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contents

JACKSONIAN

November 11 - 24, 2020 Vol. 19 No. 6

ON THE COVER Dear Johnny Reb courtesy Philip Scarborough

4 Editor’s Note 6 Talks

U

ntil Clinton native Emily Katherine Dacus entered college as an art major, she’d hardly taken any formal art classes.

“I took one art class in seventh grade,” Dacus recalls, “but I didn’t take any art classes in high school because I was scared they’d take away my ambition to do art. I took other electives. I figured that I already knew how to draw, so I might as well figure out how to do something else.”

Her lack of in-class experience didn’t deter her from the path she set for herself, however, as Dacus now manages Emkatart, an online shop where she sells custom creations such as handmade jewelry and paintings.

“I’ve gotten several commissions in the past year or so—more than I ever have. It’s probably because of advertising and spreading the word about what I do and what I like to do,” Dacus says.

She credits her business savvy to her time as an administrative assistant with Burris/Wagnon Architects, a position she began earlier this year.

“I love the people I work with, and I’ve learned a lot about architecture and business, which I’ve applied to my own life,” Dacus says of her job.

Her first venture into full-time work, Dacus describes the job as “exciting,” noting that the interrelationship between visual and

Dr. Paul Byers, one of Mississippi’s top epidemiologists, speaks with State Reporter Nick Judin on where the Magnolia State stands on COVID-19.

10 Opinion 14 Crossroads 2020

Emily Katherine Dacus structural art intrigues her. “It makes you see the big picture a little differently,” she says.

Upon accepting the job, the 23-year-old felt that a cross-town move was in order.

“I’ve lived in Clinton since I was 2. I grew up in the Clinton public schools, and then I went to Mississippi College. Clinton is a great town with great people, but (moving) gave me an opportunity to step out on my own and figure out what I want to do independently,” she asserts.

Surveying what would be her new home at Walthall Lofts— renovated from the historic Walthall Hotel—Dacus determined the space would allow her creativity to flourish and signed a lease.

“My apartment is extremely bright, so it’s extremely good for painting. I can make my own messes in my own place,” she says with a laugh. “The first time I saw it, I thought it would be a really great art studio.”

Eventually, Dacus says that she hopes to be able to strike a balance between her day job and her art business. “I’d like them to be equally divided,” Dacus says. “I’d like to be able to pay equal attention to both of them.”

Follow Emkatart on Facebook or Etsy.

–Taylor McKay Hathorn

28 Food 20 Events

22 ‘We Shall…’ Mural Sabrina Howard creates one of six murals for the collaborative “#ArtofVoting” series on the significance of voting.

23 Pinecone Gobblers Try this simple and costeffective crafting idea with your family members as we get closer to Thanksgiving.

24 Puzzle 24 Sorensen 25 astro 25 Classifieds 26 JFP Spotlight

November 11 - 24, 2020 • jfp.ms

courtesy Emily Katherine Dacus

6 ‘Don’t Lose Hope’

3

editor’s note

by Donna Ladd, Editor-in-Chief

T

he scenes were joyful, far from the “civil unrest,” “riots” and “looting” that too many of our leaders, especially in Mississippi, have managed to recall the remarkable display of public solidarity this year against continued and embedded systemic racism—yes, it’s real—and violent policing that has often treated Black and Brown people like animals. Yes, sometimes white ones, too—but not nearly as often or as systemically.

But this past weekend, when the presidential race was finally called due to both electoral votes and real-people votes mounting against incumbent wannabe dictator Donald Trump, people danced and rang church bells across the world.

My favorite were the celebrants at the Los Angeles gas station we saw on Twitter, dancing with abandon to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas.”

November 11 - 24, 2020 • jfp.ms

He makes their unresolved prejudices great again.

4

So many things are true about last week’s dethroning of a horrific, callous, brutal president. Those truths transcended blind political-party devotion into an effort by intelligent Americans who think for themselves beyond party to rid the nation of a man who likely would fully destroy our democracy with another four years—hell, with another four months.

Black women, especially, were the real heroes of this ousting, but so were the minority of white Republicans who dared look clearly at the emperor and acknowledge that he is stark naked of any real devotion to democracy and decency.

(I apologize for creating that image.)

For me, that relief was palpable and physical but not partisan. By Sunday, I could feel pent-up stress releasing from my forehead and my shoulders, and I was more tired mentally than I’d felt since the aftermath of surgeries in recent years.

Our nation is suffering from PTSD, no doubt. So many of us wake up and look at our phones with fear of what deplorable actions Trump has taken overnight, or what dehumanizing, loathsome insult he’s lodged at someone who might disagree with him—more despicable if a woman

and/or person of color, of course.

But here’s the thing. Donald Trump is just one man. The real threat is the terrifying number of Americans who dote on him no matter what he does. His supporters are often described as a cult, and it’s hard to disagree with that much of the time. But like with any cult, he doesn’t actually care about them. He cares about himself and absolute power. This is as obvious as blood is red.

Still like many abuse victims, many keep going back, believing the lies he tells to woo them, the way he makes their unresolved prejudices great again, buying that if they support him long enough, the whole nation will be forced to think like they do. They don’t stop to think what will have to happen to all those who disagree with him and them—like those young people dancing joyously in the street to a Christmas song, who could be their children or grandchildren. It’s like being in denial about the severity and science of COVID-19 or climate change as they both endanger all of our futures.

Live for the day! Damn it all! MAGA!

These folks have put democracy to the side, if they ever truly believed in it. To many, “freedom” means the right to tell everyone else how to live, love and think.

They’re not content to believe their own stuff, but intent on pushing those convictions onto others. Often it’s proselytizing in the name of Christianity, but hateful beliefs and judgment of others is far from what Jesus would do. In Donald Trump’s case, his moralizing only goes as far as the nearest porn star or woman he can grab, belittle or terrorize without their consent.

Now, of course, we see Trump’s minions—I refuse to call them Republicans, or Christians—marching out by

Julian Mills

The Joy and Pain of Fighting for U.S. Democracy

This year has seen deep pain, but there is much joy is seeing people come together for freedom for all and a democracy that doesn’t pick and choose.

demand to help him attempt a coup against the duly elected new president.

This would be the end of U.S. democracy if they manage to pull it off, but they don’t care. Somehow, they think following this man around like ravenous zombies will get them into some mean version of heaven, or at least keep their massive tax breaks if they’re rich. Or, as it were, to keep white people in power.

And please don’t try to tell me that a lily-white party that panders to white supremacists is anything but racist.

This parade of sycophants even include Lynn Fitch, the attorney general of Mississippi, who is joining other obedient attorneys general in other states to try to steal Pennsylvania’s electoral votes for Trump, saying that state shouldn’t count votes that came in after Election Day even as we’re still counting them in Mississippi.

Seriously, General Fitch, this is the rusty

contributors

Taylor Hathorn

Kayode Crown

Torsheta Jackson

Taylor McKay Hathorn is an alumna of Mississippi College’s English program and a student at Asbury Theological Seminary. She enjoys watching the sun set over the Mississippi River and tweeting at @_youaremore_. She wrote the Jacksonian, and Crossroads film reviews and a Q&A.

City Reporter Kayode Crown recently came to Mississippi from Nigeria where he earned a post-graduate diploma in Journalism and was a journalist for 10 years. He likes rock music and has fallen in love with the beautiful landscapes in Jackson. He wrote a talk for the issue.

Freelance writer Torsheta Jackson is originally from Shuqualak, Miss. A wife and mother of four, she freelances and is a certified lactation counselor. She wrote the arts story on Sabrina Howard’s recent mural on the significance of voting.

sword you want to leap on for posterity?

I assure you that your descendants will be ashamed to see you in the history books for playing a handmaid against democracy.

Another nearby state representative, former farmer Price Wallace, did acknowledge the Biden-Harris win, tweeting: “We need to succeed [sic] from the union and form our own country.” We see you, Rep. Wallace. We see you.

All of this is painful to watch, but it cannot steal my joy over a record number of people transcending partisanship to vote to replace a tyrant aching to blow up democracy. But it is a moment, or maybe the moment, for our nation—a test to see if we mean all those evident truths we all learned to recite in school enough to do what it takes to maintain the right to even pursue liberty in this nation, which I love dearly not because of what it is or has been, but because of its possibility.

Todd and I have been talking about whether to replace the defiant “Stennis flag” we started flying a few years back with the new state flag—he doesn’t dig the yellow, and the magnolia, bless its heart, makes me think of Scarlett O’Hara posing on her veranda, and not fondly, but we’re happy it’s now official.

But on Sunday, as we set out on our walk, I told him I thought we should kick it old-school and replace our flag with an American flag. Let’s hope it doesn’t soon become as dated as our Stennis banner and the 1890 racist flag. It won’t if we all fight for democracy like there’s no tomorrow without it. Because there’s really not.

Follow Editor-in-chief Donna Ladd on Twitter at @donnerkay.

visitjackson.com/safertravel #SafelyExploreJXN #VisitMSResponsibly

November 11 - 24, 2020 • jfp.ms

DISCOVER OUR

5

news,

cu l

storytelling & re, ir tu

“So me being old enough to see how the youth were coming out when the city was investing and what the youth are looking like right now when the city is not investing, it’s not good.”

TALK JXN

@jxnfreepress

@jacksonfreepress

@jxnfreepress

—James Paige, Ward 2 candidate

ce eren rev

Don’t Lose Hope: State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers on COVID-19

by Nick Judin File photo by Nick Judin

D

r. Paul Byers is one of the leading epidemiologists in Mississippi and a key figure in the publichealth response to COVID19, including an expansive testing and tracing regime intended to prevent community transmission of the virus and identify clusters where it spreads.

Byers sat down with the Jackson Free Press on Nov. 4 to discuss the Mississippi State Department of Health’s approach to the crisis, now in the early stages of a third spike that extends far beyond the borders of the Magnolia State. Only one day after the interview, MSDH announced 1,612 new cases of COVID-19 in a single day, an ominous reminder that the worst days of the pandemic may still be ahead.

6

PB: Certainly, we’ve seen that sort of phenomenon with the flu in past seasons. When you get more folks indoors, in a closed setting, and more people are interacting with each other—we have a tendency at holidays to interact with people who are outside of our nuclear family, that we don’t normally see on a routine basis. Historically, we’ve seen flu transmit that way. There’s a good possibility that we’re going to see COVID be transmitted that way as well.

But you know, there’s so much else that goes into it. And for sure, one of the big things is physical distancing: staying away from each other, doing things safely, making sure that you’re wearing a mask and that you’re being conscious— aware of where you are and where people are in proximity to you. (You have to) really act as if anybody around you

may have COVID.

I think we have seen a spike here.

Certainly it hasn’t approached what we saw over the summer. It hasn’t approached what we’ve seen in some of the other states as well. We don’t know if it’s going to level off, or if we’re going to continue to see a climb, but I tell you that one of the things that we worry about as we move into the fall months, the cooler times, the holidays

is are we going to see a bigger spike?

There’s going to be cases, but the thing we really worry is the impact on deaths and hospital capacity.

What are you hearing and seeing from hospitals and clinics? Usually, we look out for syndromic surveillance ahead of hospital spikes. How is that looking right now?

Our syndromic surveillance is actually holding steady. We haven’t seen any big increases in that. One of the big things that we look at from our syndromic surveillance is emergency department data. And we just haven’t had a big spike in that surveillance like we saw over the summer. When we look at hospital capacity, our numbers are increased for folks who are currently hospitalized, in the ICU, or on a

Things We Are Grateful For this Year

E

ach year, countless people across the nation reflect on what they are thankful to have in their lives, whether it be online as part of a social-media trend or around the dinner table on Thanksgiving day. We at the Jackson Free Press are thankful for our readership. We appreciate every single one of you, and it is through your continual support that we have continued to prosper this year despite the setbacks the pandemic has wrought. In short, thank you. Now, glance at some of the other things we Jacksonians have to be thankful for this year.

• The food that graces our tables, even during the tough times • The people deciding to continue democracy in this state and nation • The love and appreciation that we share for the metro, our home Tweet us at @jxnfreepress to let us know what you’re thankful for in 2020.

Photo by Kiy Turk on Unsplash

November 11 - 24, 2020 • jfp.ms

NJ: We’re seeing a nationwide rise in COVID-19 numbers. We have all been worried that this will be the result of colder weather, of gatherings moving inside. Mississippi is not seeing the catastrophic spike some northern states are seeing. What explains this?

Climate? (Note: In the days since this interview, the seven-day average of cases has spiked from 665 to 947, the highest rate since early August.)

Dr. Paul Byers (right), one of Mississippi’s top epidemiologists, sat down with the Jackson Free Press to shed light on the challenges of tracing the virus now that it has so thoroughly spread through the state.

pandemic

ventilator with COVID. But not to the extent that we saw over the summer. That seems to be holding steady. However, some hospitals have reduced capacity because of hospitalizations for a number of reasons, not just for COVID. Right now, if we maintain where we are, it’s not looking overwhelming. But our concern, obviously, is what’s around the corner.

Contact tracing seems to differ country to country. Are you looking for where an infected individual has been since becoming infected, or do you go backwards seeking a cluster event that is behind a significant number of infections?

As our understanding of COVID-19 evolves, we see that super-spreaders drive transmission in many places: one individual, sometimes asymptomatic, mostly unmasked, attending a large gathering or event. And the result is not one or three infections, but 10 or 30—or more. Is that what we’re seeing in Mississippi?

We’ve seen some of that, but it’s not an either-or. Certainly, super-spreaders have

The reason I bring this up is that, in addition to causing some of these shocking increases, (super-spreaders) can also throw off some useful metrics. We talk about r0 (r naught)— in layman’s terms, this measures how many additional infections the average infection creates. But explosive transmission from a few sources can unbalance that average. How are we accounting for that in our reporting?

