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Jackblog

Mississippians Against Racism Starts "Mississippi Love for Gabby" Campaign

Mississippians Against Racism is asking everyone to sign a card for Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas to congratulate her for her gold medal wins, and encourage her after the controversy surrounding how she wore her hair during the competitions. Here is the press release with minor corrections to the dates:

In light of the huge controversy over the natural hair texture, Mississippians Against Racism wanted to tell the exceptional 16 year old, 90 pound, Olympic Gold Medalist, Gabrielle Douglas, that the weight of our race is not on her shoulders. Such is the responsibility of Adults and institutions. In addition, we wanted her to know that we fully understand why her natural hair showed itself during her performance and we happy she was nappy, beautiful like God made her.

Mississippians Against Racism will be inviting others who share these sentiments to express their love for Gabby on a special congratulatory card made in & for Mississippi. Everyone interesting in telling Gabby we love her because we love our daughters, nieces and sisters should jointly visit Marshall’s Music and Book Store, 618 North Farish St. in Jackson, MS to sign this special card. We begin at Noon on Friday, August 10th with this symbolic gesture of love. A special signing will begin on Saturday, August 11th , 2012 at 3:15pm prior to the monthly community forum. The Monthly Sick & Tired and Seeking SOULutions Community Forum will be held at the Afrikan Arts & Cultural Studio, 612 North Farish Street 4 - 5:30pm. After the forum, interested signers can come to Marshall’s Music and Bookstore 10am-5pm Monday and Tuesday.

The "Mississippi Loves Gabby Card" will be mailed to Gabby Douglas on Wednesday, August 15th, 2012. We hope to have at least one thousand signatures on the Mississippi Loves Gabby card, so join us Saturday, August 11th at the Afrikan Arts & Cultural Studio, 612 North Farish Street, 3:15pm to sign the card. Or stop-by Marshall’s Music & Book Store, 618 North Farish Street on Monday or Tuesday to add your love. Bring your daughters, nieces and sisters, because Black Self-Hate affects, effects, and destroys us all and Black Love heals of all.

For more details about this special expression of love for Gabby, call 601.355.5335 or 601.979.1413.

Comments

justjess 11 years, 7 months ago

What a wonderful idea and a great tribute to this deserving young lady. My hat goes off to Gabby!

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donnaladd 11 years, 7 months ago

Me, too. And the attacks on her hair were unconscionable: It's what happens to strong, successful women. People accomplishing less in their lives try to pick them apart in the most superficial, pathetic ways. The world saw a beautiful young athlete with her hair pulled back. Young women don't need to see obsession with surface stuff; they need to see power and focus. Gabby delivered.

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goldeneagle97 11 years, 7 months ago

Another sad part is a number of attacks came from blacks on Twitter. It seems like we "celebrate" black women on trashy reality shows, but pounce on a young woman who wins a gold medal. And chew on this: what woman would have her hair looking spiffy when going into some athletic competition?

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latashawillis 11 years, 7 months ago

Here's an update from Mississippians Against Racism:

With over 1000 signatures, the Mississippi Loves Gabby congratulatory card is reach to be sent. Thanks to the students at Powell Middle School and Jim Hill High School, Our Community Against Racism has exceeded its goal of 1000 signatures on the card. So, on Friday, August 17, 2012 the committee will display the congratulatory card for the media and the community at Marshall’s Music and Book Store, 618 North Farish Street, at 12noon, just begin mailing it to Gabby.

Realizing that some people can’t understand the importance of rebuilding Gabrielle’s self-confidence post her Olympic hair controversy, Our Community Against Racism felt the need to said thank you to the Jackson community, in particularly the students at Jim Hill and Powell, are their warm loving expressions of strong encouragement to our Beloved "Flying Squirrel" Gabby. ....

Again, we will display the mississippi Loves Gabby Congratulatory Card at Marshall’s Music and Book Store, 618 North Farish Street, at 12noon on Friday, August 17th. For more details about this special expression of Love for Gabby from mississippi, call 601.355.3553 or 601.979.1413.

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