well how important support of the arts is to students such as myself. My life was changed because of experiences I received there in projects outside the regular curriculum—work that was funded by grants from local arts organizations such as the Jackson Arts Alliance (now called the Jackson Arts Council).
[Lott] Security First, Amnesty Never
Editor's Note: This column was buried in e-mail until now, but it is still very timely. Meantime, we have established a special Lott blog to collect writings and stories and posts about Sen. Trent Lott.
[Publisher's Note] Kudos for Team JFP
It's a big week at the Jackson Free Press. First, we sadly (for us) and happily (for her) bid farewell to Lynette Hanson, copy chief, as she leaves Mississippi, Jackson Public Schools and the JFP family to move much closer to her beloved sons (both top-notch chefs) in Portland, Ore. The cooking is about to get a lot better for Lynette and her mama, Edna, both of whom have become a fixture at JFP parties and karaoke gatherings.
[Kamikaze] Hip-Hop Wins Again
Have no fear, readers. Your friendly neighborhood rabble-rouser is back after a self-imposed hiatus. I had to take a short vacation to shake the haters off. But before your mouths start to water, I'm sorry to say I won't be dignifying those folks with a response. My mother said never give a fool (or in this case—fools) an audience. Unwarranted hating can be pretty costly in this day and age.
[Stiggers] Koolin' Out
Kunta "Rahsheed X" Toby Productions presents a sneak peek at his new dramatic comedy that will touch your mind and not your behind: "My Big Fat Meat Front Porch Wedding, Barbecue and Disco."
Frank Melton Is Not A Child
"I didn't shred the documents. I tore them up with my hands." Well, then. I guess we now know what the meaning of the word "shred" is.
[Lott] Click It
<b>*Web exclusive*</b>
As the chairman of the Senate's Surface Transportation Subcommittee, I've been proud to fundamentally change the way Congress approaches highway safety. As a result, Mississippi is receiving $9 million to fix a few of our most dangerous roads and intersections.
[Stiggers] High Livin' In The Ghetto
Brutha Hustle's Mobile Bill Payment Center presents Open-Air Kultural Theater—a very pleasant way to pay your bills while becoming more enlightened, informed and entertained. And he has plenty of Juicy-Juice on ice for the kids.
Hands Off Our Printing Presses
May 24, 2006 How to Help Save Local Media I met Marilyn, perfectly dressed and wearing her lipstick, on a late Friday afternoon. And Mike, who ponders with his head in his hands. There were the Blake brothers, looking worried and stressed with their parents on a well-earned vacation to Italy. And Jimmy and Gretchen sitting quietly, soaking up every word. Beverly was friendly but worried about her livelihood. There was Angie, a hard-nosed businesswoman with a great tan. I had never met these people until a group of Jackson's independent publishers all crowded into a borrowed conference room in Fondren Corner to talk about how the Gannett Corp., and its local affiliate, The Clarion-Ledger, was trying to hurt our businesses.
[Greggs] Here's to You, Ali Robinson
This past weekend I went on a date with a man eight years my junior. (I'll pause so that all the older women may give me mental high-fives and formulate extremely personal questions that will not be answered in this column. And no, I'm not going to state my age.)
[Stiggers] Partly Cloudy, Definitely Funky
Grandma Pookie: "Welcome to the George Washington Carver Holistic Health Commission of Tuskegee, Ala., national report–brought to you by the Ghetto Science Team's Church Fan Energy Initiative.
The Bottom Line
Frank Melton cannot solve Jackson's crime. That is simply a statement of fact, not a criticism or a denouncement or even a denouement. It is also true that former Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. could not solve crime. Neither could former Police Chief Robert Moore. And current Police Chief Shirlene Anderson can't, either.
[Johnson] When Jackson Burned
On May 14, 1863, the Army of Tennessee, under Generals Grant and Sherman, seized Jackson as the Confederate army retreated in disarray. Grant ordered the city's "strategic assets" burned, and in hours, much of Jackson burned to the ground. This is why Jackson has the nickname "Chimneyville," because the fire spared little but brick chimneys, which stood like tombstones after the blaze. This was only the first of three times Jackson burned during the war.
[Stiggers] That's the Truth, Ruth
Still Bill the Funk Doctor: "Eee-Diddy-Eye! Oooh, I'm joggin', and back on the scene with the record machine. This is D.J. Ol' Skool Pete's mentor, the king of throw-back, ain't cuttin' no slack. Just call me 'Still Bill the Funk Doctor,' the undisputed heavy-weight disc jockey broadcasting live from Clubb Chicken Wing, via the airwaves of WGSR—Ghetto Science Radio.