It can (unbalance the average.) We think of the r0 with COVID as typically somewhere around three: but that takes into account that we are seeing superspreader events as well.

It’s not a static number. It is dependent upon the situation. And when you look at the r0 for a state, it’s important to understand that a state is not a static environment. We have people who leave the state and become exposed. We have people who come into the state while they’re infectious.

It’s a very difficult dynamic to get your arms around, trying to determine what a true infection rate may actually be. It’s difficult to account for where super-spreader events may be and how they impact what the transmission is.

But the reality is the transmission is the transmission. We know what needs to be done to limit it.

Is it possible for MSDH to provide specific data on the types of events where transmission is occurring?

Whether those are house parties, or church events, or after-school gatherings. Would that help us understand what exposures are really driving the spread in the state?

Yeah. I think we’ve done that, to a large extent, with the caveat that you’re not always going to be able to identify, for

Photo courtesy MSDH

It’s a combination of both. And when you do case investigation, or cluster investigation, both of those things that you described go hand in hand. Identifying where an individual may have become exposed or where they may have been infected can be a bit more complicated than moving forward from an identified time.

Identifying all those people that may have been in contact with (an infected patient), making sure that those people understand the level of their contact and the need for quarantine and testing—can be more intuitive than tracing back and trying to identify the actual source of an infection.

When you have a lot of infections and widespread community transmission, it can be much more difficult to pinpoint exactly where an individual may have become infected than if you have one or two cases of a particular disease … identifying common source exposures is just part of case investigation. It’s what we do with any case that we investigate: If we have more than one case where the folks get it (identify) what’s the common source between them.

When we have common exposures come up, we have teams out there that say, “I’ve just identified another case at X, Y and Z.” That’s an indication for us that there may be a cluster. The short answer, Nick, is that it’s really both. It’s gotta be a combination.

been shown to account for a high level of transmission.

And we have seen events that have occurred where we have one or two individuals present during their infectious stage, and we have a high number of (resulting) cases that are identified. Sometimes it’s difficult to say if that’s a super-spreader event, or if you’ve had a lot of people who had very, very close contact with somebody while they were most infectious.

But we also have transmission that occurs outside of super-spreader events.

We have transmission that occurs within families where one family member will become ill, bring it home, and (infect) several more family members. We see a whole lot of transmission that way as well. It’s really a combination of both.

many of the cases, the exact source of transmission. We’ve put information on our website about cases that are associated with jail outbreaks, and with what we feel like is community transmission, whether that’s in long-term care settings or other outbreaks.

And we do break that down by county.

I expect that we’re going to have more information to be able to share on our county snapshots in the future about sources of transmission. Certainly, I agree that this can help, because the goal with information is not only just to publish numbers, but for people to have an awareness of where we are—and to have an understanding of the risk that is associated with certain activities.

Our basic message from the beginning, as we’ve learned more, has been modified, and it may be modified in the future as we learn more about the virus, its transmission, and certainly about what kind of long-lasting immunity there may or may not be. (But) the basic message and information that we want people to have is

“Don’t lose hope,” Dr. Paul Byers begs. “We can reduce the transmission. It’s simple, but it’s not easy. We ask folks to hang in there.”

all about doing things safely.

The take-home message in all of this is that transmission can occur anywhere, at any time that you are in close contact with an individual. (When that happens) there can be transmission that occurs. I think it’s important for everybody to understand that. And it’s hard, man. It is. It can be difficult. And I know people have got COVID fatigue.

But when we wear a mask, we wear the mask to protect the person who’s sitting across from us. And they’re wearing a mask to protect us. They’re staying more than 6 feet away to protect us. We’re doing the same to protect them. And it also protects us (too), by the way.

If we can just use that standard in everything that we do. Don’t have big gatherings with more than your nuclear family.

Don’t go to big parties. Don’t go to (events)

where you’re not wearing a mask. When you go out in public, wear a mask. When you’re at work, wear a mask. These are all the sort of standard things that we need to be doing regardless of where we’re seeing individual transmission now.

And I can tell you it is a little bit worrisome. Because we’ve gone through cycles. Early on, we had a lot of transmission in long-term-care facilities. Then here was transmission in some businesses. Then we saw (clusters) in churches and weddings. Now we’re starting to see transmission in small gatherings again.

We just keep going full circle.

If we can just find some consistency in all of our actions, I think we can demonstrate (how to) reduce transmission, save the people who are most vulnerable, and (protect) hospital capacity, until we have a safe and effective vaccine that can interrupt transmission.

I think what’s confounding many people is that we don’t have much new information about how to stop the virus. It’s the same information: masks, social distancing, avoiding large groups, sanitizing surfaces, washing hands, keeping rooms ventilated. But we’re still in the holding pattern—still in the cycle. Do people need a timeline? An expectation of when this is over? Or do we need to communicate things differently?

No, I think that you’re on the right track. A lot of it is that we’ve been doing this for a long time, and we still can’t give anybody a concrete answer as to how much longer we need to do this.

And I know for folks who are out there living their lives now, it feels like we’re going to be doing this forever. Where’s the light at the end of the tunnel? When is this going to loosen up for us? When can we go back to normalcy in our lives? That’s what keeps us going. That hope.

What we need to do is to stay the course. If we do that, and we do it together with a will for preventing transmission in our brothers and sisters, we know that we are going to get a vaccine at some point.

And when we get a vaccine, it’s not going to be immediate. It’s going to take a couple of doses. There may be limited doses to begin with, but we’re going to get there.

If we have any message to give, it’s don’t lose hope. We’ve all been in this together. We’ve all done some remarkable things together. As a population we have demonstrated that we can make a difference. We can reduce the transmission. It’s simple, but it’s not easy. We ask folks to hang in there. Don’t give up hope.

Read the full interview at jfp.ms/byers.

Email tips to state reporter Nick Judin at nick@jacksonfreepress.com.

November 11 - 24, 2020 • jfp.ms

TALK JXN

7

TALK JXN

election

Introducing Ward 2 Candidates: Special Election Nov. 17

by Kayode Crown

T

he special election to fill the Ward 2 Jackson City Council seat of Melvin Priester Jr., who stepped down to focus on his law career, is on Nov. 17, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Six candidates are vying for the post: Angelique Lee, Tyrone Lewis, James Paige, Thomas Warren Powell, Funmilayo Bannerman Tilden and Melinda Greenfield Todd. The Jackson Free Press asked all of them the same questions in interviews. The answers are edited for space here with more at jfp.ms/Ward2election. Absentee voting for the special election is underway at city hall, ending at 5 p.m. on Nov. 14.

Angelique Lee

November 11 - 24, 2020 • jfp.ms

What prepared you for this position?

My childhood of watching my parents, watching everybody around my parents, my teachers that embraced me through the years, my community, the churches that I attended were involved in this whole process.

The motivation came James Paige from all of those combined together and wanting to give back to those that have prepared me and given to me to get me into a position to come back and serve them in their elder ages because right now they are not in the capacity to move out of the city of Jackson.

So they need those people that they helped mold to come back and help them, and that’s my purpose.

What are the top three problems facing Jackson and your ward?

I have seen crime reach an all-time high. Today as we speak, we are probably at 112 murders or homicides. I’ve never seen anything like that before. So people are scared. They are afraid, along with the pandemic that they are afraid of, they are afraid to come out of their houses. They are afraid to sit on their pouches.

They are afraid to go to the grocery store.

We need to address that.

Number two is economic development. We have businesses that want to open in Jackson, but because of the crime issues that we have, they are afraid that they won’t be successful in opening up a business courtesy Tyrone Lewis

8

What motivates you to serve?

I consider myself a public servant. I am a native of Jackson. I was born here. All my life has been in Jackson; all of my education from elementary school to Headstart to college has been right here in the city of Jackson. I am not one of those ones that left to go to college elsewhere. I am a graduate of Jackson State University. I went to Lanier High School, 833 West Maple Street.

in the city of Jackson. In order for that to happen, we have to reduce the crime element in order to attract businesses to our community.

With that being said, if we can attract businesses in our community when we reduce crime, we can have a supporting tax base, and with that supporting tax base, not only can we take care of our men and women of the Jackson Police Department and our city services, we can deal with our infrastructure, which is number three.

We have a crumbling and a failing infrastructure that is in bad shape because we don’t have the revenue or the tax base to support it because we’ve had businesses moving out for several reasons. courtesy James Paige

courtesy Angelique Lee

same issues, the city of Jackson and our ward. The number-one issue will be crime.

What motivates you to serve?

We need safe spaces for our citizens and

Well, I’ve been a servant all of my constituents to live in. We need safe spaces life. Ever since I grew up, for our businesses to move I’ve always been in Ward into. We can’t expect eco2, my family has a businomic development to ness on Farish Street, and grow without a safe space.

I’ve always given to those I would like to have neighborhood kids. I’ve policing in hotspots ... and always been surrounded bring some targeted preby children. vention programs with our youth in conjunction with

I went into teachour community leaders, ing—a ministry of service school leaders, and church because you generally don’t leaders and youth, and get go into teaching for the Angelique Lee targeted programming to money. Then, when my prevent them from going daughter became of school age, I started serving on her PTO board and into the life of crime. moved my way up to PTO president and Not only do we need safe roads and raised $100,000 for her school by knocking bridges for our constituents to travel on, on doors in the community and businesses our school buses to travel on, ambulances and giving back in that capacity. Then, I’ve and fire trucks, but infrastructure also inrun after-school, STEM programs. I have cludes broadband access. Especially with always been in the area of service.

COVID-19 and our children learning

Now that my dad is in his 80s—and virtually, we need access to wifi and broadhe also lived in the ward, and my children band and also for our seniors doing health all live in the ward, I have a 4-year-old and screening. a 12-year-old—it is important for someone Infrastructure also that has a voice and resources and the ca- includes some areas in our pacity to get things done to run for office. . ward that have a lot of issues with flooding. I will What prepared you for this position? say the key area of focus

I have been lobbying for almost a de- and issue that we have that cade with the Mississippi Legislature for intersect with the city and public education, higher education and our ward is economic deteachers. ... I have the resources, the con- velopment. As our wards nections, and I have built strong relation- experienced white flight, a Tyrone Lewis ships with the community to be able to get lot of our businesses went things done. I have managed a lot of politi- away, and now we have a cal campaigns to get pro-public education lot of debilitated buildings, plots, homes; candidates elected; I ran Jennifer Riley-Col- they are just sitting there vacant. lins’ campaign (for attorney general) with I would like to initiate a buy-the-block her. That was statewide. And Willie Sim- program in our ward ... and give businesses mons’ (campaign) in the central district. the opportunity to come in, especially around the Lake Hico area, now that we see What are the top three problems that some of those industries are moving facing Jackson and your ward? out, and focus on Highway 49 and bring

They intersect. We both have the economic development over in that area.

Tyrone Lewis

James Paige What motivates you to serve?

I am a very passionate man about Jackson, I truly believe in Jackson, I’ve been in Jackson all my life, I am a product of Jackson public-school system, I am a product of Jackson State, I am a product of Jackson Police Department. For me to see these institutions operating at the level they are operating in, I feel like, with my experience, business experience, and my law enforcement experience, that I could really take something to the council, to bring a different look to it.

We can bring a businessman to the table and an experienced law enforcement officer to the table. I think that what I have to say and my input, and my ability to negotiate with people will make a difference.

What prepared you for this position?

My passion for Jackson, number one, and my experience as a businessman, my experience as a law enforcement officer and my desire to serve. I think you’ve got to have the knowledge of what regular, everyday people are going through before you can help them, and I have both of these.

I know the needs of the neighborhoods. I do believe that I have some plans, that I can address some of those needs.

What are the top three problems facing Jackson and your ward?

Crime, youths and develop-

self-worth. I live in the heart of the city and know the issues of the city.

CITY

WARD 2: WHERE TO VOTE ON NOV. 17 The election will take place across 10 precincts in the city: Precinct 41: Green Elementary School, 610 Forest Ave.; Precinct 43: Fresh Start Christian Church, 510 Manhattan Road; Precinct 80: Tougaloo Community Center, 318 Vine St.; Precinct 81: Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 655 Beasley Road; Precinct 82: Hanging Moss Church of Christ, 5225 Hanging Moss Road; Precinct 83: New Hope Baptist Church, 5202 Watkins Drive, Precinct 84: China Grove Baptist Church, 454 Forest Ave., Ext.; Precinct 85: Fire Station #26, 2223 FLag Chapel Road; Precinct 86: Triumph the Church & Kingdom of God in Christ, 5302 Queen Mary Lane; Precinct 98: Tougaloo College, 500 Countyline Road.

What are the top three problems facing Jackson and your ward?

Well, I would say crime would be an issue; the roads are being worked on right now, which is good. In terms of economic development, you know, bringing some type of businesses into the community or where the city grants money for people to come in and demolish houses and neighborhoods and that type of thing.

Funmilayo Bannerman Tilden

With the businesses, I believe that there should be some type of initiative to bring small business owners back into the community, except that they must use vacant buildings that are already existing. Instead of new buildings or going into new construction, I think that they should use the buildings that we have here that are sitting here vacant and abandoned.

With problems with infrastructure, that’s going to take some research to find feasible ways to rectify the situation. I understand that repairing infrastructure will take a lot of dollars, a lot of manpower.

Still, I think that there are some ways that we could find to feasibly rectify the whole situation without having to dig the whole city up.

