mississippi
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My Head Is a Part of My Body and My Middle Name Is Makeba
As a child, the word “crazy” bounced around every black space I called home. “Crazy” was a destination and an origin. “Crazy” was at once a pejorative and wholly emblematic of our abundance. I loved the word “crazy.” I used it a lot in my oral communication with folks I loved. I used it to…
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The Death of a Mississippi Teacher From COVID-19 Increases Fears of an Outbreak as Schools Reopen
Despite most medical professionals saying “Hey, don’t do that,” schools across the country are steadily beginning to reopen. In Mississippi, the death of a beloved teacher while self-quarantining has increased fears of a COVID-19 outbreak during the first week of school. Mississippi Today reports that 42-year-old Nacoma James, a Black man, died on Thursday while…
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House Votes to Remove Confederate Statues From the Capitol
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted to remove Confederate statues from the Capitol. According to Politico, the bill would remove a bust of Chief Justice Roger B. Taney from the Old Supreme Court Chamber. Taney was a Supreme Court justice who was responsible for the Dred Scott decision that ruled Black people were not…
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'We Ran Strong and That Was a Revelation': Remembering Civil Rights Activist and Political Pioneer Emma Sanders
In light of the recent losses of civil rights icons Rep. John Lewis and Rev. C.T. Vivian, America, now in the throes of what is widely recognized as a revived civil rights movement, has had ample cause to reflect on some of the movement’s pioneering personalities and changemakers. And as we celebrate those legacies, there…
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Mississippi to Vote on Changing Jim Crow Era Voting Law
Voting laws in this country are generally crafted to favor white people at the expense of everyone else. Whether it’s gerrymandering districts to the point where a court has to step in or closing down polling stations in predominantly Black areas, it’s sadly not uncommon to see the Black vote undermined. In Mississippi, voting rights…
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Mississippi Election Commissioner Complains That 'Blacks' Are Registering to Vote
An election commissioner in Mississippi claims her intent wasn’t to be racist despite posting on Facebook that she was concerned because “the Blacks” are having lots of voter registration events. According to a report from the Clarion Ledger, Jones County election commissioner Gail Harrison Welch is now pushing back at people who have questioned the…
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Mississippi Governor Grudgingly Says He'll Sign a Bill to Change the State's Confederate Flag
Lawmakers in Mississippi responded to increased pressure over the state’s distasteful flag—which boasts the battle emblem of the treasonous, slavery loving Confederacy—by passing a measure this weekend that makes it possible for the flag to be changed legislatively. On Saturday, two-thirds of the Mississippi House voted for a resolution to allow lawmakers to consider a…
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Walmart to No Longer Display Mississippi State Flag in Stores
It’s kind of sad when Walmart is quicker to stop doing something that’s blatantly messed up before the actual government. The company has a tradition of flying the local state flag in front of its stores. That tradition will be suspended in the state of Mississippi. CNN reports that the retailer will stop flying the…
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Mississippi Lawmakers Are Drafting Legislation to Remove Confederate Symbol From State Flag
Inexplicably, the Confederate symbol still flies in Mississippi as a part of its state flag. Despite having the largest black percentage of black people of any state, Mississippi still sees fit to fly one of the most notorious symbols of white supremacy. There is hope that nationwide momentum for the removal of Confederate monuments will…
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Jason Mitchell Reportedly Arrested on Felony Weapon and Drug Charges in Mississippi
Jason Mitchell has entangled himself in some mess again. According to online records obtained by TMZ, Mitchell (The Chi, Straight Outta Compton, Zola) was arrested Wednesday and taken to Harrison County Jail in Mississippi and currently faces four felony charges. TMZ reports: Jason, who played Eazy-E in the N.W.A biopic, is facing two felony charges…