[Collier] My Mother's Daughter
My senior year in college was the first time I knew my mother loved me. Of course I knew she loved me. But it wasn't until my senior year that I really got it. I spent many years trying to be someone other than who I was. Who I was trying to be, I'm still not sure, but I'd taught myself a long time ago that who I was wasn't good enough. All sorts of things contributed to the negative self-talk I listened to and let myself believe.
[Stiggers] The Drive on Washington
"It's Boneqweesha, live from the Million Motorist March and Car Pool on Washington, D.C. Millions of financially challenged motorists are scheduled to arrive at the nation's capital to protest rising gasoline prices. Attendance is low right now because a small group of marchers have arrived on foot, and car poolers continue to drive at low speeds or end up stranded on the highways. Momma Church Hat has a bird's-eye view from the Praise-the-Lawd-O-Copter."
[Kamikaze] Heaven's Bus
Sometimes the hypocrisy in modern society troubles me. I've known for years that the playing field for African Americans has never been level. I've always known that those who disagree with that fact probably have a slightly skewed view of reality. But whatever those feelings are, I knew we could be assured that with death, there would come some semblance of peace. Whether you did good deeds or raised a little hell, you at least had the right to spend eternity where you saw fit. Ironically though, even in death, we've found a way to separate ourselves. The classism that exists even in the African-American community has found its way into the afterlife.
Letter To A Young Mayor
First, allow me to thank you for giving me so much of your time over the last six weeks. Your frankness in our series of interviews seems to have captivated the city and started many conversations about the future of Jackson and how to get there.
[Kamikaze] Don't Be Cool
Parents. Stop. Put down whatever you're doing and ask yourself: Do I know where my kids are? Better yet, do I know what they're thinking?
[Stiggers] That Safe-Crackin' Crack-Head
"Welcome to the Brotha Hustle Bill Payment Extension Phone Service. All you need is a pre-paid cell phone, and you can take advantage of this convenient way to ask for more time to pay your overdue bills.
Executives Run Amok
The similarities between Mayor Melton's current woes and President Bush's are striking. George Bush can't boast the kind of mandate Frank Melton had when he was elected. But both men were solidly backed by a largely white, largely far-to-the-right-of-ordinary conservative group of voters. Both groups are increasingly embarrassed about their vote. Both groups are pretty vocal. Both groups are being ignored by their elected officials. We've heard the "I" word regarding both men too.
What We Have To Lose
It was with a great deal of concern that I emerged from reading Adam Lynch's story on the city's budget woes in last week's Jackson Free Press ("Bleak House," 4/10/06), because it confirmed for me a fear that I have about Mayor Frank Melton's administration. Right now, the city appears to lack serious fiscal leadership at the top.
[Greggs] You Total Slant
This week I was reading the news about Bush "shakin' up" the Cabinet by changing several key positions in the administration. Or rather, he decided to shuffle some people around. One article contained a quote from a Democratic senator likening the event to "rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic." This made me giggle. It also made me tired. Very, very tired.
[Stiggers] Spinnin' Wheel
We return to America's favorite game show "Wheel of the Fortunate."
Creaming The Messenger
Like so many Jacksonians, I have read Donna Ladd's interviews with Mayor Frank Melton with rapt interest. These interviews have provided an unprecedented portrait of Melton the man, and I must say that I am fascinated by his larger-than-life—dare I say swashbuckling?—personality. I am also proud, since no other media outlet in Jackson could conduct interviews of such depth and scope, as anyone who saw WLBT's recent interviews with the mayor can confirm, to say nothing of the coverage provided by The Clarion-Ledger.
[Grayson] I Was A Wood Street Girl
Typical sixth-graders aspire to become lawyers, doctors and professional athletes, but I was not your typical sixth-grader. I was raised on what came to be known as the worst street in Jackson: the infamous Wood Street. And my goal was to be a drug dealer.
[Stiggers] Double-Dutch Church Bus
Rev. Cletus: "God bless ya! This is the Right Rev. Cletus, your transportation minister and car salesman, broadcasting live from Rev. Cletus Car Sales—home of the Double-Dutch Church Bus Express. Our motto: 'Swing low, sweet Chariot. We'll get ya to the church on time!'
[Kamikaze] A Wave Of The Finger
My hat is off to Cyrus Webb and ShadowPlay Entertainment for raising issues affecting the hip-hop nation recently. His Free2Flow Summit last week was an attempt to enlighten the public at large about the rap world and a chance for some area kids to learn about the "business of music." I was fortunate enough to be one of the panelists, and more fortunate to engage in some in-depth discussions with a few very intelligent ladies and gentlemen.