COURTESY THOMAS WARREN POWELL

ment. Let’s take crime; when you are to a decent park to exercise, something is trying to grow a city, crime is always wrong. So youth and crimes are very imgoing to probably be at the top of the list portant for there to be development.

What motivates you to serve? because you’ve got to have your crimes unWe’ve got some golden opportuniI’ve been in this ward 43 years, and Melinda Greenfield Todd der control in order to attract businesses ties. I think Jackson is set up to have more over the course of that time, I have seen it and people to your city. potential than any city in the southeast of decline from thriving businesses to vacant What motivates you to serve?

From a law-enforcement eye, I see that the United States because buildings and debilitated I have always wanted to run for city there are too many illegal guns on the street, of its geographical location homes, And I want to council from way back early in the ’90s. … and most of these illegal guns end up in the and natural resources that work hard to change that I have been in the ward for 44 years, and I hands of our youth. A lot of our youth have not been tapped or around and restore this am motivated to help make it better. problems are stemming from the City de- developed. For example, area to its former glory. ciding not to invest in our young people. ] we have the Pearl River What prepared you for this position?

So me being old enough to see how running through Jackson; What prepared you My experience with the community, the youth were coming out when the city nothing has been done to for this position? working in the community, walking in the was investing and what the youth are look- that river in terms of deThe community. I live schools, faith-based organizations in my ing like right now when the city is not in- velopment; they’ve got two in this community; I work ward, those experiences working on health vesting, it’s not good. Across the summer, or three plans on the table, in this community, I wor- projects, and my background in public every teenager in Jackson used to have a but they have not acted on Thomas Warren Powell ship in this community. I health education have prepared me to work summer job, all the public schools were these ideas, plans for 20 am an educator, so I deal with the public. opened, and all the little kids were not left years. with families that live in at home. They were sent to the school for Pertaining to Ward 2, we have a lake this community every day. I see the needs What are the top three problems older kids in the summer youth programs up there, Lake Hico. Entergy is going in a of families, see the needs of people and see facing Jackson and your ward? to look over them, keep them instructed. different direction in terms of making their the needs of the area.

Crime, infrastructure and commuNone of these things are happening now, energy, so they no longer need that lake for nity unity. Crime in the city of Jackson has so you know, I just think that we got to put a cooling pond.

What are the top three problems increased, especially with the coronavirus, resources back into our young people. facing Jackson and your ward? white flight, lack of jobs, and employment They are very young people, their lives Crime, infrastructure and the absence opportunities for our young people. Getruined, but you know, you’ve got to put the Thomas Warren Powell of businesses. In my ward, I will say, the ting back to youth employment opportuabsence of businesses, infrastructure and a nities in the area, the health, making sure investment in to get something back out of dwindling condition overthat our young people are it. And I see the back end What motivates you to viable; they are able to do at the job that I work now all. serve? what they need to do in down at the federal courtWith crime, I think Well, I’ve been a tax the community. house, and it’s not good. attorney in this area for 30 there is a problem with For infrastructure, I see the broken hearts, plus years; I’m a resident gun control, and my famthat’s been a long-term the crying mothers, the of Jackson. So I know the ily has been a victim of gun city issue. So, working on crying grandmothers, the problems with the city, violence. ... things like bond issues and I think there is a probcrying fathers because and I want to try to address others to help us provide their kids are going off for them and help the city get lem with people-control. I the funds needed to fix our a very long time, for dothink there are too many back on track. infrastructure in our area. ing something that poschildren running around Funmilayo Bannerman Melinda Greenfield Todd Lastly, working together as sibly if he had been in a Tilden with nothing to do, and What prepared you for a ward, we’ll have a better they have too much freeconstructive environment this position? he might not end up in that wrong enviMy educational background, being a dom, and they have too much access to ward for our constituents. ronment. juris doctorate degree holder with a special- guns and drugs and alcohol and things of These interviews are edited for length.

The two that I described—the crime ty doctorate to teach paralegal technology that nature.

And I believe that if we can turn that You can read all five questions and answers at and the youth—play into development. If for Hinds Community College on Medgar the schools are not performing, if the city Evers. Also, being involved in community around at the youngest age possible, we can jfp.ms/Ward2election.

Email city and county reporter Kayode has high crime, no one will want to come projects through my membership in orga- get them to direct their lives in a different here and set up a business, no one will want nizations. I am already involved in a pilot direction, which makes them make bet- Crown at kayode@jacksonfreepress.com and to come here and set up residence. And you program called Woody’s Landscaping and ter choices and stay away from getting in follow him on Twitter at @kayodecrown. know if we have to go outside of Jackson painting to teach youth to work and have trouble, and causing trouble.

COURTESY MELINDA GREENFIELD TODD

COURTESY FUNMILAYO BANNERMAN TILDEN

November 11 - 24, 2020 • jfp.ms

TALK JXN

9

Pam Johnson A Premature Christmas: What Many of Us Need This Year

Editor-in-Chief and CEO Donna Ladd Publisher & President Todd Stauffer Associate Publisher Kimberly Griffin Creative Director Kristin Brenemen

November 11 - 24, 2020 • jfp.ms

Yes indeed, 2020 has been a cruel thief.

10

ules? Maybe. But that isn’t why people are dragging out their old Christmas decorations from the attic and reveling in their joyful presence and the sweet memories they bring.

So, what is it then? I was thinking through this question the morning after the radio event, and I had a palm-to-the-forehead moment.

Of course! Why hadn’t I thought of that?! It is so obvious!

Think about it.

The pall of 2020 hangs heav-

Photo courtesy ArisA chAtAsA on unsPlAsh

T

he other day, the grands and I were running errands, and to my astonishment, our favorite station was playing Christmas music. I thought at first it was a joke, but no, the next song was Christmas music, and it went on and on.

Then, I noticed Christmas decorations hanging out at Kroger and Dollar General, smothering the fall leaves and pumpkins and turkeys, who were trying hard to be noticed. It is, after all, November, not December.

Next, my friends started showing off their home Christmas decor and asking for help with outdoor lights. It seems everybody is ready to celebrate a holiday that’s 47 days off as I write.

My first reaction was to huff up and “tsk, tsk” the very idea of rushing off to Christmas prematurely with such vigor. I mean, I recognize it’s been headed toward this prematurity for a while—a phenomenon many had chalked up to the ever-important retail market. I thought this year, perhaps, Covid-19 has taken such a toll on retailers that they’ve dropped all pretense of observing traditional holiday sched-

REPORTERS AND WRITERS City Reporter Kayode Crown State Reporter Nick Judin State Intern Julian Mills Contributing Writers Dustin Cardon, Bryan Flynn, Alex Forbes, Jenna Gibson, Tunga Otis Torsheta Jackson, Mike McDonald, Anne B. Mckee, EDITORS AND OPERATIONS Deputy Editor Nate Schumann JFPDaily.com Editor Dustin Cardon Executive Assistant Azia Wiggins Editorial Assistant Shaye Smith Consulting Editor JoAnne Prichard Morris ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY Senior Designer Zilpha Young Contributing Photographers Seyma Bayram, Acacia Clark, Nick Judin, Imani Khayyam, Ashton Pittman, Brandon Smith ONLINE & DIGITAL SERVICES Digital Web Developer Ryan Jones Web Editor Dustin Cardon Social Media Assistant Robin Johnson Web Designer Montroe Headd Let’s Talk Jackson Editor Kourtney Moncure

Go ahead and decorate the tree, Pam Johnson writes. As the year winds down, hope unites many of us as we look forward to the warmth and comfort of the holiday season, which is already here for many people.

ily over all of us. We are dealing with anxiety, insomnia, grief, fear and every stomach-gripping issue that’s definable.

Not to mention the threat of a potentially debilitating, deadly disease, a falling away of social niceties and norms, lost family and friends due to harsh political differences, non-stop disturbing reports on the TV, radio and even on our phones.

We can’t go to the movies, football games, or any other usual gatherings that mark our society without risking our lives or others’ lives. Yes indeed, 2020 has been a cruel thief.

So what did I realize? That many people are turning to Christmas for comfort, peace and joy. That folks are yearning for the love that is represented by the Christ Child’s coming; what a wonderful testimony of the comfort that Jesus offers.

For those of us who are followers of Jesus, the season is an exercise in exhilaration. Everything is prettier, sparklier and more musical. We await with eager anticipation the coming of the Christ child. We hang onto the prophecy that foretold him, the Star, the Wise Men, even the donkeys.

Even those who have given up on church as a formal exercise, who may

have lost their faith through all of this meanness, or who worship differently may also be turning to the happiness the Christmas season represents. It seems most everyone wants to think on kind, loving and beautiful things.

Humans have an innate desire to feel good, to feel joy, to feel love, to feel cherished, to feel sheltered. Those are just a few things that the Christmas season represents.

So, I say, Merry Christmas everybody! Let’s jingle up and light the lights sooner rather than later.

For those of us who are organizationally challenged and can’t get there until after Thanksgiving, let’s say thank you to the ones who remind us right now of the peace that Jesus Christ offers, even in the bleakest of times.

And pleases ring those bells as long as you want!

Pam Johnson is an author and consultant. She has been a public-school teacher, a news editor of two weekly newspapers, a magazine publisher, a florist, a lobbyist, an advocate, and was twice elected alderwoman in her hometown of Mount Olive.

This column does not necessarily reflect the views of the JFP.

SALES AND MARKETING (601-362-6121 x11) Marketing Writer Andrea Dilworth Marketing Consultant Mary Kozielski Advertising Designer Zilpha Young Events Assistant Leslyn Smith DISTRIBUTION Distribution Coordinator Ken Steere Distribution Team Yvonne Champion, Ruby Parks, Eddie Williams TALK TO US: Letters letters@jacksonfreepress.com Editorial editor@jacksonfreepress.com Queries submissions@jacksonfreepress.com Listings events@jacksonfreepress.com Advertising ads@jacksonfreepress.com Publisher todd@jacksonfreepress.com News tips news@jacksonfreepress.com Jackson Free Press 125 South Congress Street, Suite 1324 Jackson, Mississippi 39201 Editorial and Sales (601) 362-6121 Fax (601) 510-9019 Daily updates at jacksonfreepress.com The Jackson Free Press is the city’s award-winning, locally owned news magazine, reaching more than 35,000 readers per issue via more than 600 distribution locations in the Jackson metro area—and an average of over 35,000 visitors per week at www. jacksonfreepress.com. The Jackson Free Press is free for pick-up by readers; one copy per person, please.

First-class subscriptions are available to “gold level” and higher members of the JFP VIP Club (jfp.ms/ vip). The views expressed in this magazine and at jacksonfreepress.com are not necessarily those of the publisher or management of Jackson Free Press Inc. © Copyright 2020 Jackson Free Press Inc.

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courtesy Philip Scarborough

‘Dear Johnny Reb,’ an Anti-Love Letter to Confederate Memorials in Mississippi

by Taylor McKay Hathorn

“Dear Johnny Reb” addresses the history and effects of Confederate statues in regard to Mississippi.

November 11 - 24, 2020 • jfp.ms

I

12

n his recent short film, “Dear Johnny Reb,” Jacksonian Philip Scarborough and a group of native Mississippians lament the damage that these statues have wrought through their immobility, and the film celebrates Mississippi history while indicting its darkest moments.

When he was 3 years old, the Jackson-born Scarborough and his family moved to Dothan, Ala., where his interest in filmmaking developed during his teenage years.

After studying film at the University of Southern Mississippi, Scarborough returned to Jackson and began working in the film industry, eventually co-founding Spot On Productions with Tom Beck in 2011—a company that produces commercials, documentaries and corporate videos.

which is where they should be.

(In the video), I focused on what’s called the sentinels (soldier statues). There are 43 or 44 of those, so I focused on those because most are on courthouse lawns. Since I’m talking to these statues of the confederacy, I focused on the sentinels because they’re statues of people.

When I filmed, I thought I did all of them. There were two I didn’t know about, which bugs me, but those two were put up at the same time, by the same people, for the same reasons. So, there’s a continuity that connects the statues. I also wanted to keep it short, and I didn’t want it to be overwhelming. If I had done every statue, I would still be filming. Getting people to be in it was not easy.

You start the video with the Confederate statue in Jackson. What’s the significance of that for you, as a native?

I’ve lived in Jackson longer now than I lived anywhere else, and I was born here, at St Dominic’s. I thought it was appropriate to start in Jackson, and it’s also the Capitol.

Really? What was difficult about the recruitment process?

Only a third of the people I asked agreed to be in it.

Most people said they agreed with the idea, but they said they couldn’t be in it because they worked for the state or for the government. They were—I guess—scared. I don’t completely blame them; they didn’t know how the film would look in the end. I think they were afraid of the repercussions and the blow back from the film—which there hasn’t been any.

Everybody who is in it are friends of friends and family friends, because it was just word-of-mouth, trying to get people to be in it. I tried to get a person from every town, but that was kind of impossible. Everyone (who did end up in the video) is a Mississippi resident. That was important to me—that they agree with the premise of the film.

Your video notes that there are around 100 Confederate monuments in Mississippi. How many monuments appear in the video, and how did you choose the ones that appeared?

There are 42 in the film, and according to my research, which I did mainly with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and the internet, there are over 150 memorials of some kind to the confederacy (in Mississippi).

That’s counting the ones in the Vicksburg Military Park,

Tell me about the writing of the letter that’s read to the statues throughout the film.

I wrote it, but I was working on another film—which I’m still working on—which is about Mississippi history.

Right when the Civil Rights Museum opened (in Jackson), I started going because I was having a problem finding research materials on Mississippi civil-rights history, so the museum was a dream come true. There’s so much information there. I took a pencil and pad after the first time I went because it was overload.

