The Darker Side of Social MediaYoung people are much more impressionable than adults, and in many unfortunate scenarios, allow their peers to impact their self-image.
Finding My People in Mississippi"Over the last nine years, so many people welcomed this transplant into their hearts and homes. They adopted me as their people."
The JFP at 15: Raising Hell, Having FunThe Jackson Free Press' official birthday is Sept. 22, my late badass mother's birthday. She was illiterate, but loved to tell stories and encouraged me to say whatever I needed to say—so it was only appropriate to start the JFP …
Editorial: A State Takeover is Not the Solution for JPSThe looming state takeover of Jackson Public Schools is full of myriad problems, from the State' of Mississippi's less-than-stellar track record of previous takeovers to a lack of transparency and collaboration on the part of Mississippi Department of Education officials.
Doing It Ourselves in (and for) JacksonSeveral people I know have recently referred to Jackson as a do-it-yourself city. But maybe it's more of a D.I.O. city—do-it-ourselves.
Celebrating 15 Years in the DIY CityThe Jackson Free Press is 15 years old. It's still sinking in a little. No, it doesn't seem like "yesterday" to me when we started the JFP—because it's been a long road, and sometimes a tough one.
Kids Need Solutions, Not Just NumbersThe numbers in the Mississippi KIDS COUNT factbook should compel us to drive change at every level because Mississippi's children don't need numbers—they need solutions.
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'Disservice'Rolling back protections for survivors does nothing but push women back into a culture of silence, surviving sexual assault with no protections or avenues to justice at their universities.
In Times Like TheseRev. Cletus: "Welcome to another Rev. Cletus Car Sales Church radio broadcast. This is your car-sales pastor proclaiming the good news that God is in the blessing business in times like these."
Flashing a Kid’s Mugshot Is No Way to Prevent CrimeDisseminating mugshots of minors should be rare due to the harm that it can cause to that kid and society to treat children as adult criminals, especially before they even get a trial.
Simeon Wright: Unsung Civil-Rights Hero"Fighting for justice is a long-term commitment, and it's our faith in hope and the people around us that sustains you."
The Joel Osteen TransactionObtaining wealth through teaching the word of Jesus clash with each other. This clash is so violent that I ask how one who has gained so much wealth by teaching Jesus' sacrifices, especially financial, be trusted?
A Flag For Us AllIf, as a state, we insist that symbols that were selected precisely for their oppressive, coercive charge remain, we send a message to the rest of the nation and world that we do not fathom how their continued display has …
Reflections in a Dark, Watery WorldUnplugging doesn't actually require you to do something crazy like get in a float tank. It could be something as simple as choosing to put your phone up when you go to bed. But we all need to unplug sometimes.
Fighting an Old WarWhile Russia and Confederate statues deserve media coverage, they are also easy targets that don't challenge the corporate state.
Prison Beds Not Based on Reading Scores, But ...Educational deficiencies, especially when coupled with poverty or trauma, do increase the risk of crime later. It's important, though, to break down the various pieces of the puzzle to find solutions and not put all effort, and blame, into the …
Dear Confederates, Leave My Heritage Alone!Mississippi's history is one of beauty and blood; music and malevolence; literature and lamentation. We can't ignore the ugly parts; those stains don't wash out. But we sure as hell don't have to build monuments to them—literal or ideological.
America, We Sink or Swim TogetherAs Houston and surrounding cities drowned, Trump was pushing the bigotry that fueled his rise to power. Meantime, America was proving our inherent greatness, despite the incessant efforts by certain leaders to trump it and force us to distrust and …
This Is It, Kid: This is America "For the last decade, the two parties have been huffing their fumes, and social media makes the conflicts between the two polarized. The reality is carved in stone: America ain’t changing. In today’s social climate, we need to accept that …
Address Poverty With Understanding, CompassionFor low-income families, Internet access and a stable living environment—let alone an address—to keep things like birth certificates safe aren't a given; they're a privilege that many families in poverty cannot afford.
Stinker Quote of the Week: 'More Monuments'Celebrating the progress the country has made with erecting "more monuments" completely ignores the fact that white supremacy is exactly what has preserved Confederate statues and inspires those that rally around them in the first place.
Stand Up for Their RightsMr. Announcement: "In the ghetto criminal-justice system, the people are represented by members of the newly established Ghetto Science Community Peace Keeping Unit."
