Learning to Win
Near the end of August every year, I start getting jittery. Yes, I'm ready for cooler temperatures. I also like being a Libra and having an October birthday--the big 5-0 this time!--and I love the crispness and smell of Autumn air. Football weather, I call it, just like my daddy did.
Johnny Dupree's Win and ‘Redneck-Blackneck Politics of the Deep South'
In a new piece on Salon.com, writer Steve Kornacki argues that Democrats are pretty washed up in the Deep South, Johnny Dupree's historic victory notwithstanding. He writes:
Alert: Trees Down and Traffic Lights Out; Use 3-1-1 to Report More
The city just issued this verbatim statement:
Motorists are urged to proceed with caution in the areas where trees are down and residents should stay away from any downed power lines. Motorists should treat intersections where traffic lights are out as a 4-way stop.
For One Moment: A Black-White Role Reversal
This morning, I woke up to more of the usual-suspect comments under this story: Crime Perception Hurts Jackson Economy. Apparently, I had wigged out the white-guy chorus that always wants to point fingers the other direction when it comes to crime. How? By talking about how our racist, terroristic history against African Americans has led to today's crime situation. They no like that:
Of Anger and Alternative Endings
When I was a teenager, I decided I wanted to be a civil-rights attorney. I had visions of righting the kinds of wrongs done in my hometown of Philadelphia, Miss. I only learned about the murders of Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner by people my family knew when I was 14, even though they happened when I was 3.
Attend a Vigil this Sunday to Denounce Murder of James Craig Anderson
Here is the verbatim press release:
We're thrilled to hear that a diverse group has come together in the metro—include Pine Lake Church, the NAACP, Beth Israel and New Horizon Ministries—to honor James Craig Anderson, who was allegedly murder because he was black by a group of white Rankin County teens. They will hold a vigil this Sunday night at New Horizon International Ministries, one block from where the murder took place, to "call for forgiveness and peace for our city" and to "denounce hates brought to this neighborhood." Let's all show up.
Bringing Civility Back to Online Conversations
Here is what the Des Moines Register told readers today:
It was predictable. Allowing anonymous free-for-alls in online newspaper comments—in a way papers never would do in print—is about to go the way of the Hummer. The Des Moines Register, a Gannett-owned paper whose site looks just like the Clarion-Ledger's announced today that it has started allowing only comments from people logged in through Facebook. This somewhat-extreme measure comes after Gannett papers, and many other websites, operated at the other extreme for way too long: allowing just about anything anybody with a fake name wanted to post on their sites. They clearly thought, for a minute, that this was good for page views. And maybe for a minute it was. But, nowadays, all you hear is how nasty the comments are, and readers are flocking away from sites that allow this level of anonymous vitriol and nasty personal comments. People increasingly are only going to such sites for negative entertainment value—the same reason people watch Jerry Springer or pick up Star Magazine. Real news outlets have to have better sense.
What do you think of ‘The Help'? About race progress in the state and Jackson?
Now that "The Help" has officially opened, it's getting massive national attention. (Just follow hashtag #thehelp on Twitter to see responses.) We're also getting calls from national media wanting to know how it's being received and, inevitably, how Jackson has changed, or if it has. Of course, this is happening the week that CNN reported that a group of Rankin County teens are accused of coming into Jackson to find a black man to "mess with" and then killed him. Like it or not, we are in the national race spotlight again.
Should Sheriff McMillin Challenge Election Outcome?
Friends,
Sheriff Malcolm McMillin said on his Facebook page today that he is challenging the outcome of the Democratic primary, which Tyrone Lewis has now officially won:
McGowan Funding Initial One-Lake Study
The Pearl River Vision Foundation is paying for the initial study of a one-lake flood-control development along the Pearl River, the group's founder John McGowan said today. "We're going to fund it up until the point it becomes a Corps project," McGowan said after the monthly, Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District, or Levee Board, meeting at Flowood City Hall. "Me, mainly, with maybe some funding from other private entities," McGowan said.
