A Health-Care Oligarchy
"The politicians are diligent, persistent and determined to establish a health-care oligarchy. The tables are tilted toward the rich, and the game is rigged against the poor."
Oh, The Places I May Go
It doesn't matter if you're a Democrat from south Jackson or a Republican from Rankin County. We can all agree that the city needs help.
Onward and Upward
Our new mayor deserves the infusion of the collective genius of all who are part of our city. This genius cannot be parked along the sidelines of stagnation. This genius cannot afford to wait on an invitation to the table of progress. Neither can it wait on political expedience.
Address Racial Bias in Policing Now, Not Later
Discriminatory policing has always been a reality in Mississippi, where too many cops have long enforced deeply held racial stereotypes. The excuse from many people is that, well, more black people commit crime.
One Mayoral Candidate’s Journey
My experience with running for mayor of Jackson was tremendous. I met so many great people that I probably would have never come across had I not jumped in with both feet.
Doers, Builders, Creators: Let’s Get Organized
I've been saying it for a hot minute about Jackson, and particularly about creatives, professionals and local business interests in Jackson—we need to get organized.
Thank a Teacher Today, and Every Day
I often say that teachers are the people who make the magic happen for students in the classroom.
AHCA Would Result in More Uninsured, Costlier Coverage in the South
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the current healthcare legislation proposed by Congress—the American Health Care Act, or AHCA—would cause 24 million people to lose health insurance coverage by 2026.
Taking the Leap, Finally
As of April 28, I no longer have to clock in for someone else. I am my own boss. I am the chief operating officer for the Kundi Compound, a collective creative computer co-op right in the heart of midtown.
To Fix Schools, Fix the Leadership
Until we figure out a way to give every school district a top-notch superintendent, every school a competent principal, and every classroom a qualified teacher, we will not improve the system.
It’s Time to Start Talking About Equity in Education
Legislative Republicans gave themselves pats on the back this session for funding the School Recognition Program, which rewards teachers primarily in "A" and "B" schools around the state with salary supplements. The program totals more than $20 million in funds from the Mississippi Department of Education's budget.
How All Can Help Teenagers Graduate
Graduation is the most important time for seniors. This is the beginning of the transition from high school to college, and the transition from being told you are just a kid to being told you are an adult.
Voices of Our Youth: Encouraging Diversity
Following are winning entries in Elmore & Peterson Law Firm's "Encouraging Diversity—Voices of Our Youth" creative competition for students, which the Jackson Free Press co-sponsored.
Next Mayor Must Lead on Preventing Youth Crime
As I type, the polls for the mayoral primaries are still open, and the outcome is uncertain. What I do know is that Jackson must adopt a new attitude when it comes to "fighting crime," regardless of who wins.
Look Ahead But Stay Present in the Jackson Mayor’s Race
As I look back on the many years I spent living in the city of Jackson, romanticism sometimes begins to set in.
Vetoing Criminal Reforms Shortsighted, Dangerous
Whether it was due to a "mistake" or a poison pill inserted at the last hour, Gov. Phil Bryant vetoed House Bill 1033 last week after both houses passed the criminal-justice reform measure unanimously.
Getting Ready for the ‘Mother of All Bombs’
Mr. Announcement: "Ghetto Science Public Affairs Network television presents coverage of Clubb Chicken Wing's Emergency Preparedness and Strategic Planning Hot Wing Happy Hour. Your moderator for this session is Congressman Smokey 'Robinson' McBride."
How Gov. Phil Bryant Is Hurting Mississippi
In my personal journey in the fight for fairness, equality and progress, I have come to a stark conclusion: Gov. Phil Bryant is single-handedly preventing our state from progressing and moving forward.
To My Unborn Daughter
I'm here to remind you of the truth. Warriors flow through your veins—brown women who integrated schools, survived Jim Crow. Slavery and Manifest Destiny are a part of your DNA.
Where the City’s Sidewalk Begins: Real Solutions
What does Jackson need? The most often griped-about, joked-about and discussed surface-level fix in this city are potholes.
Beer: If It Looks Good, Drink It
I've always loved this particular phrase from "Bizarre Foods" host Andrew Zimmern: "If it looks good, eat it."
‘One Lake’ Can’t Outsmart Nature
A new Pearl River dam and lake raise huge concerns for the short and long term: lots of lights and lots of traffic; new flooding downstream in Mississippi and Louisiana; and negative impacts to industry, wildlife, air and water quality, Gulf fisheries, recreation and public health.
State Testing Presents Bigger Equity Question
The Third Grade Reading Gate certainly serves a statewide purpose: to weed out and ideally save those kids who never learn how to read. But what if catching them isn't enough?
The Myth of the Welfare Queen
I am old enough to remember the promise of welfare reform in the '90s. I recall quite well the nasty rhetoric used to shred our social safety net.
What We’re Looking for in a Mayor
With the mayoral primary just a few weeks away, we've been discussing our JFP endorsement possibilities; we haven't yet chosen a candidate, but we've been talking about the criteria.
What Spells Success From the 2017 Legislative Session
Success in a legislative session means different things to different people.
Bill Minor: Mississippi’s Eyes and Ears
Bill Minor wrote with authority. He had been a frontlines warrior ever since his first big story in Mississippi, the funeral of ranting, racist U.S. Sen. Theodore Bilbo.
State Budget Cuts Mean Dramatic Job Loss
For the most part, Republicans are not apologizing for their "small government" priorities to legislating, even if it means health needs and equitable education suffer. Shrinking the size of government as a philosophy, however, has another natural outcome: the loss of vital jobs.
The Enduring Legacy of Emmett Till
When the news broke that Carolyn Bryant Donham—the white woman infamously at the center of the murder of Emmett Till—admitted to lying in court during the 1955 trial of her husband, Roy Bryant, and his half-brother, J.W. Milam, public outrage exploded.
Don’t Cut the Creative Industries
A ton of art mediums can provide a different point of view, from painting something in an unfamiliar style, to getting low to the ground and capturing that perfect photo, to telling other people's stories.