Jackson Free Press Volume 19 Issue 18

JAC K S O N

VOL 19 NO. 18 // AUGUST 4 - 31, 2021 // SUBSCRIBE FREE FOR BREAKING NEWS AT JFPDAILY.COM

FREE PRESS MAGAZINE Jackpedia: Newcomers, Meet Our City pp 18-20, 30

The Youngest Freedom Rider, Arrested at 13 Crown, pp 6-8

Vaccinations, Mississippians and the ‘Us’ Problem Smith, p 4

college FOOTBALL PREVIEW Flynn, pp 12-17

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CELEBRATING 18 YEARS OF THE JFP

REPORTING TRUTH TO POWER IN MISSISSIPPI SINCE 2002

MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Requirements Are you an early childhood educator who wants to help children get the best possible start in school and life? Hinds County Human Resource Agency has exciting career opportunities for teachers to provide a quality education to children in a safe, nurturing, fun and engaging environment.

Youmust have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field and pass all background checks.

Become a Head Start TEACHER!

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Why Head Start?

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•Small classsizes •Every classroom has a teacher assistant •Strong parent participation •Excellent insurance benefits •Opportunities to gain certifications •Reimbursement for college courses and advanced degrees •Competitive pay

Teachers Are Also Family Teacherstake part in sit-down family-style meals with their students. During mealtime, they discuss the foods they eat and talk about the events of the day to encourage the development of social and emotional skills.

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JACKSONIAN

contents

of the month

August 4 - 31, 2021 Vol. 19 No. 18

Cameron Yarber

ON THE COVER Composite of a Fondren mural and Matt Corral, UM football player Mural photo by Acacia Clark Matt Corral photo courtesy UM Athletics

4 editor’s Note 6 Talks

8 Policing Surge Gov. Tate Reeves saturates Jackson with state police.

Will it reduce violence?

courtesy Cameron Yarber

10 Opinion 12 football preview 18 arts 20 secret jxn 20 literature

a long-standing rule he believed to be unfair.

“I ran for ninth-grade president because I didn’t like some of the rules that they put on the ninth graders,” Yarber says. “The class president title was a way to get in with the administrators to bring about change.”

At Callaway, freshman students couldn’t talk to each other during lunch. Yarber and some of his classmates negotiated with their principal and succeeded in removing the statute.

“We held up our end of the bargain, and they held up their end of the bargain,” Yarber says.

Although his leadership roles allowed him to implement changes he and the students he represented wanted to see, Yarber’s favorite part of serving as class president, he says, were the connections he made along the way.

“Callaway was like a culture pot,” Yarber says. “You had people from all over, and I was a kid that wasn’t from the Callaway area, so by becoming class president I could lead these people and get to really know them on a personal level.”

Moving forward, Yarber aims to pursue a career in either finance or pharmacy and plans to return to Jackson and help his community. He has enrolled at Alcorn State University, where he will work toward a bachelor’s degree in business administration or biochemistry.

—Olivia Mars

The Old School Hip Hop Concert raises awareness on HIV and AIDS and encourages vaccinations.

23 best bets 24 food

25 Black Business Expo The Mississippi Black Pages holds its annual expo showcasing more than 200 Black-owned businesses from Mississippi.

28 28 29 29

Puzzle Sorensen astro Classifieds

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A

t 18 years old, Jackson native Cameron Yarber has held more leadership roles than many who are years older.

He served as class president during his first three years at Callaway High School; earned the Mr. Callaway title during his senior year: spent three years leading the football team as its captain and playing linebacker and defensive end; and graduated as valedictorian of his graduating class in May.

“There’s a whole lot of pressure, and pressure can bust pipes, but sometimes pressure makes diamonds,” Yarber says.

While balancing his multiple positions may not have been easy, Yarber says, the recent graduate credits his accomplishments to his commitment to remain present in whatever moment he found himself.

“I made sure that when I was doing something for an organization, I was all-in at that moment for that organization,” Yarber says. “I did everything one step at a time.”

While sitting in math class or conducting duties in his role as Mr. Callaway, Yarber did not let his mind wander to thoughts of football, for example. Instead, he dedicated his time and efforts into tackling each of his activities head-on.

“You have to have good leadership skills and be able to lead by example as Mr. Callaway,” Yarber says.

Taking his role as class president seriously from the beginning, Yarber worked during his freshman year to enact change regarding

22 #StandAgainstHate

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editor’s note

Mississippians, Take Care of One Another: Don’t Feed the ‘Virus-Animal’

t’s hard to believe that summer vacation is nearly over. Schools all over the Jackson area will be opening their doors and welcoming their students back in the next couple of weeks. For the kids, teachers, administrators, and others whose days revolve around schools, lessons, homework and such, it’s time to squeeze the last bits of fun and/or leisure out of summer break and start gearing up for the new school year.

After the strangeness of the last school year—not to mention the one before that, which ended unexpectedly early for many—I think most everyone is hoping for some normalcy. With the delta variant gaining ground around us, though, it remains to be seen how that’s going to play out. Normalcy may still be quite a way in the future.

It doesn’t have to be that way, though. We have the means to end this

August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

Normalcy may still be quite a way in the future.

4

pandemic that has taken so many from us and, for those of us fortunate enough to simply be inconvenienced, been such a previously unimaginable disruption to our lives. We’ve been blessed to receive an effective vaccine in a remarkably short amount of time.

Outbreaks of disease have ravaged civilizations since civilizations have existed. In all of those outbreaks throughout history, people have died, and other people have been left behind to mourn them, because there was no other option. They were helpless and at the mercy of the disease. We, on the other hand, have been given the means to put this pandemic behind us and get on with our lives, and yet many people, for one reason or another, won’t take it.

I’ve lived in Mississippi my whole life—well, except for a few years in Texas when I was in seminary. All the people whom I have loved and looked up to, and who shaped me into the person I am, were life-long Mississippians. So, I know something about Mississippians, and they are not, generally speaking, selfish people.

Mississippians are people who care about their neighbors and take care of one another. They bring casseroles and show up for funerals. After a tornado or hurricane, they work together to cut up downed trees and make sure everyone has a roof over their head. They share vegetables from their gardens. They ask how your mama’s doing and actually care about the answer.

So, it didn’t make sense to me that they would let their neighbors suffer— and contribute to the problem even— rather than help put a stop to it. Then it occurred to me: they must not know.

I think that too many people don’t realize that it’s not about you or me, but us. I don’t think it’s been explained often enough in a way that people understand how much of an “us” thing it really is.

Someone explained it to me this way, and it made me think, “Why haven’t they been telling us this?” Maybe it will make as much sense to someone reading this as it did to me.

Let’s think of the virus as an animal.

It’s not a perfect analogy. Viruses aren’t animals. In fact, there’s debate about whether they qualify as being alive. And they don’t literally feed on their host, but they do require a host to survive, and they use the cells of that host to multiply. So, as I said, the analogy isn’t perfect, but it helps me to get my brain around the idea.

This virus-animal is out there among us, attacking everyone it encounters. It doesn’t attack people because it’s a horrible, evil animal. It attacks to survive. It has to eat, or it will die. So, it finds an unprotected person, attacks, feeds off them, and then what? It multiplies. Now there are two animals, and

photo by elaine casap on unsplash

I

by Shaye Smith, Editorial Assistant

Editorial Assistant Shaye Smith views Mississippians as generous people who care about their neighbors and take care of one another. As such, she encourages residents to receive their COVID vaccines to reduce chances of viral mutation and a prolonged pandemic—a way to stop the “virus-animal,” she writes.

they go off to find two more people to attack. They feed, and multiply, and go on to find four more people. And so forth, and so on, doubling in number every time. (I should probably point out here that I’m only saying “doubling” for the sake of the illustration. In reality, the Delta variant of this virus is thought to spread, on average, to five to eight people from each infected person. That changes the math pretty drastically.)

Now, if the animal attacks a person

contributors

Acacia Clark

Olivia Mars

Kayode Crown

Freelance photographer Acacia Clark picked up the photography gene from her father. When the camera is down she enjoys anything involving the arts, playing the cello and piano, volunteering with the deaf, cooking, and her family and friends. She took photos for the issue.

Olivia Mars is an avid runner who also never lets a day go by without dessert.

She lives in Jackson surrounded by her many plants that bring her much joy.

She wrote the Jacksonian feature.

City Reporter Kayode Crown 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 about Freedom Riders in Jackson.

who is protected, his attack is not as successful. The protected person’s immune system fights him off, he doesn’t eat, and he dies. He doesn’t multiply. He doesn’t go on to attack two more people. Even if he does manage to get his claws into a protected person—no form of protection is 100% effective­—it’s a weakened attack.

The protected person is armed, puts up a fight, and in all likelihood will be able to defeat him. He won’t get a full meal, and he’ll be far less likely to multiply and move on. So, the animal will still likely die.

The more people who are protected, the fewer opportunities the animal has to feed and multiply, and the more he dies.

(I told you it wasn’t a perfect analogy.)