So I went a dozen different times, and I did a section at a time. I wrote words that I saw and tried to trace the chronological story of Mississippi—not just civil-rights history, but the history of the whole state. The idea of me talking to the statues was an old idea of mine—for someone to notice the statue and start talking to it.

I took all my notes from the museum, and I wrote that letter. Everything in it came from the Civil Rights Museum.

I’m a descendant of at least five Confederate soldiers, and I wrote a letter to them, to their ghosts, to their effect on me.

It’s still a literal letter to these Confederate soldiers: You did what you thought was right at the time, but it’s over. Go home. I didn’t want to be disrespectful to people’s ancestors, but still—they fought to maintain the slave economy, so I wanted to be firm. It’s almost like the statues are on trial.

From that letter, “You are a traitor and unAmerican” was the only line not delivered in English. What’s the significance of that?

I wanted another language (in the video) be-

The letter goes on to say, “All of this has become your heritage.” How do we separate Johnny Reb’s heritage from our own as Mississippians, or do we?

That line is making reference to people who defend the Confederacy by saying, “It’s heritage, not hate.” We need to celebrate the African American heritage in Mississippi more because they have made Mississippi what it is, as far as the blues and the food culture. All the positive things people think of when they think of Mississippi, they think of that culture.

I think our new flag should have B.B. King on it, myself. (Laughs)

The number of descendants of slaves in Mississippi is humongous, and we need to recognize it. You can’t erase the past, and we can still look at the Old South, but you’ve got to have context. We don’t need to tear the statues down with a mob, but we need to talk about it. I personally think they should take all of them down, but if they don’t take (them) down, they need to have a plaque for context.

People go to courthouses to seek justice, and (sentinels) don’t belong on a courthouse lawn. These men actively fought against the Union. Some people don’t know what they don’t know, and (talking about

it) would help start the process because it would help people like that see how other southerners see the statues, who are just as much Mississippians as they are.

Our heritage is not a fuzzy, “Gone with the Wind” heritage. There should be memorials to the horrors of slavery and to the descendants of slaves. (Mississippi was) ground zero for slavery, so we should have the biggest one. I maybe should not be the person (to instigate the change), but maybe someone who sees the film will make that change.

courtesy Philip Scarborough

cause not all Americans speak English. I wanted a friend of mine from the Choctaw tribe to say, “That’s just the tip of the iceberg” in Choctaw, but there’s no Choctaw word for iceberg. We tried to figure out a substitution, but there wasn’t one.

Mostly, I just wanted to be inclusive. I wanted it to represent modern Mississippi.

What was the inspiration for the original score?

A friend of mine, a musician from Jackson who spends a lot of time in Oxford, Cole Furlough, (composed the score). My friend Alex Warren introduced us, since I wanted a Mississippi composer to compose the music and record it.

I wanted it to be orchestral—mainly violins and cellos. It was based on Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” and “Violin Phase” by Steve Reich. I let Cole hear that, and he had some other ideas.

He got a member of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra to play (his composition). I got teary-eyed when he first played it because it was the perfect piece. I love classical music and real instruments. I don’t like using electronic music for my films.

Watch “Dear Johnny Reb” during the Crossroads Film Festival, which will be virtual this year and take place from Nov. 12 to Dec. 15. You can buy tickets now at crossroadsfilmfestival.eventive.org/welcome.

Philip Scarborough’s film predominantly showcases sentinel statues. Because they depict people, they serve as a personified listener to Scarborough’s monologue.

Now taking Thanksgiving

November 11 - 24, 2020 • jfp.ms

Catering Orders

13

Crossroads 2020 Film Festival Moves to a Virtual Platform

by Jenna Gibson

D

Normally in her role of festival coordinator, Baker helps to create the process of selecting films and finding volunteers to work the festival and sell tickets; now, her role has completely been transformed.

Throughout 2020, Baker has been hard at work helping move the festival to an online platform.

“The hardest part has been figuring out what putting on a virtual festival means. For a long time, I was still thinking

One of Crossroads’ missions is to celebrate film in all of its diversity, and Baker is hoping people will still come out and support independent filmmakers and their movies, even with it being completely online.

“People are Zoomed out and have screen fatigue. I’m just hoping and praying that my films are good enough to encourage them to get back on the computer or TV and pay money to watch these indie

The Crossroads Film Festival this year will include 18 films that participants can stream at any time, including “The Tall Bike Joust” by Sam Frazier Jr.

Crossroads Film Society is also going to do a profit share with filmmakers. If people buy a ticket for a block of films, a percentage of sales will go directly to filmmakers. Thus, by attending Virtual Crossroads 2020, participants not only see wellregarded films, they also support filmmakers directly.

On Sunday, Nov. 15, Virtual Crossroads 2020 will release the film “Let the People Decide”—a project that was created with the help of the William Winter Institute of Racial Reconciliation. Along with the screening, Portia Espy and Von Gordon of Winter Institute coordinate a panel discussion of the film.

“Mississippians are some of the most inspired storytellers, and these stories need to be told. These stories are important. And I feel that it’s equally important to bring those other sorts of small intimate stories to Mississippi,” Baker said. “I think that exchange—our storytelling going out into that world and other stories going in— makes this a vibrant place to live. I always say that film is the most equalizing of the artforms, so I think it’s important to keep that as a very accessible artform.”

in the mindset of a physical festival, and it isn’t. You just have to turn all your ideas on your head,” Baker said.

See the full schedule for Virtual Crossroads 2020 and buy tickets at crossroadsfilmfestival.eventive.org/welcome.

COURTESY CROSSROADS FILM FESTIVAL

espite the lack of people going to movie theaters because of COVID-19, Crossroads Film Society remains determined to put on a successful film festival, but this year it will look a little different: It will be completely online.

This year’s festival, Virtual Crossroads 2020, will be a complete departure from anything Crossroads Film Society has done before. The first major change, however, occurred in November of 2019, well before the pandemic started. The Crossroads Film Society board voted to move the festival from April, where it had been for the past 20 years, to November.

“That was a fortunate thing for us, because if we had had our film festival in April, I’m sure we couldn’t have pulled it off.

The fact that we moved it to the fall turned out to be a good thing for us,” Crossroads’ Festival Coordinator Michele Baker said.

The festival will take place through the online platform Eventive from Nov. 12 to Dec. 15, and tickets will be available for purchase starting Nov. 12. The festival typically lasts for one weekend and shows around 125 films, but this year it will last for a month and show 18 films. Workshops and panel discussions will be live-streamed, and each film will be available until Dec. 15 through video-on-demand.

films. There’s stuff from all over the world, and it’s exceptionally good filmmaking,” Baker said.

Let the People Decide: Hoping for Equality in Voting

November 11 - 24, 2020 • jfp.ms

COURTESY DR. MARTY WISEMAN

Nsombi Lambright is executive director of One Voice. She also served as executive director of the ACLU of Mississippi, where she led the ACLU’s work to end the schoolto-prison pipeline, addressing sentencing disparities and other constitutional issues. She sits on the board for the Center for Constitutional Rights, the Mississippi Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement and the New World Foundation.

See “Let the People Decide” from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15 as part of Virtual Crossroads 2020.

For tickets and information, visit crossroadsfilmfestival.com.

COURTESY NSOMBI LAMBRIGHT

COURTESY REV. C.J. RHODES

14

COURTESY DR. STEPHANIE ROLPH

I

n addition to the 18 films being offered during the Crossroads Film Festival, the event will also include a handful of panel discussions. On Sunday, Nov. 15, starting at noon, panelists Dr. Stephanie Rolph, Rev. C. J. Rhodes, Dr. Marty Wiseman, and Ms. Nsombi Lambright will open a dialogue about history and change, and examine pathways that may lead to Mississippians having and more fully exercising their right to vote.

The panel, which The William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation sponsors, is meant to amplify and expand themes presented in “Let the People Decide,” a film by Gavin Guerra that is offered during this year’s Crossroads Film Festival.

Learn more about the panelists:

Courtesy Crossroads Film Festival Dr. Stephanie Rolph is an associate pro- gregation. He also fessor in the history department at Millsaps serves as founder and College. Rolph’s work focuses on white president of Clergy for Prison Reform, resistance to civil Director of Religious rights, particularly and Spiritual Life at connections between Alcorn State UniDeep South segregaversity. Rhodes has authored two books tionists and radical and hosts the C. J. Rhodes Show airing on right allies across WRBJ 97.7 FM. the country. Her first book, “Resisting Equality: The Citizens’ Council, 1954- Dr. Marty Wiseman is director emeritus 1989,” is a new examination of one of the of the John C. Stennis Institute of Govmore widely known resistance organiza- ernment, professor emeritus of political tions during the Civil Rights Movement. science and public at Rev. C.J. Rhodes is the pastor of Mt. administration Helm Baptist Church and is the youngest MSU, and a guest pastor to serve Jackson’s oldest Black con- professor at JSU.

‘WARRIOR WOMEN’

‘UNADOPTED’ A layperson would probably acknowledge the complexities of the fostercare system, placing into account their interactions with government, the size of the bureaucracy, and the carefulness (or negligence) associated with human lives. “Unadopted” casts light on those possible assumptions, as the main figure and narrator discusses his own hardships and confusion living within the foster system, interviewing several teenagers who have had their own experiences.

Noel was 7 years old when he became a child in the California state foster system, separated from his older sister who was assigned to a foster family in Idaho. As the years passed, he, like many individuals before and after him, began to wonder what his life would have been like if the people biologically related to him were all in one place and things operated as they should in a dreamscape. However, as he recounts in the film, foster children know that reality can act as rebuttal to fantasy.

He seeks to understand the peculiarities of his case. He is no longer a foster child curious about the reason or reasons he was never adopted. Instead, he contends that the failure to adopt reflects as a failure of the system as a whole. Seeking to uncover details of his background, he aims to reconnect with his mother, who expresses re-

The opening credits of “Paper Boats” showcase the laurels that the short film has garnered in other film festivals, and it’s apparent from the outset that the film deserved each of them, as the subtle opening score matches the almost melancholic ambiance of a young artist at work on a set of paper-making creations. The artist’s mentor visits and reminds her of the sufferings she endured in her past, triggering a series of flashbacks.

The film then takes a dark turn and addresses how the artist and her mentor forged their relationship—the former revealing her own assault at the hands of her father.

The mentor, a guidance counselor, advocates for the young

COURTESY CROSSROADS FILM FEST

‘PAPER BOATS’

woman and removes her from her dangerous situation.

While the bond between the artist and her mentor is undeniable, it is also complicated. The artist failed to remove her sister from the clutches of their father, and that sister is now missing. The narrator is left bound to a past

morse and contrition that she was not able to care for him.

Later, he finds comparative understanding with teenagers who have also undergone their own journeys as foster children: one who was offered adoption but declined, one who was legally adopted and has no desire to meet her biological mother, and another who left the bureaucratic environment entirely to fend for herself on the streets of Oakland. Each person has their own path of self-discovery and must reconcile their desire to know with the harsh reality of what they may find.

COURTESY CROSSROADS FILM FEST

COURTESY CROSSROADS FILM FEST

Over this last year, many of us have become more aware of the plights that certain demographics face in this country—as we witnessed a resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, with protesters organizing across the nation to speak out against racial injustice. Interestingly, the documentary film “Warrior Women” addresses a similar movement by taking a close look at the American Indian Movement of the 1970s, which fought for Native American liberation and for survival as a community of extended family.

Mother-daughter duo Madonna Thunder Hawk and Marcella Gilbert—both enrolled members of the Lakota tribe living in South Dakota—narrate the film. The film first contextualizes the historic oppression incurred against Indigenous populations that resulted in decades of inequality and subjugation from the United States. government. Afterward, a scene depicts Gilbert teaching children that the tribe is still living through consequences of a government that reneged on its responsibilities contained in an 1868 treaty.

Once the narrators finished establishing context, the film weaves in the significance of continuous activism, hammer-

ing home the message that change occurs when people work together to proclaim the power of collective action. Years ago, for example, Thunder Hawk, an AIM leader, helped shape a group of activists’ children in the “We Will Remember” Survivor School, which served as a Native alternative to government-run education.

Scenes show Thunder Hawk reminiscing about what she learned from her involvement in AIM, “Indian Power” messaging, occupation of Alcatraz Island and the Wounded Knee uprising. These experiences taught her about mobilization and committing to a cause, which guided her during the North Dakota protests opposing the Dakota Access Pipeline project.

Like many founding members of Black Lives Matter, the central characters in the documentary are women. In addition to the two narrators, the community of Lakota and Native women are shown to generally spearhead the grassroots initiatives to fight for environmental preservation, cultural education and relationshipbuilding among tribes.

“Warrior Women” reminds viewers that the Native struggle for sovereignty and cultural reclamation is far from over, but that many movement leaders remain steadfast in their activism efforts.

—Mike McDonald

This year’s Crossroads Film Festival allows participants to stream any of the event’s 18 films on their own time through the festival’s end on Dec. 15. Films cover a variety of genres and themes and last anywhere from seven to 108 minutes. Read our writers’ reviews of select films below.

“Unadopted” presents viewers with a human portrait of the people who share experiences many of us outside the foster system cannot fully understand. Someone who may be considered a typical teenager at first glance may be engaging in issues of identity and emotional development, yet the foster child must contend with normality atop instability and uncertainty, trying to discover where they came from with each passing glance in the mirror.

—Mike McDonald

she would rather forget, but she must retain her identity to remain accessible to her sister, whom she hopes will return and absolve her from her regret.

The mentor, too, ties the narrator to her adolescence, and the artistry of the movie pivots around this tension.