White Rankin Teens Accused of Race Murder
CNN has a shocking report today, including surveillance video of Rankin County teens accused of killing James Craig Anderson in a race murder in June. Warning: Video contains disturbing scenes.
Crime: How to Prevent It?
Last night on Facebook, I saw some folks posting about the awful crimes we've seen in Jackson of late, including the Lanier High School student, may he rest in peace. Some of the comments seem to be headed the direction we often see a year or so before mayoral elections kick in: blaming the chief and mayor for not speaking out more. Having covered—or been mired in—the Frank Melton campaign and then mayoral tenure, that kind of language makes me nervous, and just sounds political even if it's not meant to. We're gearing up to do a special issue here on big ideas about crime: how to prevent it, respond to it, talk about it, debate it in a more intelligent, proactive way that doesn't devolve into fingerpointing and the kind of sensationalism that makes it harder to actually prevent crime. As we shape that issue, I want to hear your thoughts and big ideas, as well as see any links to best practices and such that we should incorporate into our issue, and the city's approach.
Second Best Ideas
I vividly remember the day when Ward 1 City Councilman Ben Allen bounded into my office at the Jackson Free Press. During the Frank Melton mayoral administration, it wasn't unusual for Allen to pop by; we didn't agree on everything and fought like banshees on the Internet from time to time, but we were on the same page when it came to some of the crazy coming out of city hall. We found common ground on the need for Jackson, and particularly downtown, to get its groove back.
James Ford Seale Dead in Prison; Helped Kill 2 Black Teens in 1964
James Ford Seale, 76, has died in prison in Terre Haute, Ind., where he was serving three life sentences on federal kidnapping charges in 2007, the Associated Press is reporting. In 1964, he was a Ku Klux Klansman who helped kidnap and murder two teenagers, Henry Dee and Charles Moore. The Jackson Free Press accompanied Moore's brother, Thomas, and a cameraman from the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. in 2005 back to Meadville and Roxie, Miss., where the team discovered that Seale was still alive and living openly next to his brother in a trailer in Roxie. Other media, including the Associated Press and The Clarion-Ledger, had reported him dead.
Barbour Declares Budget Victory for ‘Both Republicans and Tea Party'
Gov. Haley Barbour just issued a verbatim statement about the debt deal: "The Budget Control Act is a major victory for conservatives both Republican and Tea Party. It is not perfect, but it is a big step in the right direction, which is all you can ask for when you have a Democrat Senate and a Democrat President. While there will be much left to do after this passes, this is a big step forward."
Will the Debt Deal Spell Disaster for the U.S.?
Paul Krugman explains in his New York Times column why we could be facing economic disaster as a result of the obsession over slashing spending:
Candidate Sandridge Says Jackson Threatens Madison ‘Way of Life'
Here is the full write-up:
In his bought campaign write-up in The Northside Sun this week, Madison County Sheriff candidate Mark Sandridge amps up the anti-Jackson rhetoric that brought him massive criticism in May when he ran this campaign ad. This write-up, which the Sun gives candidates who also buy advertising in the paper, goes even further than calling Jackson one of the "most violent cities in the nation" (which is inaccurate). In this anti-Jackson diatribe, Sandridge borrows from segregationist language of old and says that Jackson—now a majority-black city—actually "threatens our schools, businesses, property values and way of life."
Cult of ‘Objectivity' Is Destroying America
Anyway, here is some of what Krugman says. (Better late than never, I guess.):
So-called media objectivity is destroying our country, The New York Times' Paul Krugman is telling us on his blog. I've been warning about this he-said-she-said approach to journalism for years now: a faulty device that tries to split any side down the middle regardless of what the facts are. It is just the opposite of real "enterprise" or investigative reporting. I like to tell my students and staffers that it's actually opinion writing when you take a story and just quote two different opinions and call it objective. It's ludicrous. What matters, or should matter, is actual fact finding -- not just quoting people giving bad facts, which we see constantly in mainstream journalism. And, way too often, without bothering to factcheck (most daily papers don't; we do) or to correct faulty information said by one of the "sides" quotes. And it's a false division: the two sides are often decided by some fake political compass that divides people into left or right, Democrat or Republican, when most Americans reject that kind of binary categorization. Meantime, they allow their media to get away with it.