Eventually, if we don’t offer him any significant food source, we can starve him out. That’s when this thing will be over, and we can get back to normal.

This is the important, love-yourneighbor part, though: Every unvaccinated person offers the hungry virusanimal a chance to feed, and to multiply and to attack your neighbors. Most of those neighbors will survive, but some won’t. I don’t believe Mississippians— not the kind I know and love, anyway— are people who can live with that.

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news,

storytelling & re, ir tu

cu l

TALK JXN

“Libraries, parks, rec centers, pools, free internet— those are all crime prevention activities and resources,”

@jxnfreepress

—Dr. Caterina Roman urging crime prevention solutions that have little to do with flashing blue lights.

@jacksonfreepress

@jxnfreepress

60th Anniversary of the Freedom Rides:

ce eren rev

The ‘Accidental Freedom Rider’ Locked up in Parchman at 13

by Kayode Crown Kayode Crown

H

August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

ezekiah Watkins was looking for a hero. As a 13-year-old middle schooler in 1961 in Jackson who had lost his father three years earlier, he thought that seeing and possibly touching a Freedom Rider would fulfill him.

U.S. Supreme Court rulings in 1949 and 1960 that racial segregation in interstate buses and route facilities was unconstitutional emboldened young Freedom Riders. In the summer of 1961, the mixedrace Riders braved severe beatings, imprisonment, maiming, and death from white mobs, supremacists, the Ku Klux Klan, and the government. They rode on interstate buses, trains and planes into southern states—Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana—stopping at various spots to integrate facilities and face arrest.

More than 400 Freedom Riders made the trip south, beginning on May 4, 1961. Twenty days later, they started a journey to Jackson, Miss. By the end of the summer, 328 ended in Mississippi’s Parchman Prison after police arrested them for “breach of peace” for moving into the segregated waiting areas of the bus stations.

On Saturday, July 10, Watkins, now 73 years old and a guide at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, met the Jackson Free Press inside the museum to talk about how he was arrested at such a young age.

6

How It Started

“My journey started on July 7, 1961, which was 60 years ago, I think Wednesday of this week, here in Jackson at the Greyhound Bus Station (at 239 N. Lamar St.),” Watkins said.

Before then, he had heard of the Freedom Riders, but he met a brick wall when he asked his teacher, mother and pastor about them. None of them wanted to say anything about it to the 13-year-old.

“I was interested in the Freedom Riders based on what I saw (happen) in Alabama on TV, and it became interesting to me seeing Blacks and whites work together, being beaten, all these types of

Hezekiah Watkins, now 73, landed in Parchman Prison in Mississippi at age 13 after trying to meet the Freedom Riders.

inhumane things happening to them, and it just caught my attention,” Watkins said.

He and his friend checked the local news every day to keep up with the Freedom Riders and Alabama. “They eventually became our heroes and sheroes,” Watkins said. He did not name the friend.

“We thought they were just fighting against the police officers; we didn’t know

their mission,” Watkins explained.

The Riders met violence as they reached the Deep South, with white mobs firebombing a bus in Anniston, Ala., beating Riders in Birmingham, attacking in Montgomery as police did nothing. Federal marshals were called in.

Watkins’ friend later informed him about a Freedom Riders’ meeting on July

7, 1961 at the Masonic Temple on Lynch Street. When they got there on their bicycles, the event was almost over.

“But the announcer was asking if there was anyone here who would like to join forces with the Freedom Riders? ‘If so, meet us at the Greyhound Bus Station,’” Watkins said as he related the story. “So I looked at my friend, my friend looked at me,

Back-to-School Extravaganzas Galore

In preparation of the new school year, groups and businesses in the Jackson area have organized an array of back-to-school events targeted toward parents and students alike. Here is a sampling. We advise calling to confirm due to Covid spikes.

Back 2 School Bulldog Bash (Aug. 5):

The City of Brandon holds a community pep-rally featuring games, cheerleaders, a dance team, a drumline, local businesses and more.

Back to School Luau (Aug. 6):

The Mississippi Children’s Museum hosts a kids’ party with hula skirts, leis, Kona Ice, a live DJ, activities and more.

Hometown Back to School Market (Aug. 6-7):

The Vault Venue hosts a market of vendors selling clothes and accessories.

WFBC Back 2 School Bash (Aug. 7):

Wright’s Foundation for Better Communities offers free backpacks, live music, food, haircuts and hair stylings for children, games, activities and more while supplies last. Event held at 1831 Robinson St.

Back to School Health Fair (Aug. 7):

The City of Flowood offers free health screenings for children at its annual fair, which also includes an obstacle course, a photo booth, school-supply giveaways and more.

St. Andrew’s Summer Bash 2021 (Aug. 8):

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral holds a “Blessing of the Backpacks” during its morning service and then holds a fellowship event with food and games. A nursery will be available.

Back to School Giveaway (Aug. 8-25):

Queens of MS Business Consultants gives away school supplies to those in need while they last.

FFWBC Back 2 School Bash (Aug. 14):

First Free Will Baptist Church of Pearl presents its second-annual event, which includes inflatables, food and drink, facepainting and more.

freedom rides

‘Confined Creature’ at Age 19

Jackson resident Frederick Douglas Moore Clark Sr. was 19 at the time of his

Hezekiah Watkins’ mugshot

arrest in 1961 at Tri-State Trailways Station on West Capitol Street soon after Watkins’ arrest. He would eventually spend more than 40 days in Parchman. Clark told the Jackson Free Press of his experience on June 19, 2021, at a Black Voters Matter event at Tougaloo College.

Clark went to Georgia, where the Southern Christian Leadership Conference trained him in their non-violence principles in 1958: “I was indoctrinated in understanding the philosophy of direct action and peaceful, peaceful demonstration as Martin Luther King Jr. practiced.

Civil rights icons James Bevel and Diane Nash later sought him to desegregate the bus stations’ waiting rooms. He took 10 people with him to the Trailways station. He said those younger than 18 in his group did not go to prison.

“I had just turned 19. I went to prison, and we were placed on death row,” he said. “We stayed on death row for approximately 40 days where they tried to kill us—they cut our food in half, and they put out cold air on us at night.”

“The only things we had were Salvation Army shorts and shirts and noth-

ing else,” he added. “They took all of our sheets and pillowcase, mattress and everything we had in our cell.”

Clark related how correctional officers beat them with sticks and locked 38 of them in a 6-feet-by-8-feet steel vault, where they could hardly breathe with the only ventilation coming from under the vault’s door. “So I called on the guards for four or five hours and got us out,” he said.

The others did not like that he cried for help because they were “not supposed to give in. I was breathing on the crack under the door, and I was able to call those people to get us out of there,” he said.

“We had to say, ‘yes sir’ to get out of there,” Clark added.

After getting out of jail, he could barely walk and suffered health problems.

“When I got out, it took me two months to be able to walk the streets because we hadn’t been walking; we were just confined creatures,” he stated. “All of us got pneumonia. I had double pneumonia, both lungs.”

“I was glad to get out, very glad to get out,” Clark added.

How Watkins Got Out

Watkins said he was at the prison for five days, which he felt was as long as five months. “And here I am in the midst of these two (he paused)—am just going to say two brothers—who gave me the blues at 13 things that I had to go through being in jail with them,” he said, sighing heavily.

Watkins remembers Gov. Barnett, who died in 1987: “Ross Barnett was the most racist person, in my opinion.”

“He hated all Blacks. And he hated poor whites. I can recall him being on television or radio uttering these words: ‘If you are white and you’re poor, ain’t got nothing for you because that’s your fault. And if you’re Black, I surely don’t have nothing for you,’” Watkins said.

“And during the sixties, Parchman prison was the worst prison in these United States,” he added. “It was still being run as a slave camp; you were working, people were being beaten. All of these things are still happening. I’m told that the governor wanted to send a message to the Freedom Riders, and that message was, ‘if you come to Mississippi, this is the type of treatment you’re going to get.’”

Watkins believed Barnett asked for him to be released after President John F. Kennedy called him. “I’m told that the governor made a call to the prison for my release, and I was released and brought back to Jackson,” he said. “They called my mother to come pick me up.”

Before then, his mother thought her young son was dead, having not seen him

for days after spending much effort to search for him. “I’m told that when she received a call from the Jackson Police Department … she thought she was going to identify my remains.”

When his mother came into the jail, Watkins, with bruises, was in handcuffs standing against the wall at the back of the room. She jumped over desks and chairs in Fa flash and hugged him tightly.

“And since I couldn’t do anything because I’m handcuffed behind my back, we fell to the floor, and we both were crying and just enjoying each other.”

One day, after school later that year in September, Bevel sought out Watkins.

Under his tutelage, Watkins participated in various protests for the next six years, starting with picketing the A&P Grocery Store in west Jackson and forcing the manager to employ Black people. He went to various counties for such civil rights work and was beaten, jailed and shot.