The mentor forces the artist to confront her past, reminding her that she formed her true identity through what she overcame, not what she suffered. The narrator attempts to make a tenuous peace with this, and the movie suggests that because her discovered joy and triumph exist on the same spectrum as her loss and perceived failure, she cannot have one without the other, and she must find a way to reconcile her dark past with her bright future.

—Taylor McKay Hathorn more CROSSROADS p 16

November 11 - 24, 2020 • jfp.ms

Crossroads 2020 Film Reviews

15

‘The Tides That Bind’

from p 15

‘Catfish Kingdom’

courtesy Crossroads film fest

the role of racism in Scott’s struggle, his daughter provides glimpses of the humor and the salt-of-the earth goodness that her father possessed, humanizing him beyond the legislation that marred his career.

Animations creatively depict the ups and downs of his journey—the motion of the fish placing Scott on the map propelling the viewer to the next phase of Scott’s life. Even in the climax of the video, when police come to shut down his business

November 11 - 24, 2020 • jfp.ms

barrass herself if she does risk it all for love.

The woman does take the initial step toward her freedom and her supposed love, though the movie is deliberately ambiguous in answering whether the woman’s true goal is freedom or love.

In a surprise ending, the woman returns to her roots (quite literally) to keep the clock from striking midnight on her dream of keeping her new form, and viewers are again left wondering whether the musical score about longing and unrequited love was merely an expression of her dissatisfaction with her current station in life.

The film’s director seems to indicate that only those who are brave enough to take their discontentment into their own hands will ever rid themselves of it—an unexpectedly deep twist for a film that features a woman dancing in a skirt made of a trash bag in its earlier scenes.

—Taylor McKay Hathorn

‘SKY AELANS’ The documentary “SKY AELANS,” which translates to “Sky Islands” in English, focuses on the South Pacific nation of the Solomon Islands in greater Oceania. The brief film (six-minute duration) could easily deceive the viewer into thinking they are watching the National Geographic Channel or a program on BBC, half expecting David Attenborough to suddenly offer observations on flora and fauna of the island.

Sweeping camera angles pay homage to the title of the piece, whereby the expanse of the land and surrounding ocean can be thoroughly appreciated from a wide courtesy Crossroads film fest

16

In this postmodern spin on Walt Disney’s “Cinderella,” an unlikely fairy godmother (a mustached puppet with a patched coat) promises a grapefruit that he will transform it into a person so that it can find its one true love. The grapefruit consents, and a beautiful woman emerges from the refrigerator, intent on finding the love of her life.

The short film then takes a sharp detour as the woman glories in her bodily form yet seems confused by its limitations, taking shots of dishwasher detergent and smearing peanut butter on her face.

“Grapefruit”’s gag reel ends abruptly when the woman catches a glimpse of the love of her life, and the movie’s strongest feature—the original music—is on full display: The woman sings in front of the windows and doors that separate her from the love of her life. The song is surprisingly stirring, full of longing and the desperation to act on that yearning without the possibility of being let down.

As a viewer, it’s almost paralyzing to watch her weigh her options, as you dread her consignment to a life as fridge fodder while still fearing the ways she might em-

courtesy Crossroads film fest

‘Grapefruit’

For Clint Buffington, finding messages in a bottle is a way of “opening a window into the life of a stranger,” and the documentary plays off this idea, featuring Buffington’s search for bottles along waterways and highlighting his response to locating such messages.

Although unearthing a bottle bearing a message is often thought of as a matter of serendipity, Buffington has made it a matter of science, studying tide patterns and floodlines to heighten his chances of discovering a message. Once he finds such a missive, the film is clinical in its exploration of Buffington’s subsequent actions, depicting his process of reconstructing messages that have been damaged by tides or the sun and using a diamond drill-bit to open a bottle without damaging its contents.

Merely locating the message is unsatisfying for Buffington, with the majority of the film focusing on his quest to locate the senders of the encapsulated messages, though many years often separate the writing of the message and Buffington’s discovery.

Buffington is portrayed as earnest in

lens. The stars and narrator of the film are the Indigenous people, who speak in a Solomon Pijin tongue and communicate their relationship with the land and all who inhabit it, knowing the environment is both sacred and precious.

During the film, the camera also

courtesy Crossroads film fest

“He was just my dad,” Ed Scott Jr.’s daughter says in her voiceover for the eight-minute documentary. Though she never appears on the screen, she narrates her father’s journey to becoming the first non-white owner of a catfish plant in the United States.

Though the film does not downplay

over racially motivated interpretations of farming laws, the focus remains on the animated catfish swimming upstream as they follow the arc of Scott’s life and business.

This creative ploy works well, even as the storyline becomes grim: Scott’s business is repossessed, and he begins a multi-year court battle to regain it. At this point, a 1985 interview with Scott is played, the only non-animated feature of the film. Scott humbly brushes off the praise he receives, claiming that his own successes speak more broadly to the successes of the community.

While the film reinforces his claim, recounting the jobs he provided to other African Americans, the film eventually returns to his daughter’s narration. She states that her father’s 2012 case against the racial politics that seized the farm was the last one of its kind, enabling her father to hand the check that would allow him to repurchase his farm from the very man who had seized it.

“The arbiter let my daddy tell his story,” she says. “Catfish Kingdom” does the same, soulfully relating Scott’s troubles while ensuring that the film itself sings of triumph.

—Taylor McKay Hathorn

the extreme, often remarking that he was “meant to find” the messages and that he is single-minded in his determination to locate their senders. He does this with varying degrees of success, as the awkwardness of some meet-ups is undeniable, with the senders clearly not expecting such an enthusiastic response to their one-off epistles.

The documentary does not try to mask this, nor does it expect viewers to

view these encounters as a detriment to the story, as the journey of the bottle itself and Buffington’s appreciation of that journey are often the focus of the narrative.

Indeed, viewers are challenged— though not in so many words—to usurp the norms of the digital age throughout the video, with the meaningfulness of sending a written message—particularly one that is not guaranteed to be read or responded to—highlighted at every turn.

—Taylor McKay Hathorn zooms on individual species of plants, reptiles and amphibians, showing off samples of the island’s ecosystem. The narrator describes these elements at the sum animating the landmass each morning as they wake. All represented creatures seem exotic and add further credence to the relatively untouched landscape miles away from the urban centers dotting the international map.

The narrators’ central message, no matter which specific island being depicted, is the need to protect the environment from exterior forces. Viewers could surmise that these forces include excess industrialism and the commercialization that often accompanies urban areas. The Solomon Islands’ government ruled development to be off-limits for elevations above 400 meters.

Island residents consider themselves cogs in the island machinery, working within ecosystems and recognizing the balance achieved by every living creature and the fragility of each biome. They also recognize their place within space and time— that their presence is brief and the trees and rocks and streams will outlast them, inuring a responsibility to care about the treasures the Great Spirit has entrusted upon them. I believe we could all learn a lesson from their appreciation of the land.

—Mike McDonald

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food&drink

D

espite the chaos that has permeated the state and the nation this November, Thanksgiving is still approaching. Jackson metro restaurants are offering all sorts of food options for the family-focused holidays, including specialty items and take-home meals.

Broad Street Baking Company & Cafe

(4465 Interstate 55 N., 601-362-2900)

Broad Street’s holiday catering menu features main courses such as fried turkey breast, honey-glazed Smithfield ham and oven roasted half turkey breast; sides such as honey-bourbon carrots, corn maque choux, roasted cauliflower and sweet potato casserole; desserts such as pecan pie, turtle cheesecake, bourbon pecan pie; and more.

Customers must call in their order by 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 22 and pick up by 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25. For more information, visit broadstbakery.com.

and more. The restaurant also sells a family feast for 10 to 12 people that includes a pork loin or glazed boneless ham; a choice of cornbread or oyster dressings; three sides, which include the four seasons salad, baked apples and potatoes au gratin; homemade cranberry sauce; rolls; and caramel pie.

Customers must pick up meal orders

by Wednesday, Nov. 25, by 8 p.m. The restaurant will be closed Thanksgiving day.

For more information, visit strawberrycafemadison.com.

Olivia’s Food Emporium (637 Highway

51, Suite K, Ridgeland, 601-898-8333)

The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen’s holiday menu includes whole turkeys, two jambalaya-stuffed chickens or prime rib, as well as sides such as pork and cabbage dressing, braised greens, oyster dressing, corn casserole, cranberry relish, sausage and chicken gumbo, artichoke and spinach dip and more. Dessert options include bread pudding, pecan cobbler and gingersnap pumpkin pie.

The deadline to place Thanksgiving catering orders is Friday, Nov. 20, by 2 p.m.

Customers must pick up their orders by Wednesday, Nov. 25, by 6 p.m. The Manship will also deliver orders for a $25 delivery

Thanksgiving Catering and Seasonal Menu Options 2020

by Dustin Cardon Sarah Pflug

Scrooge’s Fine Foods & Drink

November 11 - 24, 2020 • jfp.ms

(5829 Ridgewood Road, 601-206-1211)

Scrooge’s is offering Thanksgiving family dinners that include main courses like whole turkey, ham and prime rib, as well as side dishes such as dressing, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, black-eyed peas, cornbread, hushpuppies, rolls, pies and more.

Dinners are $109 for turkey, $125 for ham and $169.95 for prime rib. Customers must place orders by 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 24, and pick up by 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25. For more information, visit the restaurant’s Facebook page.

18

Primos Café (515 Lake Harbour Drive, Ridgeland, 601-898-3600; 2323 Lakeland Drive, Flowood, 601-936-3398; 201 Baptist Drive, Madison, 601-853-3350; primoscafe. com)

The holiday menu at Primos includes whole turkey or ham, cornbread dressing, giblet gravy, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls by the dozen, sweet potato casserole, squash casserole, green bean casserole, broccoli au gratin, mashed potatoes sweet potato pie, lemon ice box pie and other items.

Primos’ dinner package costs $170 and serves 10 to 12 people. Pick-up dates for orders are Monday, Nov. 23, through Wednesday, Nov. 25. Customers must pick up their orders by 5 p.m. each day.

The Strawberry Café (107 Depot Drive, Madison; 601-856-3822)

The Strawberry Café is offering family dinner meals for four to six people with items such as chicken or shrimp alfredo, pasta creole, shrimp and grits, chicken marinara, shrimp pasta, shrimp etouffee

of ham or turkey, gravy, three sides, bread, cranberry relish, a choice of dessert and tea, as well as cutlery, plates, napkins, cups, and serving pieces. The party package is $21 per person for pick-up or $22 per person for delivery. Customers must place their orders

by Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 6:30 p.m. .

The Pig & Pint (3139 N. State St., 601-326-6070, pigandpint.com)

The Pig & Pint will have 10- to 12pound smoked turkeys for Thanksgiving.

The restaurant also has a Thanksgiving catering menu that includes smoked meats such as brisket, turkey, pulled pork and chicken; sides such as smoked macaroni and cheese, collard greens, southern baked beans, potato salad and comeback coleslaw; containers of The Pig & Pint’s house-made Carolina mustard sauce and Mississippi “Sweet” barbecue sauce; and deserts such as bananas Foster banana pudding and whitechocolate-and-cranberry bread pudding.

Orders must be placed by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 24, and picked up by 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25.

Hickory Pit (1491 Canton Mart Road, 601-956-7079)

For Thanksgiving, Hickory Pit offers items such as smoked turkey, desserts, ribs and sides. Customers must pick up their orders by 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25.

For more information, call 601-956-7079 or visit the restaurant’s Facebook page.

Those looking for a little help putting a whole Thanksgiving meal on the table this year have a plethora of catering options to choose from within the metro.

The Thanksgiving catering menu at Olivia’s features smoked or fried turkey, spiral-cut brown-sugared ham, smoked pork tenderloin and Ya Ya seafood gumbo. Sides include green bean, baked potato, sweet potato or squash casseroles, cornbread dressing and cheesy broccoli rice, while appetizers include cranberry walnut chicken salad, pimento cheese and spinach dip. The menu also features barbecue pork skins or fried chips, and desserts like lemon ice box, Hershey or sweet potato pies, rainbow, red velvet or coconut cakes and more.

Customers must place orders by Friday, Nov. 20, and pick them up by Wednesday, Nov. 25, by 2 p.m. For more information, visit oliviasfoodemporium.com.

The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen (1200 N. State St., Suite 100, 601-398-4562, themanshipjackson.com)

fee. To place an order, call 601-586-9502 or email catering@themanshipjackson.com.

The Hungry Goat (1006 Top St., Suite F, Flowood, 769-233-8539)

The Hungry Goat’s holiday package serves 10 to 12 people and includes a choice of one meat, one quart of gravy, three large sides, one dozen bread rolls, one pint of cranberry sauce and a choice of dessert with a $15 upcharge for pecan pie.

Meats include turkey or honey glazed ham; sides include cornbread dressing, artichoke bake, creamed spinach, green bean casserole and more; desserts include buttermilk chocolate cake, banana pudding, bread pudding and pumpkin pie. Customers can also order cranberry sauce or turkey gravy by the pint.

The Hungry Goat also offers a holiday party package that includes a choice

The Trace Grill (574 Highway 51, Suite F, Ridgeland, 601-853-1014)

The Trace Grill offers Thanksgiving dinner packages for up to 10 people with fried or smoked turkey, spiral-cut ham, cornbread dressing, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole and dinner rolls. Customers can also order meats or vegetables a la carte, including items such as turnip greens, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole and more. Dessert options include regular or pecan pie bread pudding, caramel pie and peach or blackberry cobbler. Customers must place their Thanksgiving orders by Saturday, Nov. 21.