Haley Barbour Speaks at Neshoba County Fair (Verbatim Speech)
*Remarks as prepared*
Thank you. Today I will give my last speech at this Fair as Governor. Marsha, who has had to sit through all but one of them, is being patient enough to sit through this one, too. Not because she is dying to hear it, but because she genuinely appreciates, as do I, the warm hospitality of the people of Neshoba County and the Neshoba County Fair, one of America's great institutions.
Rising and Converging
"Grace" is one of those words I struggle with. There are the simplistic, surface definitions like charm or loveliness. I tend to find it a complicated word, though, filled with lightness and darkness struggling for domination, with the clouds shrinking if we're lucky. I guess that means I lean more toward it meaning mercy, forgiveness, prayer, clemency, even immunity or reprieve.
McGowan Reveals New Lake Specifics
Jackson oilman John McGowan said Monday that his latest lake plan will cost about $150 million and require the use of eminent domain to "condemn" some property into a "public project."
Women, Grab the Wheel
"We're over capacity." I looked at the JFP staffer who told me this last Saturday night just as we were getting ready to auction off the "Men of Character at the 7th annual Chick Ball at Hal & Mal's. I blinked, confused. We've hosted some huge parties since we started the paper, but I've never had a venue manager decide that the event was so packed that no one else could come in.
Lake Developers Detail Plan, Hope for Corps Blessing
A Jackson oilman who has long lobbied for ambitious development along the Pearl River in Jackson is hoping that the U.S. Corps of Engineers will give at least an initial nod to his latest lake plan this Thursday at a meeting in Vicksburg.
The JFP Chick Ball is TONIGHT, Will Honor Hero Police Officer
JACKSON, MISS. – On Saturday, July 9, Jacksonians from all walks of life will unite to celebrate women and support the fight against domestic violence and at the seventh annual JFP Chick Ball.
Crossing the Street
One night when I was a teenager, a terrified woman showed up at our front door. "Help me," she begged, crying and looking over her shoulder toward the house across the street. "He is angry. He is beating me. He might kill me."
Yes, We're Still Taking Donations for the July 9 JFP Chick Ball—Donate Until July 8!
We hope you'll be a part of the biggest JFP Chick Ball ever on July 9, 2011, at Hal & Mal's (see http://www.jfpchickball.com). The silent auction is already huge; click here to see the list of donations to date. Many folks are asking if they can still donate; absolutely! You can still donate art, gifts and money (sponsorships start at $50 and get you into the VIP Chick-A-BOOM reception from 6 to 8 p.m.). Just drop your donation off at the JFP offices from 9 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 5, through Friday, July 8, or bring directly to Hal & Mal's after 2 p.m. on that Friday where we'll be setting up the silent auction. Make all checks out to Center for Violence Prevention, please.
2011 Chicks We Love Announced: Honor Them at Chick-A-BOOM Reception at JFP Chick Ball!
Every year, the Jackson Free Press honors a slate of fabulous Jackson-area women who are making a difference in our community and who are just plain lovable. Last year, the JFP and BOOM Jackson joined with the Center for Violence Prevention to start honoring them at the JFP Chick Ball every summer. The Chick-A-BOOM VIP reception at the Chick Ball gives these amazing women the spotlight they deserve and gives the people who love them, too, the opportunity to honor them while helping raise money to fight domestic abuse in and around Jackson (this year's proceeds help fund nearby rural programs and assistance).
‘Men of Character' Live Auction to Debut at JFP Chick Ball on July 9
Here are the "Men of Character":
In addition to the best and most chic silent auction around, the 7th Annual JFP Chick Ball will feature a live auction of Jackson "Men of Character" at the fundraising event July 9 at Hal & Mal's in downtown Jackson. Bring your checkbooks and credit cards and bid on the following fabulous men, who will in turn, uh, perform services they are best known for on behalf of the winning bidders (get your mind out of the gutter; their "services" are listed after their names!). Professional auctioneeress Christine Whitton of Clinton will auction the "Men of Character" starting at 7:55 p.m. in the Red Room, right before the other awards. All auction proceeds will benefit the Center for Violence Prevention and help stop domestic abuse in central Mississippi. This year's money is dedicated to stopping domestic abuse in rural counties around Jackson.