“I was the youngest person arrested at 13, and I had the most arrests at 109, so they say. To be honest with you, it could Kayode Crown

Then They Were Arrested

The teenagers went back to the bus station, and Watkins’ friend pushed him inside. They started laughing until a police officer grabbed Watkins on the shoulder.

“Why are you in here?” the officer asked Watkins.

“My friend out there pushed me in here,” he replied politely.

“What friend?” the officer asked.

“He’s out there,” Watkins replied.

The officer grabbed Watkins by the wrist and led him outside the bus station, and asked, “where?” Watkins looked left and right, but he could not find the friend, though the two bicycles were still there.

His friend had run back home.

At the bus station, the officer asked Watkins his name and place of birth.

“It just so happened that my birthplace was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,” Watkins told the Jackson Free Press. His father left for Wisconsin shortly before his birth; his mother returned with him after he died to be with her relations in Jackson.

Watkins tried to explain that he lived in Jackson. “He told me to shut up,” Watkins said. “At 13 years old, I was arrested and taken to Parchman prison and put on death row. Not only was I on death row, but I was put in a cell with two other inmates; those inmates had been tried for murder. They had been convicted, and

they had been sentenced to die.”

Ross Barnett, the Mississippi governor in 1961, thought sending the Freedom Riders to Parchman would stop the movement, but it did not work.

Kayode Crown

and we both just nodded.”

The boys wanted to see what a Freedom Rider looks like, talked like, dressed like. “And if we’ve got an opportunity to reach out and touch one, man, you know, that’s glory,” Watkins said.

But they found downtown deserted.

State authorities had already arrested the Riders and sent them to Parchman.

Two teenagers started goofing around at the bus station. “Being Black and you’re downtown, you don’t get a chance to enjoy downtown,” Watkins explained about the segregated capital city then. “You don’t get a chance to walk the sidewalk because if you walk on the sidewalk and a white person comes along, you have to step into the street. We didn’t have to do that because no one was down there,” Watkins said.

“So we—being 13-year-old kids— were really enjoying ourselves. There was a water fountain that read ‘White, Colored.’ We had never drunk from the ‘white’ fountain. We’ve been told that the water from the ‘white’ fountain was much colder, kind of had a better taste to it, and it was somewhat sweeter, and it reminded you of Kool-Aid.” They had their fill of the white-only water fountain and played with the water with no one around.

Freedom Rider Frederick Douglas Moore Clark Sr. ended up at Parchman Prison, where he spent over 40 days in 1961.

have been 110, maybe 99, I don’t know.”

“It was a good run. I’m 73 as we speak.

Ask me, could I do it again? The answer is yes. I can do everything except Parchman prison. Never, ever want to go there again. I wouldn’t wish that on my greatest enemy.”

Email story tips to city/county reporter Kayode Crown at kayode@jacksonfreepress. com. You can also follow him on Twitter at @ kayodecrown.

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TALK JXN

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TALK JXN

POLICING

Governor’s Policing Surge In Jackson May Not Prevent Violence, Address Causes

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August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

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Causes of Crime in Jackson The mayor and many others, including crime-prevention experts, say problems, or “precursors,” that lead to crime must be addressed at a root level for real change to occur, rather than policing surges to react to problematic symptoms that result when deep causes are left unaddressed.

A 2016 State of Mississippi-funded study of Jackson crime found that the top two precursors for adult crime were young people dropping out of school and being put into the criminal-justice system. Introducing young people into the system, or a police car, or rough treatment by police officers, can thus have the opposite effect of decreasing community safety.

State Defender André De Gruy em-

phasizes that the State expanding its police force in the capital city is not enough to remedy Jackson’ crime. “We’ve got to do more than just simply put more police on the road,” De Gruy said in an interview.

“The problem is much bigger than that.”

Reeves’ solution invokes two recently passed laws—Senate Bill 2788 and House

“You have so many people buying guns,” she continued. “You have more hurt people who will hurt people. You have disinvestment that has been exacerbated.

You have governments that aren’t funding parks, rec centers, summer jobs. You don’t have in-person religious services. You don’t have outreach workers on the streets or the STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

arts of Mississippi’s capital city are seeing a “saturation” of state police that Gov. Tate Reeves promises will counter a spike in crime and violence that has worsened since the pandemic began. The governor is bringing in the Mississippi Highway Patrol, Capitol Police and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics officers to beef up patrols and drug enforcement inside the Capitol Complex Improvement District and along state highways, he said at a press briefing on July 15.

The Mississippi Legislature voted in the spring to allow more state enforcement inside the Jackson district, with much of the discussion focused then on misdemeanor arrests. “To have a safe Jackson, we must have a safe downtown,” Reeves said.

No Jackson elected or police officials were present because Reeves said he didn’t invite them. The strategy created a stir in this majority-Black city with heavy pockets of poverty, limited resources and a broken water-sewer system that the State of Mississippi has been slow to help to repair.

Critics question whether punitive policing in the capital city will have a real effect on violence there. Much of Jackson’s violence is domestic between people who know each other, not random street crime.

“In order to realize true impact, it is necessary to also stand up and bolster the social supports and community programs that lift up our communities by addressing issues of poverty, joblessness, mental health, gaps in education and opportunity, and more,” Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba said of Reeves’ plan in a statement.

by Julian Mills

Gov. Tate Reeves announced what he called a “saturation” of state police into the capital city—from increased traffic stops to more undercover drug ops.

Bill 974. These bills, which went into effect July 1, have already resulted in increased traffic stops and police presence, Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell said on July 15.

“I can tell you that since these bills went into effect on July 1st, the Mississippi Highway Patrol has issued 87 traffic citations within the city of Jackson and over 14 DUI citations within the city of Jackson,” Tindell said. “So already there’s been an increase in the presence, and that presence will continue to grow with this saturation.”

It was unclear how those low-level arrests would prevent the kinds of violence Jackson and other cities are experiencing during the ongoing pandemic, however.

Criminal-justice experts say that COVID-19 creates a perfect storm of conditions for increased crime and violence.

“When you look at the reasons that people generally offer for any major spike in violence, all of them come into play with COVID. You have a little bit of everything,” Caterina Roman, Ph.D., a professor of criminal justice at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa., said in a July 6, 2021, interview with The Crime Report at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

typical social services. And then you have compounded stress.”

Roman calls for smart enforcement strategies that avoid “sending police out on calls that have nothing to do with violence” and warns that “[y]ou can reduce violence but harm people” in the process of responding to crime spikes.

She doesn’t shy away from urging prevention solutions that have little to do with flashing blue lights. “Libraries, parks, rec centers, pools, free internet—those are all crime prevention activities and resources,” she told the New York Times last year.

Massive Surge in Traffic Stops Mississippi is taking a more punitive approach, however, including a massive surge in traffic stops. In the 2021 session, Senate Bill 2788 removed regulations on the Mississippi Highway Patrol, which had prevented them from establishing stationary radar installations inside cities with populations over 15,000—essentially making it easier for them to patrol parts of Jackson.

“It will be felt on the interstates,” Tindell said. “It will be felt within the city.”

Another impetus for SB 2788 and the increased Highway Patrol presence is

incidents of drag racing in neighborhoods and along highways, which culminated in racers blockading Interstate 55 during the wee hours of New Year’s Day, which Reeves called “nefarious acts.”

“In the event that an interstate is shut down, the Mississippi Highway Patrol has to be immediately contacted,” Reeves said.

House Bill 974 transferred Capitol Police from the Department of Finance and Administration to the Department of Public Safety, while increasing their jurisdiction to include the greater Capitol Complex Improvement District, granting them overlapping power with JPD. “Within the Capitol Complex District, Capitol Police will be saturating its resources along the streets of the capitol district, ensuring that all available Capitol Police officers are mobilized in their vehicles, creating a greater visibility within the Capitol district,” Tindell said. “The Capitol District extends from Jackson State University, all the way to I-55, and up into the Fondren area or just past the University of Mississippi Medical Center.”

From Drug Operations to ‘Bandos’ Commissioner Tindell also said the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics will increase secret drug-enforcement efforts in Jackson. “The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics will be increasing its clandestine drug operations with its federal and state and local partners within the city of MOST VIRAL STORIES AT JFP.MS: 1. “Mississippi Teachers’ Union Sues Jackson Chapter President for Embezzlement” by Kayode Crown 2. “Second Inmate Found Hanging in Hinds County Jail” by Kayode Crown 3. “Delta Variant Now Dominant Strain In Mississippi, Focused in Hinds, Madison, Rankin” by Julian Mills 4. “Mississippi Teacher Pay Raise Finally Arrives After Long Delay”

by Julian Mills 5. “Jefferson’s Grill: Barbecue Advice from an Old-School Pitmaster” by Nate Schumann

policing Not Addressing Violence?

“At its core, the government’s most basic responsibility is to protect its citizens and residents,” Gov. Reeves said July 15.

The governor cited Jackson’s “never-ending cycle of violence” as the impetus.

