The ‘Perception' of The Ledger
I used to work with someone who would infuriate me because—as I used to say somewhat venomously—she would "treat me as if I were as stupid as she is." Ever get that feeling? I've been feeling that way a lot since The Clarion-Ledger's crack opinion team has been going on about the "passion" shown by Chief Moore for his job. Their day-late-dollar-short opining has gotten me edgier than a double-tall iced mocha frappe.
[Fleming] Give Barbour Credit Where It's Due
In time, we all can agree on something in our political lives. This week, I can honestly say that I am in agreement with Gov. Haley Barbour on several points. First, I am glad that the governor has had a change of heart considering the Vulnerable Adults Act, which he had vetoed earlier this month.
[Kamikaze] All Over But The Crying
Well, it's all over but the crying (although I may be late on that one). One of the most storied elections in the history of Jackson is indeed that— history. On June 7, the Bold New City will have a new mayor. And currently, all the signs point toward the enigmatic figure that is Frank Melton. In fact, most pundits say that Melton's opponent, former news anchor, Rich Whitlow, has about as much chance of winning as Jim Giles does of becoming head of the NAACP. But I digress.
[Stiggers] Buy A Steak And Eat It, Too
It's "Boneqweesha Live" from the vault of the Let Me Hold Five Dollars National Bank with Rudy McBride, bank president and the Ghetto Science Team's financial adviser.
Fear is a Four-Letter Word
Harvey Johnson is not the only one who lost the mayoral primary last week. So did fear. Yes: fear suffered a resounding loss in Jackson.
[Fleming] Is Mississippi Awash in Ignorance?
This is how you start a firestorm. Nolan Finley, a columnist for The Detroit News, wrote this in a column dated May 1, 2005:
[Stiggers] Slurp it Real Good
The following is a brief message from Crunchie Burga World's Employee of the month: "I'm Miss Wanda, your senior greeter. I've been working at Crunchie Burga World here almost two years. I work to supplement my fixed retirement income. My granddaughter, Lucretia, the morning-afternoon shift manager, said she needed a greeter during the breakfast-lunch rush. So, she hired me. With warmth and enthusiasm, I greet each incoming customer daily with the phrase: 'WELCOME TO CRUNCHIE BURGA WORLD!'
[Hightower] Mine's Bigger Than Yours
You can now splash the essence of Hummer all over your body! General Motors, the maker of this massive symbol of automotive macho, recently licensed a new Hummer cologne calling it "The Essence of Adventure," and pricing it as high as $52 for a Hummer-shaped bottle of the stuff. The scent is advertised as being "masculine with rugged and adventurous attributes." They go further, promising that this new fragrance "embodies all that Hummer is."
[Chick] Teaching Monkey the Birds and the Bees
Eight years into it, and I'm still allowed to be a mother. I can't believe it. What kind of decision-maker approves me as a fit mother? Oh, that's right. God. God gave me this child. I'm sure this is when someone should throw the "God has a sense of humor" cliche' into the situation. "Dear God, can I please, please, please complete a thought today without interruption? Yes, I'm thankful for Monkey and all, but I really think I was supposed to get a quieter one. I mean all my life, I had said that I would have a better behaved child than everyone else. Remember?
More Than A Woman
Four years ago, I came to Jackson to go to Millsaps excited mostly about one thing: getting away from my mother. My mom had always been pretty lenient—pushing my curfew back much later than any of my friends, letting me go visit friends in New Orleans for a whole month—but I couldn't wait to get away.
[Kamikaze] Give Raines A Second Chance
I guess there's no such thing as second chances. Mistakes, accidents, lapses in judgment—it doesn't matter. Mess up once, and you've got one hell of a road to travel back to public approval. Commit a crime, serve time, and America would rather you just sit over in a corner and keep your mouth shut. Commit a crime, serve time and be black, and you're a pariah.
[Stiggers] Summa Time Tips And Stuff
Ghetto Science Public Television presents "Energy Savin' Spring and Summa Time Tips and Stuff" with Grandpa Pookie and Bruh JoJo.
[Jones] What's A Cool Mom?
I'm not sure what "cool mom" means, but I'm flattered. If it means being an irresponsible parent, I withdraw the nomination. So many times people think being "cool" to kids requires that you let them drink and smoke and enforce no discipline or expectations on them. Johnny and I are quite the opposite. I really think of myself as a teacher.
[Kamikaze] The Choice Is Yours
Come election time, there's always a slew of PSAs—on both TV and radio—stressing the importance of voting. Each time, this election is more important than the last. "Vote or Die" is the new mantra. Even I, during the last presidential election, urged readers to vote "no matter who you vote for."
Community Policing Is Working Here
During the weeks leading up to the 2005 city elections, we've heard a lot about "community policing"—the mayor's preferred approach to fighting crime—and whether or not it is working. As someone who has participated in community policing since November 2003, I have a pretty good perspective on its effectiveness in Jackson. I am a Fondren resident and currently volunteer my time as the moderator for Precinct 4 Community Oriented Policing (COPS). I can tell you that it is indeed having a positive effect on crime in Jackson—and on the "perception" that crime is out of our control.