Estelle Wine Bar & Bistro

(407 S. Congress St., 769-235-8400)

Estelle Wine Bar is offering a Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, Nov. 26, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. by reservation only, as well as Thanksgiving dinner to-go orders.

Entrees include Coca-cola glazed ham and slow roasted turkey breast. Sides include buttery whipped potatoes, andouille and cornbread stuffing, green bean casserole and more. Estelle is also offering hot chocolate, homemade pies and special wine offerings.

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November 11 - 24, 2020 • jfp.ms

4 pg Block 4.375x5.5).pdf

19

EVENTS

Looking for something great to do in Jackson? Visit JFPEVENTS.COM for more.

COMMUNITY

KIDS

FOOD & DRINK

History Is Lunch Presents “Vietnam: War at Home, Conflict Abroad” Nov. 11, noon-1 p.m., Facebook Live. Andrew Wiest and Kevin Greene present “Vietnam: War Abroad, Conflict at Home,” as part of the History Is Lunch series.

The program streams live on the Mississippi Department of Archives and History’s Facebook page and remains available there afterward, as well as on the MDAH YouTube channel and the MDAH website’s History Is Lunch page.

Free online event; call 601-576-6850; email info@mdah.ms.gov; mdah.ms.gov.

Artifact Washing Day Nov. 15, noon-4 p.m., at Two Mississippi Museums (222 North St.).

MDAH’s Archaeology Collections staff hosts the afternoon of interactive, hands-on archeological activities for all ages. Participants work with staff as they clean artifacts excavated in Mississippi.

Other features include Atlatl throwing, flint knapping, deer hide shaving, stickball and a tour of archaeological exhibits in the Museum of Mississippi History. Participants receive a pre-packaged activity bag to create their own pottery and beaded jewelry. Face masks and social distancing required. Free admission; call 601-576-6496; email info@mdah.ms.gov; find it on Facebook.

Ramen Night at Fairview Inn Nov. 21, 6 p.m., at Fairview Inn (734 Fairview St.). Chef Connor Mize of 1908 Provisions gives a behind-thescenes look at how to craft a high-quality bowl of ramen, while guests enjoy a delicious threecourse meal complete with specialty cocktail pairings from the Library Lounge. Reservations required to ensure social distancing. Groups limited to six. Include “Ramen Night” in notes when purchasing tickets. $39 per person; call 601-948-3429 ext. 314; email marketing@ fairviewinn.com; find it on Facebook.

Your Journey to Greatness Workshops Nov. 14, 9-11 a.m., at Metro Community Resources, LLC (4527 Highway 80 W.). Entrepreneur and motivational speaker Latisha Holmes leads the workshop addressing an array of topics on business and personal development. Admission TBA; call 769-218-0292; find it on Facebook Shop to Table Nov. 14, noon-4 p.m., at Highland Village (4500 Interstate 55 N. Frontage Road, Suite 281). The Jackson shopping destination holds an outdoor shopping event that includes live music, food tastings, giveaways and more. Free admission, vendor prices vary; call 601-982-5861; email highlandvillage@ wsdevelopment.com; find it on Facebook.

Spanish Class - Intermediate Nov. 17, Nov. 24, 11 a.m.-noon, at Brandon Senior Center (1000 Municipal Drive, Brandon). Brandon senior services offers weekly intermediate Spanish language classes. Free class; call 601-824-7095; email apryor@brandonms.org; find it on Facebook.

November 11 - 24, 2020 • jfp.ms

Women to Women: A Celebration Luncheon Nov. 17, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at The Country Club of Jackson (345 Saint Andrews Drive). The women’s luncheon features a panel of local businesswomen and celebrities discussing topics of interest to women, as well as presentations from local shops and boutiques showcasing home and fashion trends. CDC health guidelines observed. $40 individual ticket, sponsorships levels range $400-$1,000 and include preferred-seating tickets; call 601-991-9996; email admin@ridgelandchamber.com; find it on Facebook.

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Trivia Tuesday Nov. 17, Nov. 24, 7-9 p.m., at The Library Lounge at Fairview Inn (734 Fairview St.). The local lounge hosts a weekly trivia night. Prizes awarded to the top teams.

Free admission, food and drink prices vary; call 601-948-3429, ext. 314; email marketing@ fairviewinn.com; fairviewinn.com.

Belhaven Foodie Tour with More Than A Tourist Nov. 21, 2-6 p.m., at Manship Wood Fired Kitchen (1200 N. State St., Suite 100). The tour company offers a tasting tour of locally owned restaurants in the Belhaven district of Jackson.

The tour features stops at The Manship, Keifer’s, Campbell’s Craft Donuts, Elvie’s, Lou’s Full-Serv, and Fenian’s Irish Pub, while learning about the Belhaven neighborhood. $90 per person; email mtattravel@gmail.com; Eventbrite.

Look and Learn with Hoot | Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold Nov. 20, 10:30-11:30 a.m., at Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St.).

Museum staff read to attending children. Participants also create their own “magic carpet” to take home, and view “Leonardo Drew: City in the Grass.” Free admission, registration required; call 601-960-1515; email ywilliams@msmuseumart.org; msmuseumart.org.

SPORTS & WELLNESS 2020 World Fitasc Championships and Providence Cup Nov. 11-15, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., at Providence Hill Farm (2600 Carsley Road).

The sporting club welcomes the 2020 World FITASC Championships, showcasing FITASC sporting, a form of clay target shooting. Admission TBA; call 601-924-2014; email clubhouse@ providencehillfarm.com; find it on Facebook.

HOLIDAY Friendsgiving Nov. 13, 7-9 p.m., at Highland Village (4500 Interstate 55 N. Frontage Road, Suite 281). The Jackson shopping destination hosts the event to kick off the holiday season, celebrate friendship and benefit Canopy Children’s Solutions. Highlights include arcade games, soups from HV’s eateries, s’mores, pies, drinks and live music. Also features a holiday art reveal from Jackson-local artists. COVID-19 precautions include limited guest capacity, social distancing, hand sanitizing stations, and required masks and health checks prior to entering the venue. Ages 21 and older. $25 admission; call 800-388-6247; email info@mycanopy.org; find it on Facebook.

Friendsgiving is coming to Highland Village to kick off the season.

WATSON PHOTOGRAPHY FOR HIGHLAND VILLAGE

“The Blakk Market” Nov. 15, Nov. 22, 1-8 p.m., at UIG Complex, The Breake Room & Sankofa Kitchen (911 Palmyra St.). The community expo and flea market featuring local Black-owned businesses invites attendees to meet and browse. Includes music and entertainment.

Participants encouraged to bring lawn chairs and socialize. Vendor reservations available. Free admission, donations encouraged, vendor prices vary; call 601-366-6100; email tooblakktoostrong@gmail.com; find it on Facebook.

Born to Be Wild Nov. 15, 1:30-4 p.m., at Mississippi Museum of Natural Science (2148 Riverside Drive). The museum collaborates with the Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities to offer the series of outdoor skills classes for attendees ages 8-18. All classes are outdoors, weather permitting. Free to CCD members, registration required; call 601-576-6000; email andrea.falcetto@mmns.ms.gov; mdwfp.com.

“A Decent Proposal” Dinner Theater Nov. 23, 7-9 p.m., at Char Restaurant (4500 Interstate 55 N., Suite 142). The Detectives and Char present an interactive, comedic theatrical performance while attendees dine. Seating and cocktails begin at 6 p.m. Guests are seated only with members of their own party, with tables socially distanced six feet apart. $49 plus tax and gratuities; call 601-956-9562; email brittany.moses@ amerigo.net; find it on Facebook.

Main Street Clinton Holiday Market Nov. 14, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at Olde Towne Clinton (Jefferson St., Clinton). The organization dedicated to the promotion of the Olde Towne Clinton and Clinton Boulevard business districts hosts the holiday shopping event on the brick streets of Olde Towne. Mississippi craft vendors offer handmade items for sale. Social-distancing guidelines enforced. Free admission, vendor prices vary; call 601-924-5472; email mainstreetclinton@clintonms.org; find it on Facebook.

Holiday Open House Nov. 14, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at Two Mississippi Museums (222 North St.).

The Mississippi Museum Store hosts an open house featuring special discounts for visitors and museum members, raffles, artist and maker meet-and-greet opportunities, and samplings from Nick Wallace Culinary. Face masks and social distancing required. Free admission, prices on items for sale inside vary; call 601-576-6921; email store@mdah.ms.gov; find it on Facebook.

Handworks Holiday Market Nov. 20-21, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Nov. 22, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at Mississippi Trade Mart (1200 High St.). The annual holiday market featuring handcrafted items returns to Jackson for its 39th year, with 300 artisans offering their work for sale. In order to avoid overcrowding, the length of this year’s market has been extended to three days. Stroller-friendly. $8 general admission, free for children under 12, vendor prices vary; email handworksholidaymarket@gmail.com; handworksmarket.com.

Oh, Merry Tree Minis Nov. 21, 1-5 p.m., at K&B Choose and Cut Christmas Tree Farm (300 Alliston Farm Place, Florence). The local photographer offers 20-minute holiday-themed photo sessions at the Christmas tree farm. $100 sitting fee; call 769-257-3344; email lastingimpressionsbybekah@gmail.com; find it on Facebook.

Sound Bath Under the Stars Nov. 11, 6-7 p.m., at Fairview Inn (734 Fairview St.). Yoga teacher and reiki master Jason Lee leads an hour-long sound bath session, followed by drink specials at the Library Lounge. Yoga mats and blankets are provided. Pre-registration required in order to maintain social distancing. $33 admission; call 601-948-3429 ext. 314; email marketing@ fairviewinn.com; heartspaceholistic.health.

Out of Bounds Fall Classic Nov. 12, 4-7 p.m., at The Reed House at Live Oaks (11200 U.S. Highway 49 N.). The local sports radio personality hosts the evening celebrating football, food and the Y’all Lifestyle. The event highlights local food, music and festivities and benefits Extra Table, an organization that supplies food pantries and soup kitchens around the state with nutritious food. $50 general admission; call 601-707-3750; email oob@thezone1059.com; extra-table.networkforgood.com.

Overcoming ED Nov. 12, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Sexual Wellness Therapy (1000 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland). Licensed marriage, family and sex therapist Rose Kasrai leads an open discussion on the causes and treatments of erectile disfunction, or ED. Limited space.

Reservations required. Payment made through either PayPal or Venmo. $15 admission; call 601-345-1627; email rosesquaw2003@yahoo. com; swtherapyms.com.

Fondren Fitness Fun Run Nov. 19, 6-8 p.m., at Fondren Fitness (2807 Old Canton Road). Runners meet outside of Fondren Fitness to run three miles around the neighborhood, ending at a different local business each month. Free admission; call 601-540-0338; find it on Facebook.

STAGE & SCREEN “Why I Live at The P.O.” Nov. 11, Nov. 13-14, Nov. 16-17, 7 p.m., Nov. 15, 2 p.m., Virtual.

The local theater company continues its 2020 Solo Show Series with a pre-recorded performance by Jo Ann Robinson of Eudora Welty’s short story. Ticket holders receive a link to the virtual event two hours prior to the event and have 24-hour access. $25 general admission; call 601-948-3533; newstagetheatre.com.

Virtual Crossroads 2020 Nov. 12, 7 p.m., Nov. 13, 6 p.m., Nov. 14-15, 5 p.m., Virtual (Eventive). The Mississippi film society presents its annual film festival in a virtual format this year.

The 2020 festival offers film screenings, panel discussions and workshops. Schedules of films and events available online. Films available until Dec. 15. $45 virtual member pass, $59 virtual VIP pass; call 601-345-5674; email info@crossroadsfilmfestival.com; crossroadsfilmfestival.com.

Thursday Night Plays, Conversations & Cocktails: “Sons of Levi” Nov. 12, 7 p.m., Virtual. The local professional theater company presents a virtual play reading of Randy Redd’s play, “Sons of Levi,” followed by a discussion and Q&A session with the playwright. Registration required. Limited ticket count. $5, $10, or $25 suggested donation, limited free tickets; call 601-948-3533; newstagetheatre.com.

Belhaven University Fall Dance Concert 2020 Nov. 13-14, 7-9 p.m., at Bitsy Irby Visual Arts and Dance Center, Belhaven University (1500 Peachtree St.). The dance concert features choreography by BU faculty and guest artist Gabriel Speiller of Bruce Wood Dance. Advance ticket reservations required. Box office opens at 5:45 p.m., doors at 6:15 p.m.. Limited, socially distanced seating. Masks required. $10 general admission, $5 seniors/students, free for BU staff/ students; call 601-965-1400; email dancetickets@belhaven.edu; find it on Facebook.

Visit JFPEVENTS.COM for more.

Events at Chuckles Comedy House (6479 Ridgewood Court Drive)

BE THE CHANGE

• BILL BELLAMY Nov. 13-15, 7:30 & 10 p.m.

The comedian known for his work on MTV, HBO’s Def Comedy Jam, and his Showtime comedy special performs. $27.50 general admission, $50 VIP admission; call 769-257-5467; jackson.chucklescomedyhouse.com.

NAMI Central MS Family Support Group Meeting Nov. 12, 7-8:30 p.m., at St. Dominic Hospital (969 Lakeland Drive). The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Central Mississippi hosts a peer-led family support group for family members, caregivers and loved ones of individuals living with mental illness. The group meets on the second Thursday of each month in the St. Catherine Room at St. Dominic Hospital. Free admission; call 601-899-9058; email centralms@namims.org; find it on Facebook.

• Kountry Wayne Nov. 20-21, 7:30 & 10 p.m., Nov. 22, 7:30 p.m. The comedian known for his sketch comedy videos performs. $32.50 general admission, $55 VIP admission; call 769-2575467; jackson.chucklescomedyhouse.com.