But to observers like De Gruy, muscular language around enforcement ignores the evidence-based social elements of

De Gruy mentioned alternatives to policing such as Strong Arms of Jxn, a Jacksonbased group that focuses efforts on preventing crime through community outreach using “credible messengers.” It is a model that hires and trains formerly incarcerated citizens to work with young people and those at high risk of crime where they are to steer them away from violence and retalidonna ladd

Jackson,” Tindell said. “Often what the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics does is unrecognized. They’re not uniformed officers, but they will be launching operations trying to reach and attack the drug problem within the city of Jackson.”

Tindell and Reeves agreed that the measures will not be enough to resolve crime in Jackson, but Tindell called the initiative a “step in the right direction,” while Reeves opined that he did not “have enough hours in the day” to speak to the full causes of crime in Jackson. The governor did not refer to any root causes identified by crime-prevention experts, including racism, trauma, mental health, poverty, educational inequity, poor reentry options after incarceration, and lack of opportunity, jobs and transportation to get there.

The 2016 State-funded BOTEC reports about Jackson crime did address those issues, however, as well as the proliferation of abandoned and crumbling houses in the capital city, and their connection to crime activity. (The State of Mississippi owns many of those properties.) “Neighborhood blight is part of the vicious cycle in Jackson; crime causes blight, and blight fosters crime,” the State-funded BOTEC study warned in 2016. “Abandoned houses, called ‘bandos,’ shelter runaway youth and provide a haven for drug use or headquarters for gang activity.”

The study warned about conditions that seed cycles of crime and violence. “The population represented in these accounts is for the most part poor, with childhoods marked by loss, violence and neglect,” the BOTEC precursors report stated.

The series of reports detailed a variety of potential solutions shown nationally to reduce crime and violence as an alternative to increasing potentially harmful massive (and expensive) police surges, but warned that Jackson does not have the available resources for many of these efforts.

“A variety of interventions have been shown to reduce the propensity to criminal activity, and especially to violence, but some of those interventions are expensive, and Jackson and Hinds County have limited resources. Those resources can generate more public-safety value if they are concentrated on the highest-risk students,” BOTEC researchers recommended.

The study identified that, as of 2016, 225 students within Jackson Public Schools were at the highest risk and most in need of direct intervention, access to opportunities and other solutions. BOTEC also said students in the highest-risk category are often the last likely to receive interventions.

From left: Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, JPD Assistant Chief Ricky Robinson, criminal-justice advocate Rukia Lumumba, and formerly incarcerated Terun Moore and Benny Ivey announced Strong Arms of JXN in December 2018.

crime. The state defender said he welcomes some additional police presence, but added that a more nuanced look at the types of crimes committed might reveal much that increased police presence alone can solve.

“I think one of the things that it seems to me is lost is these conversations start by saying ‘crime is out of control, crime is on the rise,’ and there’s just simply no evidence to support that,” he said. “We know that not just in Jackson, but in larger cities all across the country that homicides are up.”

De Gruy said the Jackson Police Department has released specific data on aggravated assaults (which, in Mississippi, includes attempted-murder).

“JPD has said most of these cases involve people who know each other,” he said. “This is a little bit different dynamic t”

That fact means that increasing police presence is less likely to actually reduce aggravated assaults that are happening, De Gruy pointed out. “This isn’t simply what you see a lot when you see a surge in car burglaries or robberies that a police presence will directly address that problem because those are often opportunity crimes, and so if you have a higher police presence, then the person’s less likely to walk up and rob somebody or break into a car or even break into a house if there’s patrol,” he said.

“But that’s not where we’re seeing the increase in crime.”

ation. When funded adequately, crediblemessenger/violence interrupter programs are both an alternative and a complement to police surges and sweeps and can reduce costs associated with violence, human and otherwise, studies show.

The program is based on the Cure Violence model developed by Chicago epidemiologist Gary Slutkin that treats violence as a virus that will spread exponentially if left untreated and uncontained, much like COVID-19 and its variants.

“If they saved one life, then all their efforts are worth it,” De Gruy said.

Dr. Caterina Roman told The Crime Report that she cannot see a downside to the Cure Violence model when done correctly—unlike what can happen with some other kinds of law-enforcement-driven enforcement strategies. “I would have to think long and hard about who is burdened by Cure Violence,” she said. “What are the unintended consequences of using credible messengers to go into the community and be pro-social mentors and caseworkers?”

‘We Can’t Sit Around and Wait …’

For Sen. Brice Wiggins, R-Pascagoula, and the author of the Senate version of HB 974, the State of Mississippi has to use tools—and police—at its disposal. He made it clear that the research on root causes of crime is not a high priority for him now.

“It is good in all manner of criminal justice

to look at the root causes and look at the data to determine what is causing that, but we can’t sit around and wait for those things to happen and somebody to present a paper before we act on it,” he said. “People have a right to be safe in their community.”

Wiggins has long taken an increasepolicing approach to crime, and in several legislative sessions introduced unsuccessful bills to expand the state’s gang law to make it easier to arrest someone for allegedly being associated with a gang.

Jackson Mayor Lumumba struck a chord of reserved gratitude for the governor’s initiative, while highlighting concerns over the program’s limited scope.

“We are pleased to see within the plan shared today that the State of Mississippi and Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is moving towards the transparency that we identified as an urgent need when the City of Jackson created the Police Identification Task Force,” he said in his statement. “That said, the problem of crime is not going to be solved through policing alone.”

Lumumba was first elected as a policing and criminal-justice reformer, but has allowed the Jackson Police Department to participate in a number of policing surges, including a collaborative with then-U.S. Attorney Michael Hurst in late 2017 in “Project Eject,” also an effort to increase policing sweeps and gang arrests in the capital city.

Still-rising increases in violence and homicides in Jackson started around the same time as Project Eject, which did not result in lowered violence as pledged.

The governor seems unlikely to take the mayor’s comments to heart. At the press event announcing the new initiative, WLBT’s C.J. LeMaster asked Reeves why, at an event highlighting policing in Mississippi’s capital city, no City, Jackson Police Department or Hinds County officials were present.

“Well,” Reeves replied, “I presume they’re not here because we didn’t invite them to be here.”

Although state leadership maintains its habit of separation from city officials, Lumumba’s comments maintained a tepid willingness to collaborate with the state.

“The State’s efforts to better streamline its law enforcement agencies and bolster communication in and around the Capitol City Complex and State highways is within its jurisdiction,” he said. “The City and Jackson Police Department welcome the commitment to greater collaboration and support.”

This story original appeared in the Mississippi Free Press (mississippifreepress.org).

Donna Ladd contributed to this report..

August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

TALK JXN

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Hasan Kwame Jeffries

A

s an organizer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee during the 1960s, Bob Moses traveled to the most dangerous parts of Mississippi to help end segregation and secure the right to vote. But it would be tutoring students in math 20 years later at his daughter’s racially mixed middle school in Massachusetts that would lead to his life’s work—The Algebra Project.

The Algebra Project is a nonprofit dedicated to helping students from historically marginalized communities develop math literacy, which is an individual’s ability to formulate, employ and interpret mathematics in a variety of contexts. Moses founded it in 1982.

The Algebra Project sprang directly from his civil rights work in Mississippi.

That work helped transform Mississippi from a segregationist stronghold into a focal point of the civil rights revolution.

In his book “Radical Equations,” Moses recalls that in 1982 he was surprised to discover that his daughter, Maisha, who was entering the eighth grade in Cambridge, Mass., would not be taught algebra because the school did not offer it. Thus, she could not qualify for honors math and science classes in high school.

Moses had a background in mathematics. In 1957, before joining the Civil Rights movement, he earned a master’s

August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

“I had found my work.”

— Bob Moses

10

in philosophy at Harvard University and then taught middle school math for a few years in the Bronx, N.Y. And from 1969 to 1976, he taught algebra in Tanzania before returning stateside to work on a doctorate in the philosophy of math.

Moses asked Maisha’s teacher if he could provide his daughter with supplemental math lessons in class since Maisha refused to be tutored at home—she opposed doing what she called “two maths.”

The teacher consented, but on the condition that Moses instruct some of Maisha’s classmates as well, according to his book.

Moses agreed. Like the teacher, he believed that all children, including those from historically marginalized communities, deserved a chance to take advanced math and science classes in high school.

DaviD Rae MoRRis

The Algebra Project: Bob Moses’ ‘Gateway To Equality’ For Black Students

Publisher & President Todd Stauffer Associate Publisher Kimberly Griffin Managing Editor Nate Schumann Art Director Zilpha Young Online & JFPDaily.com Editor Dustin Cardon REPORTERS AND WRITERS City Reporter Kayode Crown Reporting Fellow Julian Mills Contributing Writers Dustin Cardon, Bryan Flynn, Taylor McKay Hathorn, Jenna Gibson, Tunga Otis, Richard Coupe,Torsheta Jackson, Michele D. Baker, Mike McDonald, Kyle Hamrick EDITORS AND OPERATIONS Founding Editor Donna Ladd Editorial Assistant Shaye Smith Consulting Editor JoAnne Prichard Morris

Bob Moses used a MacArthur genius grant to create and launch the Algebra Project in 1982 . He taught math himself from Lanier High School in for years.