The Sound and Fury of 'Perception'
Ponder these statements for a moment: "There is too much crime in Jackson." "The perception of crime is worse than the reality."
Houston, We Have A Problem
As soon as the Best of Jackson 2005 issue was put to bed, the JFP turned our attention to the upcoming city elections. My personal mayoral bias was that Harvey Johnson Jr. had done a pretty good job as mayor, certainly in the last four years; our readers thought so, too. They had voted him Best Elected Official and Most Under-Appreciated Jacksonian in the Best of Jackson awards—largely, I suspect because his long-term visions had started coming to fruition in the last couple years, and because he has embraced the emerging diverse, determined creative class here. It didn't hurt any that crime was falling and private investment was returning to Jackson.
[Kamikaze] Look Inside The Matrix
I had the honor of speaking on a panel recently at Tougaloo College to discuss sexual imagery in hip-hop. It was apropos because my last column spoke to a similar issue. It was a spirited debate to say the least, and one that made me want to even go deeper into this controversy.
[Stiggers] Not Even A Cadillac
Readin' Rain-Bro is brought to you by the Let Me Hold Five Dollars National Bank Emergency Aid Fund and the Cootie McBride Help the Financially Challenged Debt Consolidation Centers of America.
[Stiggers] Broke on a Fixed Income
G-SPAN (Ghetto-Science Public Affairs Network) proudly presents our premiere bootleg broadcast of the Ghetto Science Team's Financially Challenged Economic Summit 2005, with keynote speaker Grandma Pookie.
[Sawyer] Poverty, Lies, And Feeding Tubes
The Terri Schiavo debacle has turned into the surrogate of caring about life. It seems as if one advocates for the removal Mrs. Schiavo's feeding tube, then it is they who are violating the sanctity of life—it is they who are killing an innocent disabled woman. Just recently, we saw another surrogate issue—homosexual civil unions—become the centerpiece of the Republican Party's 2004 agenda. This wedge issue drove evangelical Christians to the polls in order to prevent the so-called systematic dismantling of the American family by the granting of gay civil unions.
[Kamikaze] Don't Blame Nelly
My condolences go out to rap mega-star Nelly and his immediate family. In case you haven't heard, Nelly's sister, 31-year-old Jackie Donahue, lost her battle with leukemia recently. What a lot of people don't know is that Nelly spent a lot of his time trying simply to save his sister's life. As some families can attest, fighting leukemia, or any other terminal illness, is not cheap. Luckily for Nelly, the blessings of the music industry allowed him the means to start the Jes Us 4 Jackie Foundation. His fame and fortune helped shine light on the condition of his sister and those like her.
The Elephant In The Classroom
The governor and his loyal cabal of "Stepford senators" seem to believe that Mississippians are stupid. And they sure want to keep us that way.
Chokwe Lumumba Is Getting A Raw Deal
There is a pattern in America's ill treatment of those who have something to say, particularly those who are perceived as having "too much" to say. This pattern is made evident in America's treatment of activists ranging from politicians to attorneys, educators to unionists. Activists stand out and apart from the passive, the silent, the voiceless, the fearful because they are at once active demanding attention in the face of oppression. From divine resources, they draw energy and strength to push toward and forward in the name of freedom and justice.
[Stiggers] Sista Church Hat of The Greater Vegetarian Church
It's time for your Bonqweesha On-The-Scene Report. Sitting in for Bonqweesha Jones is Sista Church Hat of the Greater Vegetarian Church, International.
Eating Popcorn and Paying Dues
This week marks the Sixth Annual Crossroads Film Festival, and in this issue of the Jackson Free Press you'll find reviews, recommendations and a program guide to give you a sense of what to look for this Thursday through Sunday as the film festival is going on. I hope, if you're reading these words, you'll make an effort to attend. It takes all of us to bring quality independent film to Jackson, and attending the Crossroads Film Festival is a big part of making that possible.
[Fleming] Our Place in Paradise
"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: 'Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!' But the other criminal rebuked him. 'Don't you fear God,' he said, 'since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.' Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'"
[Stiggers] Antique Road Show With Grandpa Pookie
Live from Rico Tee's Pawn Shop and One Stop Liquor Store/Utility Payment Center, it's the Financially Challenged Antique Road Show.
Thou Shalt Honor The F-Word
Read my lips. The Ten Commandments are not a toy. And the U.S. Constitution isn't an instrument to be manipulated as the political winds shift.But here we go again. On March 8, the Mississippi House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill to allow the Ten Commandments and "In God We Trust" to be placed on public buildings.
[Kamikaze] Let's Get ‘Real'
Listen, this proposed "council" on racial reconciliation that I've read so much about in previous weeks appears to be a good idea ... in theory. But here's the thing, while this "council" is a necessary tool in the healing process, it will only work if two key pieces are in play.