Connecting Better Electrically
Even if you're just an occasional reader of the Jackson Free Press, you may have noticed that editor Donna Ladd is something of a "connector" in the parlance of the much-quoted book "The Tipping Point."
Young, Influential ... and Staying
I vividly remember ripping off my hat and gown and tossing them into a big, open truck outside the Mississippi State coliseum in 1983. It was hot as hell, and I was wearing shorts underneath unlike most of the women around me who had dresses, stockings and even high heels under their gowns.
Make Provisions For Our Mentally Ill
The shooting death of 67-year-old Jackson resident K.C. Battle says plenty about the local community's inability to handle mental illness.
[Queen] Leave to Live
At the beginning of the relationship, everything was fine. Not long after, he started changing. He often seemed angry, like he hated me. I think he changed his mind about being with me, but he wouldn't tell me that. He decided instead to "tolerate" my presence.
Dancing in the Kitchen
You see, my mom is a goofy mom. I mean "dance in the kitchen with the refrigerator doors to the sound of the "Battlestar Galactica" theme song playing in the background from the TV in front of my dad" goofy.
Stop Playing God
Right now, there is a lively discussion at jacksonfreepress.com about the upcoming May 21 state execution of Earl Berry, who was convicted Nov. 29, 1987, for the murder of Mary Bounds.
[Sue Doh Nem] The Next Generation
Poochie: "It's me, the talking, literate black dog. Today, I'm starring in a sitcom pilot called 'Ruff Times,' an updated version of the famous television series 'Good Times.' Kunta 'Rahsheed X' Toby is the executive producer, writer and director, and several members of the Ghetto Science Team repertory theater group play the roles of Florida, Michael, Thelma, J.J., Wilona and Penny. I play the role of Penny's granddaughter's adopted black dog, Poochie.
[Kamikaze] Stop Bragging, America
America is arrogant. But before you right-wingnuts paint me with the "anti-American'' brush, observe a more practical scenario: Close your eyes and imagine your workplace. Now picture one of your colleagues coming over to your desk and crowing about how magnificent he is; how much smarter and more beautiful he is and how inadequate you are compared to him. Oh, and he also tells that you should take all your pointers from him to become a better employee, even though you've been doing your job quite effectively for some time now.
[Gregory] The Waggina Monologues
Two weeks ago, I attended the 10th anniversary of "The Vagina Monologues" in New Orleans. The entire weekend was an anniversary celebration of the first performance of the show and was a vehicle to bring awareness to the issue of violence against women, raising money for charities that aid in this fight.
[Folayan] A Clear Path for the Journey
I recently experienced what I like to call my very own voyage to Mecca. Like one of my lifelong heroes, Malcolm X, I've encountered a brand new world, a new ideal and a new revelation.
Salter to Hood ... Drop Dead
Why did C-L Perspectives Editor Sid Salter react to AG Jim Hood's criticism with a personal attack instead of discussing the role of corporate media in our politics?
State Advertising Needs Oversight
Gov. Haley Barbour was crying his eyes out Monday over poor, starving, unemployed Mississippians, according to a statement from his office. The Legislature's failure to reauthorize the Mississippi Department of Employment Security will seriously hurt that demographic, he said.
[Sue Doh Nem] ‘No Pay' Into ‘Co-Pay'
Pork-N-Piggly Customer Service Representative: "Attention Pork-N-Piggly Supermarket shoppers! As you know, prices throughout our store have drastically changed. High fuel prices, housing and credit crisis and the economic recession have affected the way folk spend their dollars. Our Pork-N-Piggly marketing staff reports that consumers have resorted to hoarding food.
[Hightower] Stop Subsidizing Big Oil
In 2006, the CEO of Exxon Mobil exclaimed that, gosh, his corporation was rolling in so much profit that he simply didn't know how to spend it all.
[Kamikaze] Prom Night
Yep, race in your face. Again. In this new round of race discussions, I've found the antibody to be none other than our young people.
Blog On
Back in 2002, a small group of us had a radical idea. Sure, we also decided to start a progressive weekly newspaper in the heart of Mississippi, but the really cutting-edge idea was what we decided to do online. We started blogging.