At the end of the school year, Maisha and the three students who studied with her passed the citywide algebra exam. They were the first from their school to do so, according to his book.

Excited by this success, Maisha’s teacher asked Moses to work his math magic with more students. But it wasn’t magic.

Moses succeeded in teaching algebra to the students who were frequently tracked into less rigorous classes and courses of study because he believed that Black, Brown, working-class and poor children could master algebra—or other advanced classes—even at an early age.

He also knew that these same students would be eager to study math if instruction revolved around their lived experiences.

Rote memorization would not work; content had to be relatable.

“I was beginning to think I had found my work,” he wrote in “Radical Equations.” And his work was teaching math literacy in the emerging digital age.

Moses believed that math proficiency was a gateway to equality in a post-industrial society. He explained in 2007: “In our society, algebra is the place where we ask students to master a quantitative literacy requirement. And so hence, algebra becomes available as an organizing tool now for educational rights and for economic rights.”

In other words, math literacy would provide access to the kinds of computerdriven careers that would enable African Americans, and other historically marginalized youth, to permanently improve their life circumstances and the social and economic conditions of their communities.

But Moses wasn’t interested in teaching just a few students, much as he wasn’t interested in registering just a few Black Mississippians. He wanted to instruct as many young people as possible, including in Mississippi after returning to teach math at Lanier High School in Jackson.

Reaching more youth, however, required a dramatic shift in the culture of learning at the school. Expectations regarding when young children from marginalized groups should study algebra had to change, which was no small task considering many children weren’t expected to study algebra at all. Just as he once organized sharecroppers, he began organizing parents.

Today, The Algebra Project is still fighting to ensure students receive the quality math education they deserve by supporting learning cohorts in dozens of schools across the country where students have historically performed poorly in math on eighth grade state tests.

Ella Baker was fond of saying, “Give light and people will find the way.” Few did that better than Bob Moses, who died on July 25, 2021.

Hasan Kwame Jeffries is an associate professor of history at Ohio State University. He researched Bob Moses’ role in the Civil Rights Movement for his book—“Bloody Lowndes: Civil Rights and Black Power in Alabama’s Black Belt”—and later interviewed him about SNCC. This piece was published in cooperation with The Conversation, an independent, nonprofit publisher of commentary and analysis, authored by academics on timely topics related to their research. A longer version is at jfp.ms.

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August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

T

he 2020 college football season looked different from previous seasons due to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Some teams played in the fall ,while others played in the spring. Most teams played conference-only schedules and in front of fewer fans than standard, due to health restrictions.

Unless the current Delta variant spike causes changes—stay tuned—this new season could end up resembling, at least in part, football seasons of years past—with full stadiums and all teams opting into play.

If so, one of the biggest storylines to follow will be the focus on years two for three head coaches: Mike Leach at Mississippi State University, Lane Kiffin at the University of Mississippi and Deion Sanders at Jackson State University. The University of Southern Mississippi is starting over with a new head coach for 2021.

Be warned, though, that this season could be as unpredictable as 2020 became due to the continued, albeit lessened, coronavirus threat. Players could still miss games, while games themselves could still end up postponed or cancelled.

Here are some of my assessments and predictions for the upcoming season.

by Bryan Flynn Jackson State University Tigers

12

recruits and mix in solid players who were already with the program. This season we will learn whether Sanders can be an effective head coach or if he was just a big name and not much else.

This team has a lot of unknowns with the transfers and recruiting class that is now

2020 Recap:

Jackson State University made a major splash by hiring NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders as head coach. Even though Sanders hadn’t been a head coach at the college level beforehand, his hire brought plenty of eyes outside of Mississippi to the program.

Due to COVID-19, the Jackson State program had games cancelled or postponed, something every team dealt with over the last season. The Tigers had a fast start in the spring. Winning the first three games in a row, JSU looked unstoppable early in the season.

Then, this trajectory abruptly shifted, as JSU lost its next three games. With the exception of a blowout by Southern University, though, the Tigers’ losses were close with a difference of seven and nine points.

A forfeit win over Alcorn State University gave JSU its last win of the season.

In a bummer end to Sanders’ first season, the game against Prairie View A&M University ended up cancelled due to COVID-19.

Season Overview:

Jackson State has plenty of talent for the upcoming season as Sanders has recruited well and gained plenty of transfers from other schools. This will be the first season that Sanders gets to coach the players he has brought to the program.

Expect the Tigers to improve on both sides of the ball as Sanders gets to play his

Sanders will start his son Shedeur Sanders at quarterback after coaching him in high school. His play will go a long way to determining how successful the Tigers are this season.

The Tigers need to keep their 35.7 per game scoring average or improve on

Shedeur Sanders, son of head coach Deion Sanders, will join JSU this fall and is projected to play quarterback for the Tigers as a true freshman.

on campus. The Tigers may take a game or two before everything begins to click into place, but once it does, this team could be a juggernaut. Be on the lookout and watch their progress.Outlook:

courtesy jackson state university athletics

August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

Head coach: Deion Sanders (4-3 overall, 4-3 at JSU, entering 2nd season at JSU) 2020 record: 4-3 overall; 3-2 SWAC Radio: 95.5 FM Stadium: Veterans Memorial Stadium

the scoring to keep pace with other highscoring offenses. The defense must improve on its 26 points per game average.

JSU can improve on offense after previously finishing last in time of possession and

protecting the quarterback and after giving up 14 sacks to finish next to last in sacks allowed. The defense gave up 378.2 yards per game and a SWAC-high 21 touchdowns, both of which must improve this season.

2021 Prediction:

JSU adds Florida A&M University and Bethune-Cookman University to the schedule this year as both teams join the SWAC from the MEAC. Both schools will come in and compete right away as JSU plays Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic in Miami, Fla., and Bethune-Cookman will come to Jackson.

Out-of-conference games against Tennessee State University, the University of Louisiana at Monroe and Delta State University will be tough tests. Winning two of the three will be important for building the program.

This season will be a success if the Tigers enter their final game against Alcorn State University in contention for a SWAC East title. Sanders getting the most out of the current and influx of talent will show his growth as a head coach.

Another disappointing season will really take the shine off the Sanders hire. The JSU fan base expects to win right now due to the program’s rich history.

Prediction: 7-4 Schedule: Sept. 5 Florida A&M (neutral site); Sept.

11 Tennessee State (neutral site); Sept. 18 @ Louisiana Monroe; Sept. 25 Delta State; Oct. 9 @ Alabama A&M; Oct. 16 Alabama State; Oct. 23 Bethune-Cookman; Oct. 30 @ Mississippi Valley State; Nov. 6 Texas Southern; Nov. 13 @ Southern; Nov. 20 Alcorn State

The JFP 2021 College Football Preview courtesy UM athletics

University of Mississippi Rebels

2020 Recap:

University of Mississippi fans had an easy time jumping on the Lane Train. New head coach Lane Kiffin brought an explosive offense to the Rebels, and his team lit up the scoreboard.

The Rebels averaged 39.2 points per game, which was third best in the SEC behind the University of Alabama and the University of Florida. UM led the SEC with 555.5 yards per game.

While the offense put up these impressively high numbers, the defense did the same—but not in a desirable way. The Rebels’ defense finished last in the SEC in points per game at 38.3 and yards per game at 519.

Turnovers were another issue for the Rebels as the team finished minus-7 on the season. Those turnovers cost UM games against Louisiana State University, University of Arkansas and Auburn University.

The Rebels needed overtime to defeat the University of Kentucky and hung on to beat Mississippi State University.

The bright spot of the season for the University of Mississippi was the Outback Bowl win over the University of Indiana when the Rebels won the turnover battle for the 26-20 win.

SmallColleges 2020 Record: Opted out of 2020 season Outlook and Prediction: Alcorn State University opted out of the 2020 spring season, making the Braves the only SWAC team to sit out as the other members of the conference played last season.

Conference officials thereby forced ASU to forfeit every game last season. By not playing, the Braves broke its string of six-straight SWAC East titles.

Alcorn State moves from the East to the West as the conference adds two new teams in Florida A&M and BethuneCookman. Now, ASU will try to start a

Rising junior Matt Corral started all 10 of the University of Mississippi’s games in 2020 as the Rebels’ quarterback, earning a number of honors for his efforts on the field. The 2021 season will be Corral’s second at UM.

2021 Prediction:

UM shouldn’t have a hard time getting off to a 3-0 start with a neutral site game against the University of Louisville and two home games against Austin Peay University and Tulane University.

A road trip to Alabama is a loss even if the defense is vastly improved. That brings up an important four-game stretch: a home game against the University of Arkansas, a road trip to the University of Tennessee, a home game against Louisiana State University and a trip to Auburn University.

The Rebels would be in great shape

with a split and in wonderful shape if they win three of the four games. Afterward, the team has three straight home games with Liberty University, Texas A&M University and Vanderbilt University. Winning two of the three games should be in the cards with the Texas A&M game being the most questionable match-up.

