[Greggs] The Vanilla CityThis next statement pains me to admit: I live in Madison. There, I said it. It's not that I don't love my home out here in the country. I do. Its "free-rentness" is a large factor in why I love …
[Stiggers] Have No Fear, Suburbanites!"High prices have crippled fixed incomes of broke people. Poor folk clench on to the little money they have and remain trapped in the ghetto. Idle minds of the poor and unemployed retaliate with desperate deeds against their own community. …
[Grayson] Save the Arts That Saved MeAs a Lanier High School graduate, I am proud (and aware) of the importance of my school's heritage as one of the most historic black public schools in the area—and know well how important support of the arts is to …
[Lott] Security First, Amnesty Never<b>Editor's Note: This column was buried in e-mail until now, but it is still very timely. Meantime, we have established a special Lott blog to collect writings and stories and posts about Sen. Trent Lott.</b>
[Publisher's Note] Kudos for Team JFPIt's a big week at the Jackson Free Press. First, we sadly (for us) and happily (for her) bid farewell to Lynette Hanson, copy chief, as she leaves Mississippi, Jackson Public Schools and the JFP family to move much closer …
[Kamikaze] Hip-Hop Wins AgainHave no fear, readers. Your friendly neighborhood rabble-rouser is back after a self-imposed hiatus. I had to take a short vacation to shake the haters off. But before your mouths start to water, I'm sorry to say I won't be …
[Stiggers] Koolin' OutKunta "Rahsheed X" Toby Productions presents a sneak peek at his new dramatic comedy that will touch your mind and not your behind: "My Big Fat Meat Front Porch Wedding, Barbecue and Disco."
Frank Melton Is Not A Child"I didn't shred the documents. I tore them up with my hands." Well, then. I guess we now know what the meaning of the word "shred" is.
[Lott] Click ItAs the chairman of the Senate's Surface Transportation Subcommittee, I've been proud to fundamentally change the way Congress approaches highway safety. As a result, Mississippi is receiving $9 million to fix a few of our most dangerous roads and intersections.
[Stiggers] High Livin' In The GhettoBrutha Hustle's Mobile Bill Payment Center presents Open-Air Kultural Theater—a very pleasant way to pay your bills while becoming more enlightened, informed and entertained. And he has plenty of Juicy-Juice on ice for the kids.
Hands Off Our Printing PressesMay 24, 2006 How to Help Save Local Media I met Marilyn, perfectly dressed and wearing her lipstick, on a late Friday afternoon. And Mike, who ponders with his head in his hands. There were the Blake brothers, looking worried …
[Greggs] Here's to You, Ali RobinsonThis past weekend I went on a date with a man eight years my junior. (I'll pause so that all the older women may give me mental high-fives and formulate extremely personal questions that will not be answered in this …
[Stiggers] Partly Cloudy, Definitely FunkyGrandma Pookie: "Welcome to the George Washington Carver Holistic Health Commission of Tuskegee, Ala., national report–brought to you by the Ghetto Science Team's Church Fan Energy Initiative.
The Bottom LineFrank Melton cannot solve Jackson's crime. That is simply a statement of fact, not a criticism or a denouncement or even a denouement. It is also true that former Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. could not solve crime. Neither could former …
[Johnson] When Jackson BurnedOn May 14, 1863, the Army of Tennessee, under Generals Grant and Sherman, seized Jackson as the Confederate army retreated in disarray. Grant ordered the city's "strategic assets" burned, and in hours, much of Jackson burned to the ground. This …
[Stiggers] That's the Truth, RuthStill Bill the Funk Doctor: "Eee-Diddy-Eye! Oooh, I'm joggin', and back on the scene with the record machine. This is D.J. Ol' Skool Pete's mentor, the king of throw-back, ain't cuttin' no slack. Just call me 'Still Bill the Funk …
[Collier] My Mother's DaughterMy senior year in college was the first time I knew my mother loved me. Of course I knew she loved me. But it wasn't until my senior year that I really got it. I spent many years trying to …
[Stiggers] The Drive on Washington"It's Boneqweesha, live from the Million Motorist March and Car Pool on Washington, D.C. Millions of financially challenged motorists are scheduled to arrive at the nation's capital to protest rising gasoline prices. Attendance is low right now because a small …
[Kamikaze] Heaven's BusSometimes the hypocrisy in modern society troubles me. I've known for years that the playing field for African Americans has never been level. I've always known that those who disagree with that fact probably have a slightly skewed view of …
Letter To A Young MayorFirst, allow me to thank you for giving me so much of your time over the last six weeks. Your frankness in our series of interviews seems to have captivated the city and started many conversations about the future of …
[Kamikaze] Don't Be CoolParents. Stop. Put down whatever you're doing and ask yourself: Do I know where my kids are? Better yet, do I know what they're thinking?
[Stiggers] That Safe-Crackin' Crack-Head"Welcome to the Brotha Hustle Bill Payment Extension Phone Service. All you need is a pre-paid cell phone, and you can take advantage of this convenient way to ask for more time to pay your overdue bills.
Executives Run AmokThe similarities between Mayor Melton's current woes and President Bush's are striking. George Bush can't boast the kind of mandate Frank Melton had when he was elected. But both men were solidly backed by a largely white, largely far-to-the-right-of-ordinary conservative …
What We Have To LoseIt was with a great deal of concern that I emerged from reading Adam Lynch's story on the city's budget woes in last week's Jackson Free Press ("Bleak House," 4/10/06), because it confirmed for me a fear that I have …
[Greggs] You Total SlantThis week I was reading the news about Bush "shakin' up" the Cabinet by changing several key positions in the administration. Or rather, he decided to shuffle some people around. One article contained a quote from a Democratic senator likening …
Creaming The MessengerLike so many Jacksonians, I have read Donna Ladd's interviews with Mayor Frank Melton with rapt interest. These interviews have provided an unprecedented portrait of Melton the man, and I must say that I am fascinated by his larger-than-life—dare I …
[Grayson] I Was A Wood Street GirlTypical sixth-graders aspire to become lawyers, doctors and professional athletes, but I was not your typical sixth-grader. I was raised on what came to be known as the worst street in Jackson: the infamous Wood Street. And my goal was …
[Stiggers] Double-Dutch Church BusRev. Cletus: "God bless ya! This is the Right Rev. Cletus, your transportation minister and car salesman, broadcasting live from Rev. Cletus Car Sales—home of the Double-Dutch Church Bus Express. Our motto: 'Swing low, sweet Chariot. We'll get ya to …
[Kamikaze] A Wave Of The FingerMy hat is off to Cyrus Webb and ShadowPlay Entertainment for raising issues affecting the hip-hop nation recently. His Free2Flow Summit last week was an attempt to enlighten the public at large about the rap world and a chance for …