Musical Line-Up Announced for 2011 JFP Chick Ball - July 9
Chick Ball Main Stage - Red Room, 6 to midnight
The musical/performance line-up for this year's JFP Chick Ball on July 9 at Hal & Mal's will be as follows:
UPDATED: Chick Ball Donations Piling Up; Here's Who Has Donated So Far ...
With the JFP Chick Ball less than three weeks away and the deadline to make the big Chick Ball gift/silent auction guide (in the July 6 issue of JFP), the donations are arriving fast and furious at the JFP offices. Here is a list of the donations and donors we have logged to date; we will update between now and Chick Ball (if you don't see your name and you've donated, email [e-mail missing] to make sure you get due credit).
Win a HUGE Trophy! Take the Chick Ball Challenge Through July 6. Here's How ...
CALLING ALL GROUPS TO TAKE PART IN THE CHICK BALL CHALLENGE TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
JACKSON, MISS. – Jackson-area schools, colleges, churches, civic organizations, businesses and neighborhoods are called to unite in a friendly rivalry to put an end to domestic violence in Mississippi as part of the Chick Ball Challenge.
JFP Chick Ball Celebrates Women and Works to End Domestic Violence
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 3, 2011
On Saturday, July 9, Jacksonians from all walks of life will unite to celebrate women and support the fight against domestic violence at the seventh annual JFP Chick Ball.
Take the Chick Ball Challenge!
Take the Chick Ball Challenge! Get together a group -- as few as two and as many as 20 people -- to raise money and gather gifts and art for the 2011 JFP Chick Ball. The group with the highest total amount (money+gift value) will win the big Chick Bowl trophy this year. Be the first to take it home! Register to compete: call 601.362.6121 x. 16 TODAY!
Gov. Haley Barbour
"To the Freedom Riders yourselves, our state does celebrate and thank you for your courage, your commitment, your suffering and your sacrifices of 50 years ago. We apologize to you for your mistreatment in 1961, and we appreciate this chance for atonement and reconciliation."
Strenuous Liberty
I saw an earth-shattering tweet yesterday. The Fairview Inn in Belhaven was tweeting the link to their blog post heralding the Freedom Riders' anniversary. So what, you might respond. It's just a nice hotel doing good marketing.
Growing Great Writers
I firmly believe that anyone can be a good writer. Writing leads to clear thinking, and reading and writing feed each other. Don't give up on yourself or your child, or think that you don't have writing "talent." Just like anything else, writing is a craft that needs to be developed and practiced.
Good Ideas
Families are at the heart of everything we do. They serve as a witness to our lives, support us when we fail and remind us of where we came from. Even if you have a nontraditional family, a strong family unit is essential to a vibrant community. In this Good Ideas issue, we focus on ways to build a family-friendly community, how to raise a genius child, alternatives to traditional families and styles of parenting.
Madison Sheriff Candidate Bashes Jackson in Disturbing Ad
This dude, Mark Sandridge, shouldn't be elected dog catcher after this expensively offensive–and inaccurate–campaign ad. Shame!
Letter to a Young Jacksonian
This time each year, I start hearing from young people who want to intern at the JFP over the summer (last year we had 19) and from former interns who need a reference or career advice.
Are white men in trouble? Newsweek explores their plight.
There's a fascinating feature in Newsweek right now about the effect the recession is having on middle-class, formerly well-off white men. Here's just a chunk; what are your thoughts?
Fannie Lou Hamer
Last Sunday, my partner, Todd Stauffer, and I set off on another of our weekend road trips that take us wherever we end up. This time, we landed in Ruleville, northwest of Greenwood, at the grave of Fannie Lou Hamer and her husband, "Pap" Hamer.