Share Hope Nov. 13, 5-9 p.m., Nov. 14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Nov. 15, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at Highland Village (4500 Interstate 55 N. Frontage Road, Suite 281). The C Spire Foundation sponsors the weekend of events with a focus on shining a light on mental health. The activities begin Friday with Friendsgiving, a ticketed event benefitting CCS. On Saturday, highlights include Shop to Table, a fashion show (tickets required, benefits CCS), a yoga flow, and a book club and community conversation. On Sunday, brunch at Aplos features “Christmas Carol” vignettes, with Ballet Magnificat. Tickets for Friendsgiving and fashion show are available for purchase on the CCS website. Free admission, some activities require ticket purchase; call 601-352-7784; email info@mycanopy.org; find it on Facebook.

Thursday Night Plays, Conversations & Cocktails: “Under the Lantern Lit Sky” Nov. 19, 7 p.m., Virtual. The local professional theater company presents a virtual play reading of Jaclyn Bethany’s play, “Under the Lantern Lit Sky.” Registration required. Limited number of free tickets available on day of event. Tickets holders receive a link to join the event when registering via telephone or online. $5, $10 or $25 suggested donation, limited free tickets; call 601-948-3533; newstagetheatre.com.

CONCERTS & FESTIVALS Events at Iron Horse Grill (320 W. Pearl St.) • Chuck Bryan Nov. 12, 6 p.m. The musician performs. Admission TBA; call 601-398-0151; theironhorsegrill.com.

• Scott Albert Johnson Nov. 13, 7 p.m. The local musician performs. Admission TBA; call 601-398-0151; theironhorsegrill.com.

Lightnin’ Malcolm Nov. 13, 9 p.m., at Martin’s Downtown (214 S. State St.). The Mississippibased bluesman performs. Doors open at 8 p.m. Ages 18 and up. Admission TBA; call 601-354-9712; find it on Facebook.

Cathead Vodka Presents: Invasion of the 251 Nov. 14, 7 p.m., at Duling Hall (622 Duling Ave.). The local vodka distillery presents the live music event featuring performances by Abe Partridge, Red and the Revelers, and The Red Clay Strays. Doors open at 6 p.m. Guests have the option of purchasing tickets for a two- or fourtop table, for the use of their party only, for the entirety of the show. Face coverings are required any time guests are not seated at their table.

Guests are required to pass a temperature check before entry into the venue. Duling Hall reserves the right to ask any guest not observing the stated COVID-19 guidelines to leave without refund. $25 general admission, food and drink prices vary; call 601-292-7121; email emily@ ardenland.net; dulinghall.ticketfly.com.

Luckenbach at Butterfly Hill Nov. 14, 6:309:30 p.m., at Butterfly Hill (480 Sharon Road, Canton). The Willie Nelson tribute band performs at the Canton venue. Ticket price includes soft drinks, tea and set-ups. Two Rivers provides food for purchase. Beer available for purchase, all other alcohol or beverages are BYO. No coolers allowed. Tickets sold at gate. Cash only. $20 general admission, food and drink prices vary; call 601-859-9999; find it on Facebook.

BRAVO II – Four Seasons Reimagined Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m., at Thalia Mara Hall (255 E. Pascagoula St.). Mississippi’s predominant performing arts ensemble presents Vivaldi’s all-strings classic as newly conceived through the vision of contemporary composer Max Richter. Advance ticket purchase required; no at-door sales or will call. Seating and hall entrance assigned on first-come, first-served basis. Ticket, mask and temperature check required at door. No intermis-

IBD Support Group Meeting Nov. 17, 6-7 p.m., at GI Associates & Endoscopy Center (2510 Lakeland Drive, Flowood). The group meets monthly to offer support to one another and raise awareness of inflammatory bowel disease in the Jackson area. Free meeting; email jacksonibdgroup@gmail.com; find it on Facebook.

Dress for Success Metro Jackson Turkey Virtual 5K Run/Walk Nov. 21, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., at Dress for Success Metro Jackson (350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave., Suite 3410). The organization working to empower women to achieve economic independence presents the virtual 5k run/walk and 1-mile fun run. All proceeds from the event go to providing DFSMJ clients with a network of support, professional attire, and career development tools to help them thrive in work and in life.

Prizes given for best male and female 5k time. $30 5k run/walk, $20 fun run, $10 PWG/RJT member, $375 team sponsorship; call 601-364-1722; email vmason3@comcast.net; Eventbrite.

Drive-thru Food Pantry Nov. 21, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., at G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center (1500 E. Woodrow Wilson Ave.). The VA hospital hosts a drive-through food pantry for eligible veterans at the west entrance. The food pantry serves veterans enrolled in health care at the VA Medical Center in Jackson who meet the Mississippi SNAP guidelines. Participants are asked to remain in their vehicles. Staff and volunteers verify eligibility and load food into vehicles.

Free to eligible veterans; call 601-209-1043. sion or concessions. $20 general admission; call 601-960-1565; email rroberts@msorchestra.com; thaliamarahall.net.

2020 John Alexander Vocal Competition Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m., Virtual. The opera company presents the livestreamed performance featuring the winners of the John Alexander National Vocal Competition. The concert features the first-, second- and third-place winners in both the Student Artist and Young Professional categories of the vocal competition. Donations encouraged.

Free online event, donations encouraged; call 601-960-2300; operams.org.

LITERARY “The Vapors” Book Discussion Nov. 12, 6 p.m., Facebook Live. Author David Hill discusses his book, “The Vapors,” with John Evans.

Free book discussion, $28 signed, hardback book; call 601-366-7619; lemuriabooks.com.

“Pappyland” Book Discussion Nov. 17, 6 p.m., Facebook Live. Author Wright Thompson discusses his book, “Pappyland,” with Ray Mabus.

Free book discussion, $27 signed, first-edition book; call 601-366-7619; lemuriabooks.com.

ARTS & EXHIBITS Creative Healing Studio Nov. 11, Nov. 18, Nov. 25, 12:30-2 p.m., Zoom. Licensed art therapist Susan Anand leads the weekly art therapy gathering for adults being treated for cancer or with a cancer diagnosis in their past. In order to participate in the class on Wednesday, participants should register by Tuesday at noon. Free event; call 601-960-1515; msmuseumart.org.

Events at Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St.) • Art on Film | Degas: Passion for Perfection

Nov. 13, 7 p.m. The art museum presents the film examining the art and stories of Edgar Degas. The film is screened in the Art Garden at sunset, following a brief introductory conversation and Q&A. Participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. Reservations for socially distant grass or table areas are available. Food trucks and a cash bar available. Free admission, food and drink vendor prices vary; call 601-965-9912; email mdrake@msmuseum.org; msmuseumart.org.

• Curator Tour | Leonardo Drew: City in the Grass Nov. 14, 1 p.m. Chief curator Ryan Dennis leads guests on a tour of the interactive installation. Free admission; call 601-9601515; email ywilliams@msmuseumart.org.

Art in Mind Nov. 18, 10:30 a.m., Zoom.

Licensed art therapist Susan Anand leads the program offered to individuals experiencing memory loss or mild cognitive impairment. In response to COVID-19, the group meets via Zoom, and participants can stimulate observation, recall and recognition at home with basic supplies. Free online event; call 601-4962; email mindclinic@ umc.edu; msmuseumart.org.

CREATIVE CLASSES En Plein Air Workshop Nov. 14, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Nov. 15, 1-4 p.m., at Mississippi Museum of Art (380 S. Lamar St.). Artist Jerrod Partridge leads the two-day intermediate workshop inspired by artwork in “Van Gogh, Monet, Degas and Their Times.” Participants view examples of plein air art by the impressionist masters, then have a guided painting session in the Art Garden. Ages 16 and older. In consideration of COVID-19, participants may bring their own supplies, if they choose. Free admission, registration required; call 601-960-1515; msmuseumart.org.

Events at New Stage Theatre (1100 Carlisle St.) • Art of the Audition for Theatre Nov. 16, Nov. 23, 5:30-7 p.m. Francine Reynolds leads the four-week class training actors in proper audition technique. The class offers tips for textual analysis and clarifying specifics when making authentic acting choices. Participants work with prepared and cold reading material, discuss emotionally and intellectually taking charge of the audition, and learn to maximize chances of landing the role. Participants bring prepared 60 second memorized monologue to first session. All skill levels. Ages 18 and up. $100 fee (covers four-week class); call 601-9483533 ext. 245; email sfrost@newstagetheatre. com; newstagetheatre.com.

• Playwriting for Adults with Joseph Frost Nov. 16, Nov. 23, 7-8:30 p.m. Joe Frost leads the six-week workshop designed to help writers of every level navigate the process of generating and developing new play ideas through in-class exercises in structure and dialogue, sharing newly created short scripts, navigating feedback, and polishing through rewrites. Ages 18 and up. $150 fee for six-week class; call 601-948-3533 ext. 245; email sfrost@newstagetheatre.com; newstagetheatre.com.

• Build Your Book: Musical Theatre 101 for Adults Nov. 17, 5:30-7 p.m. Carol Joy Sparkman leads the four-week musical theater workshop focused on building repertoire, audition skills and vocal technique. Participants learn to select songs that highlight their range, tone and vocal quality, allowing them to fully showcase their talent in any audition. Participants submit a video recording for instructor response and bring a prepared song on the first day of class. Ages 18 and up. All skill levels welcomed. $100 fee for four-week workshop; call 601948-3533 ext. 245; newstagetheatre.com.

Beginner Dulcimer Ensemble Nov. 19, 1-2 p.m., at Brandon Senior Center (1000 Municipal Drive, Brandon). The Brandon Senior Center offers the opportunity for its patrons to learn to play a new instrument. No musical experience required. Loaner instruments available. Free event; call 601-824-7095; email apryor@brandonms.org; find it on Facebook.

PROFESSIONAL & BIZ Alzheimer’s Conference Nov. 9-12, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Virtual. The organization supporting advancement in the care and treatment of Alzheimer’s patients offers the free virtual conference for all who are caring for someone with dementia. Topics include COVID-19, self-care, research, brain health, grief and more. Continuing Education credits are available for social workers, nursing home administrators, activity professionals, PTs and PTAs. Free online event; call 601-826-7139; email kridavis@alz.org.

Tulip Tuesday at 10 a.m. Nov. 17, 10 a.m.-noon, Zoom. The Flower Growers of Mississippi invite fellow gardeners to a webinar every other Tuesday with the goal of educating Mississippi growers in growing cut flowers for business-to-business or business-to-consumer sales. Experience in commercial flower growing not necessary. Free registration; call 601-672-0755; email dyowell@ aol.com; find it on Facebook.

November 11 - 24, 2020 • jfp.ms

EVENTS Looking for something great to do in Jackson?

Check jfpevents.com for updates and more listings, or to add your own events online. You can also email event details to events@ jacksonfreepress.com to be added to the calendar. The deadline is noon the Wednesday prior to the week of publication. 21

ARTS

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We Shallâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? Encourages Mississippians to Unify at the Polls

by Torsheta Jackson

A

COURTESY SABRINA HOWARD

rtist Sabrina Howard stands proudly by a brightly cally Black college or university including Tougaloo Col- youth of those historically black colleges coming together painted mural. Her thoughts turn to her father lege, Jackson State University, Alcorn State University, Rust and lifting their voices to stand for voting rights.â&#x20AC;?

A joint venture between the Greater Jackson Arts who often told her stories of how he faced numer- College, Mississippi Valley State University, and Grambling Council, Visit Jackson and the Human Rights ous practices and tests designed to keep Campaign commissioned the artwork from six him from registering to vote. local artists. The series, titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;#ArtofVoting,â&#x20AC;? feaâ&#x20AC;&#x153;His fight continued, and once registered, he tures six murals whichâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;as described on organizer never missed an election or voting opportunity,â&#x20AC;?

Eli Childersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Instagram pageâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;are designed to â&#x20AC;&#x153;enshe says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My father has always made voting a pricourage, remind, and celebrate the act of making ority and stressed the importance of it.â&#x20AC;? your voice heard at the ballot box.â&#x20AC;?

Her latest mural â&#x20AC;&#x153;We Shallâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? honors HowHoward believes that the piece speaks to colardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father and the many others whose determinalege-age voters on a deeper level. tion helped change the voting landscape. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I hope that this piece reaches the students to The piece features seven men and women of show that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not about where you are or what colcolor with the interlocked arms commonly seen lege you attend. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not a competitive thing,â&#x20AC;? she during the Civil Rights Movement. says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Voting is a unifier. We have the opportunity Their mouths are open in song, and the words to lift our voices through those ballots.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We shall VOTEâ&#x20AC;? appear against the bright yellow Howardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mural was installed at Alcorn State background. The spiritual song â&#x20AC;&#x153;We Shall OverUniversity just days before the November 2020 come,â&#x20AC;? often sung during civil-rights protests in election. The other five murals are installed at Mississippi and other southern states, inspired both Sabrina Howard poses with her â&#x20AC;&#x153;We Shallâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? mural, which is one of six murals included in the local â&#x20AC;&#x153;#ArtofVotingâ&#x20AC;? series.

Tougaloo College, Jackson State University, the the text and imagery displayed in the artwork.

Jackson Medical Mall, Methodist Rehabilitation â&#x20AC;&#x153;I replaced the word â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;overcomeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; with â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;voteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Center and the Mississippi Arts Center. In January, the six because in a way, as is happening now, because of people State University across the state. voting there are situations and elections that are going to be â&#x20AC;&#x153;During the Civil Rights Movement, there were a lot murals will be installed in a group display in the metro beovercome by an overwhelming voice,â&#x20AC;? Howard says. of young college students that were heading up the marches fore being placed in their respective permanent locations.