Mississippi State University awaits UM at the end of the season. Seven wins are possible, and this team could get to eight. Anything less than six wins this year

new winning streak in the West Division.

While members of the media picked

While ASU did not play in 2020, Felix Harper will reprise his role as quarterback as a redshirt senior.

The Braves to win the West, no ASU

courtesy alcorn state university athletics

Alcorn State University Braves

Season Overview:

Kiffin gets quarterback Matt Corral back for a second season. Corral took command of the offense last season and put up impressive numbers. He threw for 3,337 yards and 29 touchdowns with 14 interceptions.

The offense has to replace Conerly Trophy winner Elijah Moore who has moved on to the NFL. Kiffin will have plenty of players coached up and ready to replace the missing production. Offense and scoring won’t be a problem for the Rebels as they will light up the scoreboard again in 2021.

Hopefully, the defense can’t get any worse than it was last season. That will be the biggest indicator on whether or not this team takes the next step in the SEC West. The defense has nowhere to go but up, but if it manages to perform more poorly, major changes have to be made before 2022.

players were selected to either the first or second team Preseason All-SWAC. Alcorn State plays eight of its 11 games on the road or at a neutral site.

If ASU can handle being road warriors, this team has the talent to win the West. Four straight road games in October to early November could make or break this season.

Prediction: 7-4 Schedule: Aug. 28 North Carolina Central (neutral site); Sept. 11 Northwestern State; Sept.

18 @ South Alabama; Sept. 23 @ Arkansas-Pine Bluff; Oct. 9 Grambling State; Oct. 16 @ Mississippi Valley State; Oct. 23 Texas Southern; Oct. 30 @ Southern; Nov. 6 Bethune-Cookman; Nov. 13 Prairie View A&M; Nov. 20 @ Jackson State

will be a disappointment.

Prediction: 7-5 Schedule: Sept. 6 Louisville (neutral site); Sept.

11 Austin Peay; Sept. 18 Tulane; Oct. 2 @ Alabama; Oct. 9 Arkansas; Oct. 16 @ Tennessee; Oct. 23 LSU; Oct. 30 @ Auburn; Nov. 6 Liberty; Nov. 13 Texas A&M; Nov. 20 Vanderbilt; Nov. 25 Mississippi State

Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils

2020 Record: 1-3 overall, 1-3 SWAC Outlook and prediction: Mississippi Valley State University won just one game last season. That win came against Alcorn State because the Braves opted out of the spring season. The rest of the schedule was lost due to COVID-19.

MVSU has had a tough time earning wins, even under near-optimal circumstances. Winning during a season bombarded by a pandemic has proven just about impossible. The closest the school came to victory this past season was their seven-point loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

While coaches and some members of the media have picked MVSU to finish last in the SWAC East next season, continued on page 14

August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

xxx

Head coach: Lane Kiffin (66-39 overall, 5-5 at UM entering 2nd season) 2020 record: 5-5 overall; 4-5 SEC Radio: 97.3 FM Stadium: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium

13

Smalls

The JFP 2021 College Football Preview

Mississippi State University Bulldogs Only in 2020 would a 3-7 team earn a chance at a bowl game.

Head coach: Mike Leach (143-97 overall; 4-7 MSU entering 2nd year) 2020 record: 4-7 overall; 3-7 SEC Radio: 105.9 FM Stadium: Davis Wade Stadium

Season Overview: Finding a quarterback that fits the system will be the biggest obstacle to success for this season. The Bulldogs finished last

August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

another losing streak. MSU played better with seven-point losses to Mississippi and the University of Georgia. A 14-point loss to Auburn was the worst of the three-game losing streak.

MSU ended the season on a high by winning two consecutive games against the University of Missouri and at the Armed Forces Bowl against the University of Tulsa.

Two-time national coach of the year Mike Leach will begin this second year at MSU leading the Bulldogs as head coach. With a new team roster, Leach aims to see improvement in the Bulldogs’ play this year.

in the SEC in turnover margin at minus10, with the team’s biggest problem arguably being the 18 interceptions the quarterbacks allowed to happen.

MSU placed last in the SEC in yards, accruing only 360 years for the season. Part of this blow resulted from star running back Kylin Hill opting out of the season shortly after it started, while the team being down early in games played in as another factor.

Leach doesn’t get much from his running game, but he needs to get more out of the ground game to be successful in the SEC. Finding a quarterback and running the ball more will help MSU in 2021.

The defense wasn’t terrible last season—honestly it was pretty good, to be fair—but the offense’s weaknesses put the defense in a bad situation most of the season. MSU’s defense has only a little room to slip in 2021, and if the offense is better, the team will improve its record.

2021 Outlook:

Leach will have to figure out if returning starter Will Rogers or University of Southern Mississippi transfer Jack Abraham will be the starting quarterback. No matter who takes up the position, though, he will have the top four receivers from last season.

Four starters on the offense line return to help with protection.

That lineup should help the offense improve over 12th place out of the 14-team SEC from last season—that is, if Leach has

The Delta Devils will give their all on the field.

Coaches and media did name three MVSU players onto the Preseason All-SWAC team, though: cornerback Caleb Brunson in the First-Team AllSWAC and both running back Caleb Johnson and defensive lineman Jerry Gardner in Second-Team All-SWAC.

Winning one game would be a great sign for this program. A great season would be winning three or four games and getting football going in the right direction for the school.

Prediction: 1-10 Schedule: Sept. 2 @ Murray State; Sept. 18 @ Stephen F. Austin; Sept. 26 Southern (in Jackson, MS); Oct. 2 North Carolina Central; Oct. 9 @ Bethune-Cookman; Oct. 16 Alcorn State; Oct. 23 Florida A&M; Oct. 30 Jackson State; Nov. 6 @ Alabama A&M Nov. 13 Alabama State; Nov. 27 Prairie View A&M courtesy MVSU athletics

courtesy mississippi state university athletics

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Will Rogers debuted in the 2020 season as a true freshman and became the first passer in the program’s history to register three consecutive games with 30-plus completions, among other records.

courtesy mississippi state university athletics

2020 Recap:

The Mike Leach era at Mississippi State seemed to get off to a high start. The Bulldogs opened the season by shocking defending national champions LSU in the opening game of the season.

That was before the season played out ,and everyone realized both LSU and MSU weren’t in top form in 2020. The Bulldogs struggled to get the new offense going, and turnovers didn’t help the team either.

MSU would go on to lose four straight games with a close loss to Arkansas being the only defeat by seven or fewer points. The losing streak included a 22-point loss to the University of Kentucky, a 14-point loss to Texas A&M and a 41-point loss to Alabama.

The Bulldogs earned a much-needed win over Vanderbilt before going on

his starting quarterback on the roster heading into the season.

MSU finished fifth in total defense last season and will need to be rebuilt at the defensive line, but the linebackers and secondary should be solid. A middle-of-theroad defense will keep this team in games

from page 13

if the offense gets better.

2021 Prediction:

With an improved offense, the Bulldogs could see six wins on the schedule.

Out of conference games against Louisiana Tech University, North Carolina State University, University of Memphis and Tennessee State should be wins.

A trip to Vanderbilt should get this team to five wins, and the three home games to follow could end up as wins. MSU hosts LSU, Kentucky and Mississippi and should win at least one of those match-ups.

Games against Alabama and Texas A&M likely will end in defeat. Road trips to Arkansas and Auburn, the latter of whom having a new coach, could yield possible wins as well.

This team should get to a bowl game with a .500 or better record. If not, MSU fans will wonder whether they made the wrong hire in Leach. The Egg Bowl will be important for Leach because going 0-2 against Kiffin won’t make the fan base happy.

Prediction: 6-6 Schedule: Sept. 4 Louisiana Tech; Sept. 11 NC State; Sept. 18 @ Memphis; Sept. 25 LSU; Oct. 2 @Texas A&M; Oct. 16 Alabama; Oct. 23 @ Vanderbilt; Oct. 30 Kentucky; Nov. 6 @ Arkansas; Nov. 13 @ Auburn; Nov. 20 Tennessee State; Nov. 25 Mississippi

Vincent Dancy became head coach for Mississippi Valley State University in January 2018 and looks to improve the Delta Devils’ game in the 2021 season.

Delta State University Statesmen

2020 Record: 0-0 due to COVID-19 Outlook and prediction:

Last season, the Gulf South Conference cancelled the fall football season due ot COVID-19. A few conference teams played some spring games but the Statesmen chose not to play.

In 2019, DSU went 6-4 overall and 5-3 in the GSC, the season ending with a loss to Mississippi College. The Statesmen will have to deal with returning to football after a year away from playing.