Understanding Mr. Melton: Go See 'A Soldier's Play' at New Stage
Last night, Todd and I went to New Stage Theatre to see "A Soldier's Play" (the play that the film "A Soldier's Story" was based on). Folks, this is a remarkable production with a line-up of just incredible (mostly black) male actors. It is serious, it is funny, and most importantly, it is seriously thought-provoking about the multiple levels of race, racism and the self-hatred that has inflicted some African Americans (and white oppressors) due to the history of oppression in our country.
Do you know an amazing teen? Tell us for Young-Young Influentials!
Do you know an amazing high school aged student?
Someone who demonstrates characteristics of high personal character and integrity, perhaps using this strength of character to be resilient in the face of extenuating family circumstances, or in overcoming significant obstacles.
Teresa Nicholas
I've never met writer Teresa Nicholas, but I'm getting to know her quite well. My buddy JoAnne Prichard Morris (who is also an editor of the Jackson Free Press) strongly suggested several weeks ago that I get her new book, "Buryin' Daddy" (University Press of Mississippi, 2011, $28). You'll love it, she told me.
[Balko] How Drug Cops Go Bad
If you browse the website of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), you will notice a conspicuous theme: The war on drugs is corrupting America's cops.
Why do people move to/stay in Jackson?
OK, I promised. Here is the next user-generated list in our quest to educate ourselves about why people leave/stay. Please add your reasons (or reasons you've heard people give whether you agree with them or not) to the list below and pass it around. (Remember to add reasons to this one, too: Why do people leave Jackson?
7th Annual JFP Chick Ball July 9, 2011—Save the Date!
The JFP Chick Ball committee is busy collecting sponsors and silent-auction donations, as well as reaching out for more volunteers and committee members. (This year, we're starting a "rooster" support committee of men who want to officially help out. The 7th Annual JFP Chick Ball will be at Hal & Mal's on July 9 and will this year raise money to help fight domestic abuse in surrounding rural counties. Sponsorships start for as little as $50 (which gets you into the VIP Chick-A-BOOM reception), and we even need donations of "chick" decor so be sure to hit those after-Easter clearance sales to help fight domestic abuse. All checks should be made out to the Center for Violence Prevention, which is the direct recipient of all Chick Ball proceeds. Follow us on Twitter @jfpchickball and find us on Facebook. Please tell your friends. The JFP Chick Ball is for age 18 and up, and only costs $5 at the door. Watch for more details! And, remember, we need your help RIGHT NOW. Please join us in this important effort.
Giving credit where it's due
I've been quite critical of some posts on the Downtown Jackson Partners blog in recent days as in-depth discussions about why people stay/leave Jackson have unfolded on our website. But I have to give DJP credit today (even as I wish they'd clean up the use of quotations and italics over there, but I digress). I just looked at the blog and see that there is all sorts of relevant, interesting content, rather than the usual mix of posts about Two Lakes and other "bodacious" (expensive) projects and events listings (nothing wrong with those, of course). There is great news about the state renting space downtown and extension info on urban spaces and interesting new urbanism stats and such. Also good news on DJP's Venture Incubator that Ward Schaefer wrote about in the last issue of Boom Jackson.
Why do people leave Jackson?
OK, I have an idea. Let's try an experiment. Let's start a list of the various reasons, positive or negative, that people might move out of Jackson proper. You can't post more than one sentence, and you can't repeat something someone else has said. (This is my blog post; thus, my rules. Smile.) Please add anything you can think of to the list and try not to include any kind of judgement in your entries; your reason may be a perception, but perceptions drive people to do things, so include it! When we get a good list, we'll start talking about each other individually to consider the problem and possible list of solutions. Everyone, please join in.
Drama and hysteria don't change the world
After getting sucked into a couple different JFP conversations about the (over)reaction to recent Census numbers (the most recent one here), I've been thinking a lot about drama and the importance of precision in language over the last few weeks. The truth, as I have witnessed over the years, is that (a) too much drama blocks progress and (b) words really matter