@Bryan Flynn

Suggesting that Jackson State University should take a look at leaving the SWAC, while
yet, criticizing the players for the stand they took for life-threatening conditions at Gramblin is a definite dichotomy.

Gramblin State University has experienced a "wake-up call" which should be a "hint to the wise".
We must work to strengthen the SWAC - not abandon it. We must also remember that these kids are students, first. Riding 19 hrs. on a bus one way with an immediate return of 19hrs. is not fair and it also lessens the chance of producing your best effort. These young men are human and require rest. Just remember that they had to hit the campus going to class.

The President did a lousy job in how he terminated Doug Williams, coach. I'm not saying that he should not have been fired: What I am saying is that it is a good way to do a bad thing and firing Doug in the presence of his players was not only WRONG, but, stupid.

These youngsters used the only power they had against an Administration who would not listen. Now - may cooler heads prevail!

@JLucas

"The public sector has been the main voice touting it as the potential equivalent to Beale Street, the French Quarter, Underground Atlanta, and many other well-known historic downtown destinations......."

I agree. The people who had a vested interest in seeing a revival of Farist St. are now deceased or are now very old Senior Citizens. These are the people who enjoyed movies at the Alamo, ate fish, barbecue, greens, hot smokes and pig ear sandwiches. There were clubs where people danced and partied. Needless to say - the population for these venues were black. White men used the area for occasional shoe shines; however they were landlords for many of the businesses with a couple of exceptions such as the Holly building, funeral home and the Farish St.Church.

With this being said, we must depend on the public's ability to envision a revival of something that never existed for them. This is an area that was unique for mostly black folks, only. To make my point, just consider the King Edwards. Although it was met with some opposition, it was an easier sell because its legacy was laced with the historical presence of whites with money and what was a place that they enjoyed. For blacks, it was a place where men and women worked for peanuts and in jobs of servitude only.

It is my sincere hope that Farish St. can come alive; however, it will need to include businesses that are cultural and race neutral to appeal to young people. Old folks like me will only sit on the porch, drink home-made sweet tea and blog on this site: Neither of which will generate the dollars needed to support this project. LOL!

@bill_jackson

"Just wondering, is everything about the Civil War considered to be racist/shameful? This is a serious question."

No, if one accepts the hypothesis that Black people are not human beings and that they were just mere products for which the South was willing to fight and die for. No, if you subscribe to the myth that some god made whites superior to the black race and that we are sons and daughters of monkeys.

Whites who remain morally and ethically bankrupt will continue these arguments and take great pride in participating in events that allow them to pretend that the South is rising again.

The only thing about the Civil War that is not racist/shameful is the fact that the South lost.

@tsmith

"Slavery and racism are not the same thing"

Please give just one example to prove your point.

The sight of that flag just turned my stomach. It is hard to believe that this Governor who will not expand Medicaid for the poor is interested in a Civil Rights Museum. It is also strange that Haley Barbour, who treated the Scott Sisters like two dogs who had murdered their mother, would have any interest in a Civil Rights Museum. These two women can not put their feet back on MS soil:They are native Mississippians.

That flag with the X of the Confederacy stirs a lot of pain for a lot of people and it is pain that the talk of and ground breaking for will not erase.

"We have an agreement," Lumumba said. "Do we have a written agreement or a memorandum of understanding? "NO. That's something we'll look into......"

Perhaps Lumumba and the members of the City Council will consider this:

"if it isn't written; it didn't happen."

Just saying.

It was a great day and all had BIG fun! A friend flew in from California and said that this was her first homecoming wherein she had time to mix and mingle with friends.

There were RVs and campers parked everywhere! Loud music, dancing, prancing and with the smell of good food from the many grills and smokers. We even had grilled salmon - yum!

The band was great led by the magnificent 6 drum-majors. Don't forget the beautiful African dance led by Morgan Jackson, Captain of the Prancing J-Settes. They even showcased drum-majors from past years. What a show!

My heart goes out to the football team at Grambling. Seemingly, the President and others did not use "best practice" in dealing with the terrible conditions there. It is my hope that there will be remedy and the team can heal and regain its reputation of being among the best. Eddie Robinson deserves to have his hard fought legacy continued.

Tell that sister that she blows a mean TUBA.

@Ronni Mott

"I'm jumping off the cliff in anticipation of growing wings. I think perhaps I will write a book. Stay tuned and don't be shy."

It seems that you will be taking "The Leap of Faith". I believe that your wings are already in place and when you take what is anticipated as a fall from the cliff, you will surely soar.

I, along with many of my friends who read and blog here, will miss you. It is my sincere hope that you will stay connected to the movement of making Jackson a better place. It is certainly much better because of Donna Ladd and the JFP. You have been a part of that fabric and your contributions will not be ignored or forgotten.

Best of luck to you and yours in all of your future endeavors!

"This isn't about what's good for American people. It never was. This is about ideological purity, and it has to stop. Call you Republican Congressman and tell him."

***i just did!***

@Knowledge

"....The organization already distributes funds (from federal grants) for people who have financial hardships with electric and gas bills. This is a simple answer to a complex situation."

The problem here is that $178,000 of tax payer dollars have already been set aside .
according to this Administration's budget report. The reality of this situation is that
this money can not be used to pay the utility (water) bills for people who are
experiencing hardships.

Until the "City's initial funding amount" can be built upon, we must deal with what is real and also what is reasonable. There hasn't been any dialogue about grants, approaching businesses or churches to put funds in place for this function of City government.

I just don't think that this has been a well thought out course of action.

*Many Churches here in Jackson are reporting long lines of people waiting each
Sunday morning to be approved for help or full payment of their utility bills. I'm
sure that by now, this Administration is aware of the fact that they can not use tax payer dollars to pay the utility bills of others.

The sum of $178,000 was given as the set-aside fund for people with financial hardships and the inability to pay their bills. Based on the number of people/families living in poverty here in the City of Jackson, that fund would be exhausted during the the first 2mo. billing cycle. This is crazy! "The Can Being Kicked Down The Road" or slogan adapted by this Administration needs to be re-thought-out. What this really meant was an opportunity for citizens in Jackson to participate in a workable payment plan. Having an increase of 108% will severely impact many people who are struggling to keep their heads above **H2O**. This is not a community of people being difficult: It is a community of people sharing their reality.

Please remember that this State has rejected the expansion of Medicaid. Many people will be trying to find funds to pay medical bills and to buy Rx Drugs.

Just saying.