White America’s Overdue Leap of FaithMany white people want to just "move on." They'll shudder dismissively if you challenge the myths, preferring to leave the statues and flag and true history alone because it's just "dredging up the past."
Young people are much more impressionable than adults, and in many unfortunate scenarios, allow their peers to impact their self-image.
I believe that today my Daddy would stand, or kneel in spirit, with the NFL players who are pushing back on Trump’s treatment of them as chattel entertainment, calling for them to be kicked out to pasture if they dare …
"Over the last nine years, so many people welcomed this transplant into their hearts and homes. They adopted me as their people."
The Jackson Free Press' official birthday is Sept. 22, my late badass mother's birthday. She was illiterate, but loved to tell stories and encouraged me to say whatever I needed to say—so it was only appropriate to start the JFP …
The looming state takeover of Jackson Public Schools is full of myriad problems, from the State' of Mississippi's less-than-stellar track record of previous takeovers to a lack of transparency and collaboration on the part of Mississippi Department of Education officials.
Several people I know have recently referred to Jackson as a do-it-yourself city. But maybe it's more of a D.I.O. city—do-it-ourselves.
The Jackson Free Press is 15 years old. It's still sinking in a little. No, it doesn't seem like "yesterday" to me when we started the JFP—because it's been a long road, and sometimes a tough one.
The numbers in the Mississippi KIDS COUNT factbook should compel us to drive change at every level because Mississippi's children don't need numbers—they need solutions.
We understand the need to increase revenue, but everyone must have a chance to be heard in the process.
Rolling back protections for survivors does nothing but push women back into a culture of silence, surviving sexual assault with no protections or avenues to justice at their universities.
Rev. Cletus: "Welcome to another Rev. Cletus Car Sales Church radio broadcast. This is your car-sales pastor proclaiming the good news that God is in the blessing business in times like these."
Disseminating mugshots of minors should be rare due to the harm that it can cause to that kid and society to treat children as adult criminals, especially before they even get a trial.
"Fighting for justice is a long-term commitment, and it's our faith in hope and the people around us that sustains you."
Obtaining wealth through teaching the word of Jesus clash with each other. This clash is so violent that I ask how one who has gained so much wealth by teaching Jesus' sacrifices, especially financial, be trusted?
You can't have your cake and eat it, too, as the old proverb goes. Similarly, you can't cut taxes and increase them, too.
If, as a state, we insist that symbols that were selected precisely for their oppressive, coercive charge remain, we send a message to the rest of the nation and world that we do not fathom how their continued display has …
Unplugging doesn't actually require you to do something crazy like get in a float tank. It could be something as simple as choosing to put your phone up when you go to bed. But we all need to unplug sometimes.
While Russia and Confederate statues deserve media coverage, they are also easy targets that don't challenge the corporate state.
Educational deficiencies, especially when coupled with poverty or trauma, do increase the risk of crime later. It's important, though, to break down the various pieces of the puzzle to find solutions and not put all effort, and blame, into the …
Mississippi's history is one of beauty and blood; music and malevolence; literature and lamentation. We can't ignore the ugly parts; those stains don't wash out. But we sure as hell don't have to build monuments to them—literal or ideological.
As Houston and surrounding cities drowned, Trump was pushing the bigotry that fueled his rise to power. Meantime, America was proving our inherent greatness, despite the incessant efforts by certain leaders to trump it and force us to distrust and …
"There is no inside or outside, but one community in which we are all sisters and brothers."
The fight carries on, and our fight is for justice. We seek justice for Emmett Till.
"For the last decade, the two parties have been huffing their fumes, and social media makes the conflicts between the two polarized. The reality is carved in stone: America ain’t changing. In today’s social climate, we need to accept that …
Mississippi has quickly become an excellent case study of how a public health system is nearly decimated when a poor state gives its revenue to the rich.
For low-income families, Internet access and a stable living environment—let alone an address—to keep things like birth certificates safe aren't a given; they're a privilege that many families in poverty cannot afford.
Celebrating the progress the country has made with erecting "more monuments" completely ignores the fact that white supremacy is exactly what has preserved Confederate statues and inspires those that rally around them in the first place.
Many white people want to just "move on." They'll shudder dismissively if you challenge the myths, preferring to leave the statues and flag and true history alone because it's just "dredging up the past."
"It is time to bring down that flag."