Expect the Statesmen to be rusty to start. The good news for DSU is that continued on page 17

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In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972 of the Higher Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other applicable Federal and State Acts, Hinds Community College offers equal education and employment opportunities and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability or veteran status in its educational programs and activities. The following have been designated to handle inquiries regarding these policies: EEOC Compliance: Sherry Franklin, Vice President of Instruction/Career & Technical Education, Box 1003, Utica, MS 39175; Phone: 601.885.7002 or Email: EEOC@hindscc.edu. Title IX: DeAndre House, Associate Vice President Student Services, Title IX Coordinator, Box 1100 Raymond MS 39154; Phone: 601.857.3353 or Email: TitleIX@hindscc.edu.

August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

hindscc.edu/visit

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The JFP 2021 College Football Preview

University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles Head coach: Will Hall (56-21 overall record; 1st season at USM) 2020 record: 3-7 overall; 2-4 C-USA Radio: 105.1 FM Stadium: M. M. Roberts Stadium

State, but returner Trey Lowe is back after getting playing time last season. Newly transferred Tee Webb may push Lowe out of the running, though. Hall has to determine who will be the guy under center.

USM returns 10 starters on defense, which should lead to experience on that side of the ball. If the defense improves

Season Overview:

Southern Miss hired Mississippi native and rising coaching star Will Hall. It is the kind of hire that should bring both excitement and stability to the program.

Hall comes into a good situation

over the offseason, it could be the strength of the team.

August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

courtesy usm athletics

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2021 Prediction:

This feels like a team that could surprise a few opponents on the schedule. An

After transfering from West Virginia to the University of Southern Mississippi, Trey Lowe played quarterback for the Golden Eagles during the irregular season football fans withnessed in 2020. He earned the Manning Award Star of the Week honor for his efforts over Florida Atlantic last December, which brought USM a 45-31 win.

After a flux of changes to its coaching staff, the University of Southern Mississippi named Will Hall as its new head coach on Dec. 7, 2020. This year will mark Hall’s first full year of directing the Golden Eagles’ play.

with eight starters returning on offense.

Running back Frank Gore Jr. was a bright spot for USM last season, but the open quarterback position is where Hall has to assess his options.

Jack Abraham left for Mississippi

tonio and Louisiana Tech will be tests for USM, though. The season finale against Florida International University should be a win.

courtesy usm athletics

2020 Recap:

USM had a tough season when it came to coaches in 2020. Head coach Jay Hopson resigned one game into the season, and interim head coach Scotty Walden left after three games to become head coach at Austin Peay.

The offense couldn’t stay on track with all the injuries and coaching changes.

The defense, while okay, did not resemble its usual strength.

Southern Miss started out 0-3 and didn’t get a win in 2020 until October, after which they experienced another three-game losing streak. Southern Miss finally got its second win in early November before losing the following game.

Despite the losses, Southern Miss ended the season with a win in the season finale. The coaching changes, struggles on offense and defense, and the pandemic didn’t help this squad. In short, 2020 was not USM’s year.

The defense couldn’t get to the quarterback last season as it only managed 16 sacks and rarely got pressure. If USM doesn’t figure out a way to get to the quarterback on defense it’s going to be another long season on that end of play.

Without the head coaching upheaval, this team should settle in early. Between

2021 Outlook:

Gore will help whoever is quarterback settle in and help an offensive line that gave up 24 sacks last season. The bulk of the receiving group returns, which will help out the quarterback that wins the starting job.

COVID-19 and the coaching turnover, the Golden Eagles experienced too much turmoil on the field. This season should feel more normal to the program.

2021 Prediction:

If USM fixes many of the issues the team faced during 2020 or if both sides of the ball improve over last season, Southern Miss could make a comeback this year. The schedule does not look too difficult, except for a trip to Alabama that will likely be a loss.

USM gets an easy start with the University of South Alabama, Grambling State University and Troy University. That could be a 3-0 or 2-1 start for the Golden Eagles before the trip to Crimson Tide.

Southern Miss begins C-USA play with winnable games at Rice University and University of Texas at El Paso. A home game against the University of Alabama at Birmingham will go a long way to tell how good this team will be in 2021.

Middle Tennessee State University and the University of North Texas should serve as attainable wins. Back-to-back games against the University of Texas at San An-

eight-win season wouldn’t be a shock after the horrible 2020 season. But, USM has a reputation for losing to a team it shouldn’t lose against.

Getting to six or seven wins, though, feels feasible. The Golden Eagles were sixth in total offense and eighth in total defense last season. Improvement on both sides of the ball should move the win total from three last year to six or better this season.

USM has reached a bowl game since 2019 but that should change this season.

Hall might not be around at Southern Miss long if he can make a quick turnaround, as bigger programs will come calling, but he has a chance to fix this program before he goes.

Prediction: 7-5 Schedule: Sept. 4 @ South Alabama; Sept. 11 Grambling State; Sept. 18 Troy; Sept.

25 @ Alabama; Oct. 2 @ Rice; Oct. 9 UTEP; Oct. 16 UAB; Oct. 30 @ Middle Tennessee; Nov. 6 North Texas; Nov. 13 UTSA; Nov. 19 Louisiana Tech; Nov. 27 FIU

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the team gets to play its first two games of the season at home. One of the five road games is a trip to Jackson to play Jackson State University.

Delta State is nearly always a solid program year in and year out. It would be a shock for this program to come back and not compete in every game. Expect a winning season, but watch how the team responds to returning to the field.

Prediction: 7-4

Mississippi College

2020 record: 0-1 (played just a single game) Outlook and prediction: Mississippi College played just one game in the spring of 2021 against Tarleton State University. MC was blown out 3914 in their lone game and now await a full season of play this fall.

In the last full season of 2019, MC went 5-5 overall—winning 5-0 at home but losing 0-5 on the road. If this year’s version of the team can hold their advantage at home and do better durcourtesy mississippi college athletics

Having served the program since 2014, Head Coach John Bland looks to have Mississippi College play more than just one game.

ing away games, they could be in the title mix.

MC gets its first three games at home, and that should help as the team tries to shake off any accrued rust from not playing much during the last season. The team plays six of its 10 games at home this year

Schedule: Sept. 2 Albany State Sept. 18 Fort Lauderdale; Sept. 25 West Alabama; Oct. 2 @ North Greenville; Oct. 9 West Georgia; Oct. 16 @ Shorter; Oct. 23 Valdosta State; Oct. 30 West Florida; Nov. 6 @ Delta State: Nov. @ West Alabama

outscored 74-34 in the only two home games of the season.

The February weather more than likely did not make the games easy to play.

Fortunately, Millsaps gets to return to the normal fall conditions in which players are accustomed to playing.

Millsaps get to play five of their 10 games at home with a short trip to play Belhaven as its one road game. The Majors need to play better at home where they went 0-2 last season.

After a rough spring season, it would

Hinds should be in the mix for a title all season. But the junior colleges in our state are some of the best in the country and staying undefeated is a hard task.

Prediction: 9-2 Schedule: Sept. 2 @ Coahoma; Sept. 9 Holmes; Sept. 16 @ Northeast Mississippi; Sept.

23 Mississippi Gulf Coast; Sept. 30 @ Jones; Oct. 7 Copiah-Lincoln; Oct. 14 @ Southwest Mississippi; Oct. 21 East Central; Oct. 28 @ Pearl River courtesy millsaps college athletics

Schedule: Sept. 2 Bethel University; Sept. 11 McKendree University; Sept. 18 @ West Georgia; Sept. 25 @ Jackson State; Oct. 2 West Florida; Oct. 9 @ Valdosta State; Oct. 16 North Greenville; Oct. 23 @ West Alabama; Oct. 30 Shorter; Nov. 6 Mississippi College; Nov. 13 @ West Georgia

but end the season with two road games.

If MC can go undefeated at home again it will finish with a winning record.

Winning a couple of road games will show this team has improved and upgraded its talent after moving from Division III to Division II. Prediction: 7-4

Belhaven University Blazers

2020 record: 3-2 overall; 2-2 ASC Outlook and prediction: Belhaven University experienced a slow start to the spring 2021 season. The Blazers began with an 0-2 record after blowout losses to the University of Mary HardinBaylor and East Texas Baptist University.

However, Belhaven bounced back, winning three straight wins over Louisiana College, Southwestern University and Howard Payne University to end the season, securing the Blazers their first winning season since 2012.

Head coach Blaine McCorkle earned the American Southwest Conference Coach of the Year title for his efforts. The three straight wins also marked the longest winning streak Belhaven has held since 2012. McCorkle will try to lead the team into a second consecutive winning season in his fourth year with the university.

Belhaven plays the first two games at home, with a two-game road trip at the end of October that could determine the outcome of McCorkle’s efforts.

Prediction: 6-4 Schedule: Sept. 2 Millsaps College; Sept. 11 Southwestern University; Sept. 18 @ HardinSimmons; Sept. 25 Austin College; Oct. 2 @ Texas Lutheran; Oct. 16 Sul Ross State; Oct. 23 @ Howard Payne; Oct. 30 @ Mary Hardin-Baylor; Nov. 6 McMurry; Nov. 13 @ East Texas Baptist

Millsaps College Majors

2020 record: 1-3 overall; 0-3 SAA Outlook and prediction: Millsaps College started the short spring season 0-3 with each loss coming by 10 points or more. The Majors gave up an average of 28.5 points per game and were

After suffering some losses during the spring, Head Coach Isaac Carter, who took up his position in February 2020—just a month before the pandemic struck Mississippi in full—could turn Millsaps’ game around, with the Majors playing five of its 10 games at home this year.

be nice for the Majors to rebound and go .500 with a 5-5 record. Winning three to four games should lay the groundwork for better seasons to come.