Don't Cheat Inner-City Schools
The Jackson City Council is frustrated and looking for answers as to why new schools aren't being built two years after Jacksonians agreed to up their taxes to finance the construction.
[Sue Doh Nem] I'm No Elitist
Judy McBride: "Greetings fellow Ghetto Science Team psychologists and mental-health counselors. Welcome to my brief presentation, 'What Happens to a Dream Deferred: Overcoming Bitterness in the Ghetto.' Before I start, I want the audience to know that I'm sharing my honest opinion. If I offend anyone, please forgive me. My intention is not to be condescending or elitist.
[Hutchinson] Hillary's X Factor
Chelsea Clinton is incredibly naïve, incredibly sheltered, incredibly in denial or maybe a bit of all three. In late March, Hillary Clinton's daughter told a North Carolina Young Democrats audience that she was shocked at the nasty things some male (and even female) folk on the campaign trail are saying about her mother, such as "Iron my shirts," and "the nutcracker in your …" The vulgarities are heaped on top of the hard-headed belief of many men and women that a woman just doesn't have the right stuff to be the nation's commander in chief.
The Trash Man Cometh
Your efforts at greening your life do make a difference, and they will add up with all the other actions by those around you.
[Grayson] I Changed the World
According to JFP columnist and intern Melishia Grayson, even younger adults can make connections, mentor, and change lives in Jackson.
Senators: Don't Disrespect Jackson
Sen. Hob Bryan, D-Amory, acted shamefully this week in circumventing an attempt to get better funding for Jackson's cops.
[Sue Doh Nem] Come and Get It
The struggling economy has 'shocked and awed' the poor and middle classes.
[Hightower] Hey Big Spender!
George W. likes to pose as the Texas president—in the rough-hewn, rancher model of Lyndon Johnson.
Children of Cowardice
Why should I apologize if I don't mean it?
Time to Be Responsible, Pet Owners
This issue of the Jackson Free Press, owned and operated by animal lovers, is dedicated to the idea that Jackson, and Mississippi as a whole, can quickly become a whole lot smarter when it comes to taking care of animals. Even though the state has long had a bit of a laissez-faire culturechoosing to put certain things off or justify not taking action altogetherthe issue of animal care must be high on our priority list.
[Sue Doh Nem] Hush and Be Cool
Boneqweesha Jones: "Stimulus checks come to those financially challenged citizens who wait for a few months. Today hundreds of consumers have gathered at the Funky Ghetto Mall parking lot to celebrate the long-awaited arrival of their stimulus checks and view the procession of the Ghetto Science Team's Post Tax Refund and Stimulus Check Day Parade, broadcast live on Ghetto Science Public Television. Kunta ‘Rahsheed X' Toby, controversial filmmaker and media mogul, is my co-host for this unique event.
[Kamikaze] Parental Precepts
It's 2008. Do you know where your kids are? Better yet, do you know what they're plotting behind those closed bedroom doors, between cell phone texts and e-mails on MySpace or Facebook? Do you really "know'' what they're doing? Know this. When a 15-year-old is shot down on a street corner at 2 a.m. or three 10-year-olds are accused of hatching a plot to kill a teacher, something has gone wrong in the matrix.
[Gregory] ‘Mom, What Did You Do?'
Recently, at a flea market in a town a little south of here, I dug into a bin of old newspapers and found a copy of the Jackson Daily News printed 35 years ago to the exact date. Besides reinforcing all my superstitious beliefs, I decided that there was a reason I was led to this exact spot, in this exact time, to read this paper. That may seem a little strange to some of you, but I watch enough bad horror and am just Catholic enough to hold on to a whole barrel of irrational beliefs concerning fate, destiny and black cats—and I actually own two black cats.
Owning Our Stories
The last time I talked to documentary filmmaker Micki Dickoff, we were standing on Center Avenue in my hometown during the Edgar Ray Killen trial. I was yelling at her for trying to own the story of long-overdue justice and the people who had fought for it for so long.