Learn more about Howardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s art at sabrinahoward.com.

The figures each wear a shirt representing a histori- and participating,â&#x20AC;? Howard says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;(The mural) shows the

try Jo Ann Robinson in Eudora Weltyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Short Story

Why I Live at the P.O. November 11 - 24, 2020 â&#x20AC;˘ jfp.ms

November 10-17, 2020

22

Virtual Performances Tickets $25 Tickets to this virtual performance can be charged by phone by calling the theatre at (601) 948-3533 or www.newstagetheatre.com/tickets

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DO-IT-YOURSELF

DIY: Pinecone Gobblers

by Nate Schumann and Hannah Shaw

NATE SCHUMANN AND HANNAH SHAW

â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Materials â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

â&#x20AC;˘ Googly eyes â&#x20AC;˘ Felt (orange, or another fall color) â&#x20AC;˘ Scissors â&#x20AC;˘ Hot glue and a hot-glue gun

â&#x20AC;˘ Pinecones (collected or purchased) â&#x20AC;˘ ArtiďŹ cial feathers, multicolored (either bags of loose feathers or pre-constructed plumes)

----------Directions ----------

1.

Lay your chosen pinecone on a flat surface and turn it until it is stable and balanced. Once you find the most secure position, note that the part touching the ground will serve as your turkeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;belly.â&#x20AC;?

Thus, on the opposite end of the pinecone (the part that should be facing upward), use the hot-glue gun to paste on two googly eyes. Be careful so that when the glue dries, the eyes are both at the same angle so that your crafted critter will appear to be looking straight.

Using the scissors, cut out a portion of felt that you can shape into a beak. The nose could be triangular or more rounded, whatever you or your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creativity decides. Use the hot-glue gun to paste the nose onto the edge of the pinecone, below and between the eyes.

With the loose feathers, arrange them in a fanning shape until you have the plume you desire. I love alternating between

2.

O

ne benefit of living in the Pine Belt is that we have an abundance of pine trees in Mississippi that grace us with dozens of pinecones as we enter the autumn season. Instead of simply collecting and bagging the pinecones, though, try using some of these fallen blessings to have a little family fun through crafting. Being creative together can leave lasting memories, and materials for this particular Thanksgiving-themed DIY are fairly cheap to procure from your favorite local arts and crafting store.

3.

4.

fall colors, but feel free to follow your own path here. Use the hot-glue gun to cement the feathers together where their bases are touching. Be careful not to jostle the feathers too muchâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want them to change directions and ruin the fan.

Once the glue connecting the feathers into a plume dries, take the plume and hot-glue it to the back of the pinecone, which should be flat enough to accommodate the plume.

Alternatively, if you bought a preconstructed plume, use the scissors to cut off any extra wire (some plumes come with a wire â&#x20AC;&#x153;stemâ&#x20AC;?) so that hot-gluing the plume to the back of the pinecone is easier.

Once the glue is dry and your pinecone gobblers are complete, give them names and find a nice spot in the house or yard for them to nest.

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Last Week’s Answers 44 “Caveat ___” 45 “Ambient 1: Music for Airports” composer 46 “I Am... ___ Fierce” (Beyonce album) 48 “The Prophet” author Kahlil 50 Prefix meaning “egg” 52 Anguish 54 Request at a hair salon, maybe 60 Someone born under the sign Cancer, in astrology 61 Figure out 62 Sister of Charlotte and Emily 63 Snack served at some crossword tournaments 64 Allow to flow freely again 65 Distort 66 Campsite sight 67 Clementine leftovers

BY MATT JONES

53 Beckett no-show 54 “Straight, No Chaser” jazz pianist 55 Top-shelf 56 Aer Lingus land 57 Ye ___ Shoppe 58 NASCAR course shape 59 2020 Milwaukee conventioneers, for short 60 “Live ___” (Taco Bell slogan)

29 Whirlpool Corporation brand 30 Impersonation with two “V” signs and hunched shoulders 33 “Jeopardy!” all-star Mueller 34 Prankish one 35 Word before interested or guilty 36 Like lovestruck eyes 40 Imbibes 43 Words said with a shrug 47 Nice with?

49 Like every era except this one 51 “Turn on the A/C!” complaint 52 “Toy Story 4” co-star

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Down

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Across

1 Author Asimov 6 “Even ___ speak ...”

10 Convulsive sounds 14 Basalt, once 15 2022 World Cup city 16 DuVall of “21 Grams” 17 Thin as ___ 18 Hunting lodge decoration 20 Author whose highly anticipated sequel “The Testaments” comes out in September 22 “Good ___” (show that, despite

online petitions, is not on Netflix) 23 It’s not far from fa 24 Israeli intelligence agency 27 Part of DKNY 31 Maya Hawke’s mom Thurman 32 Rodeo activity 37 “Bohemian Rhapsody” star Malek 38 Highest capacity 39 Emotional ... or how the four theme answers are presented?

41 Candle ingredient that can be made from soybeans 42 “That’s a relief!”

1 Leader at a mosque 2 “She Used to Be Mine” singer Bareilles 3 Petri dish gel 4 “°Three ___!” (1986 comedy) 5 Fried squid 6 Don Draper et al. (with or without an “M”) 7 Smoky chimney deposits 8 Reaction from 1990s-era Keanu 9 Bridge defenders 10 Doctorate pursuer, presumably 11 Muffin topper?

12 Unit of sweat 13 Lamentable 19 Sci-fi character who sings “Yub Nub” 21 Modified 24 Illness with swellings 25 Nebraska city on the Missouri 26 Marching band section 28 Colder and windier

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To convey the spirit of the coming weeks, I’m offering you wisdom from two women who were wise about the art of slow and steady progress. First, here’s author Iris Murdoch: “One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats, and if some of these can be inexpensive and quickly procured so much the better.” Your second piece of insight about the wonders of prudent, piecemeal triumph comes from activist and author Helen Keller: “I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):

Sagittarian statesman Winston Churchill said that he was always ready to learn—even though there were times when he didn’t enjoy being taught. That might be a useful motto for you to adopt in the coming months. By my estimates, 2021 could turn out to bring a rather spectacular learning spurt—and a key boost to your life-long education. If you choose to take advantage of the cosmic potentials, you could make dramatic enhancements to your knowledge and skill set. As Churchill’ s message suggests, not all of your new repertoire will come easily and pleasantly. But I bet that at least 80 percent of it will. Start planning!

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):

In accordance with upcoming astrological indicators, I’ve got some good advice for you courtesy of your fellow Capricorn David Bowie. You’ll be well-served to keep it in mind between now and January 1, 2021. “Go a little bit out of your depth,” counseled Bowie. “And when you don’t feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you’re just about in the right place to do something exciting.” For extra inspiration, I’ll add another prompt from the creator of Ziggy Stardust: “Once you lose that sense of wonder at being alive, you’re pretty much on the way out.” In that spirit, my dear Capricorn, please take measures to expand your sense of wonder during the next six weeks. Make sure you’re on your way in.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):

Most of us aren’t brilliant virtuosos like, say, Leonardo da Vinci or Nobel Prize-winning scientist Marie Curie. On the other hand, every one of us has a singular amalgam of potentials that is unique in the history of the world—an exceptional flair or an idiosyncratic mastery or a distinctive blend of talents. In my astrological opinion, you Aquarians will have unprecedented opportunities to develop and ripen this golden and glorious aspect of yourself in 2021. And now is a good time to begin making plans. I encourage you to launch your year-long Festival of Becoming by writing down a description of your special genius.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):

In 1969, humans flew a spaceship to the moon and landed on it for the first time. In 1970, the state of Alabama finally made it legal for interracial couples to get married. That’s a dramatic example of how we humans may be mature and strong in some ways even as we remain backward and undeveloped in other ways. According to my astrological analysis, the coming months will be a highly favorable time for the immature and unseasoned parts of you to ripen. I encourage you to get started!

ARIES (March 21-April 19):

Back in 1974, poet Allen Ginsberg and his “spirit wife,” Aries poet Anne Waldman, were roommates at the newly established Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. The school’s founder asked these two luminaries to create a poetics program, and thus was born the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics. Waldman described its ruling principle to be the “outrider” tradition, with a mandate to explore all that was iconoclastic, freethinking, and irreverent. The goal of teachers and students alike was to avoid safe and predictable work so as to commune with wild spiritual powers, “keep the energies dancing,” and court eternal surprise. I think that would be a healthy approach for you to flirt with during the next few weeks.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):

Any legal actions you take are more likely to be successful if you initiate them between now and the solstice than if

you’d begin them at other times. The same is true for any contracts you sign or agreements you make: They have a better chance to thrive than they would at other times.

Other activities with more kismet than usual during the coming weeks: efforts to cultivate synergy and symbiosis; attempts to turn power struggles into more cooperative ventures; a push to foster greater equality in hierarchal situations; and ethical moves to get access to and benefit from other people’s resources.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):

Never follow an expert off a precipice. Nor a teacher. Nor an attractive invitation. Nor a symbol of truth nor a vibrant ideal nor a tempting gift. In fact, never follow anything off a precipice, no matter how authoritative or sexy or appealing it might be. On the other hand, if any of those influences are headed in the direction of a beautiful bridge that can enable you to get to the other side of a precipice, you should definitely consider following them. Be on the alert for such lucky opportunities in the coming weeks.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):

Malidoma Patrice Somé was born into the Dagara tribe of Burkina Faso. After being initiated into the Dagara’s spiritual mysteries, he emigrated to America, where he has taught a unique blend of modern and traditional ideas. One of his key themes is the hardship that Westerners’ souls endure because of the destructive impact of the machine world upon the spiritual world. He says there is “an indigenous person within each of us” that longs to cultivate the awareness and understanding enjoyed by indigenous people: a reverence for nature, a vital relationship with ancestors, and a receptivity to learn from the intelligence of animals. How’s your inner indigenous person doing? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to enhance your ability to commune with and nurture that vital source.

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Psychologists have identified a quality they call NFD: “need for drama.” Those who possess it may be inclined to seek or even instigate turmoil out of a quest for excitement. After all, bringing a dose of chaos into one’s life can cure feelings of boredom or powerlessness. “I’m important enough to rouse a Big Mess!” may be the subconscious battle cry. I’ll urge you Leos to studiously and diligently avoid fostering NFD in the coming weeks. In my astrological opinion, you will have a blessed series of interesting experiences if and only if you shed any attraction you might have to histrionic craziness.

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VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):

“Give up the notion that you must be sure of what you are doing,” wrote philosopher Baruch Spinoza. “Instead, surrender to what is real within you, for that alone is sure.” Spinoza’s thoughts will be a great meditation for you in the coming weeks. If you go chasing phantom hopes, longing for absolute certainty and iron confidence, you’ll waste your energy. But if you identify what is most genuine and true and essential about you, and you rely on it to guide you, you can’t possibly fail.

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“A little bad taste is like a nice splash of paprika,” said Libran fashion writer Diana Vreeland. “We all need a splash of bad taste,” she continued. “It’s hearty, it’s healthy, it’s physical.

I think we could use more of it. Having no taste is what I’m against.” I understand that her perspective might be hard to sell to you refined Librans. But I think it’s good advice right now. Whatever’s lacking in your world, whatever might be off-kilter, can be cured by a dash of good, funky earthiness.

Dare to be a bit messy and unruly.

Homework: Name something you feel like begging for. Then visualize in great detail that this something is already yours. Report results to FreeWillAstrology.com

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SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):

25

jfp SpOTLIGHT

5 Things To Know

about

Dustin Cardon

JFP StaFF

1

I was originally born in Gretna, La., and was only 5 when my family moved to Atoka, Tenn. We moved to Horn Lake, Miss., while I was in middle school and stayed there until my freshman year of high school, when we moved to Brandon, Miss., where I’ve lived ever since. I spent two years at Hinds Community College in Pearl before enrolling at the University of Southern Mississippi, where I received a bachelor’s degree in English in 2010.

For the first year or so after graduating from college I was searching around for a good job to make use of my degree. I caught a lucky break when Donna Ladd went to an orthodontist appointment at an office where my mother was working at the time.

My mother learned that Donna was a newspaper editor and told her about me and my job hunt while they had her lying on the chair getting ready to start. Soon, Donna reached out to me and offered me a position as an intern for the Jackson Free Press, which I accepted. Since then, I have grown into my current position of web editor.

I’m primarily responsible for managing the Jackson Free Press’ main website and posting all our content, from stories to photo galleries or landing pages. I also

2

3 Write stories that matter

Web Editor put together and ship out our daily newsletter each day, write our weekly Biz and Higher Ed roundups, and interview one person a week for our Person of the Day feature. On top of that, I’m responsible for posting content for our BOOM! Jackson website.

My biggest hobby is video games, as I have owned just about every recent console at some point. Fantasy and RPGs have long been my favorite genre, which I heavily attribute to getting obsessed with “Lord of the Rings” and “Harry Potter” during high school.

I’ve also been a huge anime fan since middle school and was even vice president of the USM Anime Club while I was there.

Back in 2015, Donna assigned me my first-ever cover story for the JFP, which came as a surprise. Even more surprising was the subject, a jiu-jitsu program at Wingfield High School in Jackson. I ended up spending hours at a time at Wingfield talking to the Thrashers and the students and learning more about jiu-jitsu than I ever thought I would.

Humorously, after that story came out, I had martial-arts studios all over the Jackson metro contacting me for months afterward, wanting me to feature them. Somehow, I ended up becoming “The Jiu-jitsu Guy” at the JFP for some time after that.

4 5

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