Prediction: 4-6 Schedule: Sept. 2 @ Belhaven; Sept. 18 @ Southwest Assemblies of God University; Sept. 25 Olivet College; Oct. 2 @ Rhodes College; Oct. 9 Berry College; Oct. 16 @ Trinity University; Oct.23 Centre College; Oct. 30 Swanee; Nov. 6 @ Hendrix College; Nov. 13 Birmingham-Southern College

Hinds Community College Eagles

2020 Record: 3-1 overall, 3-1 MACCC Outlook and prediction: Hinds Community College played just a four-game season last fall. The Eagles won a perfect 3-0 at home with the lone loss coming on the road after when the competing teams went into overtime.

Expect the Eagles to be strong this season. Playing a full schedule with a slight trajectory toward normalcy should help players in practice and games.

Holmes Community College Bulldogs

2020 Record: 0-5 overall; 0-5 MACCC Outlook and prediction: The 2020 season hit Holmes Community College hard. The Bulldogs had games moved and cancelled just like every other team. Some teams were able to handle the constant changes better than others.

With conditions more closely resembling pre-pandemic levels than last year’s season, the Bulldogs should respond better. That doesn’t mean the team will go undefeated, but it should win some games this season.

Holmes should earn four or five wins but could find itself overachieving by winning six or more games if the wind blows in their favor.

Prediction: 4-5 Schedule: Sept. 2 Mississippi Gulf Coast; Sept. 9 @ Hinds; Sept. 16 Northwest Mississippi; Sept. 23 @ East Mississippi; Sept. 30 Coahoma; Oct. 7 @ Pearl River; Oct. 14 @ Itawamba; Oct. 21 Mississippi Delta; Oct. 21 @ Northeast Mississippi

August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

Smalls

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arts

Greater Jackson Public Art Tour

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by Acacia Clark

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Whether you’re new to the metro or are looking for something to do, the Jackson area features a number of vibrant public artworks you can soak in at your leisure.

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FONDREN 1. Birdhouse Gardens

Located on Avondale Drive in Jackson, this private residence sports dozens of unique birdhouses in the owners’ front yard and garden.

2. “Mr. Fondren”

Richard McKey, owner of Fondren Art Gallery & Framing, created the sculpture and placed it in front of his State Street gallery to welcome guests inside.

3. The Bean Alley Murals

Located in the alleyway next to The Bean, a local coffee shop, this collection features four murals. From left to right, the artworks depict Scott Allen (the man

4 with the large hand); Justin Schultz (the girl with the bear); Erica Flannes (the girl with the flowing hair); and Scott Sorenson (the person with the pipe).

hospital, she succumbed to her injuries and passed away. The mural’s inspiration came from a self-portrait of Fortner.

4. Scott Allen Murals

6. Go Get Em Tiger FONDREN Mural

Found on Morgan Place behind Corner Market, the murals showcase the stylings of Fondren artist Scott Allen, who has also painted other artworks in the area.

5. Frances Fortner Mural

Located on the side of Fondren Corner, across from Green Ghost Tacos, this mural honors Jackson Academy senior Frances Fortner, who was tragically killed in May 2018. She was on her way to graduation rehearsal when her car flipped after hitting a partially covered manhole on Ridgewood Road. After being rushed to the

Scott Allen of APlus Signs and Creative painted this mural behind the Fondren District’s location for Cups, a popular coffee shop with multiple additional locations in the area.

MIDTOWN/FARISH 7. Midtown Sculpture Walk

In midtown Jackson and the Farish Street aream you can trek along the Midtown Sculpture Walk, which showcases art from multiple artists, including Gwendolyn

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Kerney’s “Turtle Down Totem” on McTyere Avenue; Suzy Hendrix’s “Throne Rocco Nouveau,” a glass mosaic throne on concrete and fiberglass also on McTyere Avenue; Jeff Brewer’s “Zorro,” an orange fox sculpture on Millsaps Avenue; and Clifton Cox’s “Boundless Voyage,” a stainless steel sculpture found on Wesley Avenue and Wightman Street.

8. The Slab Wildlife Murals

The local skatepark community created the space called The Slab, also known as DIY Mill Street or Frank Melton Memorial Skatepark, in 2015. Artist Gavin Birdd painted many of the murals, with artist Stephen Little painting the owl mural, which can be found on Mill Street.

9. Farish Quilt

Artist Linda Troubaugh designed the installation in 1986, the artwork unveiling at

the Farish Street Park’s opening. The plaque includes text from Margaret Walker’s poem, “A Patchwork Quilt,” which heavily inspired the artwork. Located on West Hamilton Street, this instillation has since won a competition the Arts Alliance of Jackson/Hinds County sponsored.

DOWNTOWN 10. Storytellers

These three statues found on East Capitol Street depict three of Mississippi’s most regarded storytellers: Eudora Welty, William Faulkner and Richard Wright.

11. Painted Signal Boxes

Throughout downtown Jackson, pedestrians can spot a number of signal boxes that various local artists have painted, with support from the Greater Jackson Arts Council, each telling a different story. See if you can find them all one weekend.

12. Big K.R.I.T. Mural

Michael Roy, also known as Birdcap, painted this mural upon commission from Mississippi native and three-time BET Hip Hop Award nominee Big K.R.I.T.’s label, MULTI Alumni, as part of the work the label underwent to promote Big K.R.I.T.’s fourth studio album, “K.R.I.T. Iz Here.” The murals came equipped with a QR code that allowed fans to take photos with the murals to enter a contest for a chance to win a trip to the recording artist’s debut listening party.

The mural is off Pascagoula Street in downtown Jackson, behind the Mississippi Museum of Art.

13. Welcome to Jackson Mural

Downtown Jackson Partners funded the mural that faces one of downtown Jackson’s most traveled entry points along Pearl and State streets. Scott Allen painted the mural, which Jacksonians continually use as a backdrop for their own photos, from selfies to album covers.

August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

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Secret jxn

A Downtown Oasis: Belhaven Beach

by Taylor McKay Hathorn

andy hilton

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ackson’s city dwellers wanting to beat the dog days of summer don’t have to make the three-hour trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to enjoy the sun and sand, as Belhaven Beach is located a stone’s throw from downtown Jackson, on the west bank of the Pearl River, just south of Jackson Waterworks.

“I think one of the biggest draws of Belhaven Beach is that not many metro areas have a beach like that,” Andy Hilton, a volunteer with the Pearl Riverkeeper—a nonprofit aspiring to improve the Pearl River Watershed through restoration, advocacy and education—says of the stretch of beach just east of the college. “The Pearl River serves as a natural outlet in a way that a lot of urban areas just don’t have.”

Despite its uniqueness, Belhaven Beach has experienced its share of difficulties, as water activities are currently forbidden from the spillway to Pearl due to sewage leaks in the city of Jackson. “I wouldn’t do more than wade there,” Hilton admits.

Despite the current ban on water-based activities, visitors of Belhaven Beach can still enjoy a myriad of activities commonly held on sandy shores.

“They monitor the water, and sometimes the water is cleaner than other times, but you can’t unhear that there’s sewage in the water,” Hilton added.

Even with a downturn in the watersports and fishing that were once so popu-

lar on the shores of Belhaven Beach, Hilton says the area can still make for an enjoyable day trip for Jacksonians, with volleyball, frisbee and picnicking remaining popular pastimes of local beach-goers. Hilton does hope, though, that anyone who takes

literature

Five Panels Not to Miss:

Mississippi Book Festival Watchlist

by Taylor McKay Hathorn

August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

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file photo/amber helsel

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ississippi is constantly faced with mockery and derision. “Fiftieth” has been the look-down-the-nose cry of its northern counterparts and even its fellow southerners, who refuse to see what’s long been known: Mississippi is a microcosm of America.

The land that national weather forecasters consistently refer to as “the area between New Orleans and Mobile” proves once again that it’s more than just the butt of a joke that was never true in the first place with its annual “literary lawn party” on the grounds of the Capitol. The event celebrates the history of a state that produced

The annual literary festival features panel discussions, book signings and sales, food trucks and more.

Three Conversations to Catch:

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Mosquito Supper Club: Melissa M. Martin, chef of Mosquito Supper Club in New Orleans, will discuss Louisiana cuisine and bayou-living with Timothy Pakron, the author of “Mississippi Vegan.”

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advantage of the downtown oasis will work to keep the area clean and free of trash.

“I wish everyone who visits Belhaven Beach knew that they should clean up after themselves,” Hilton remarks.

“I wish they realized that other people are cleaning up behind them.”

All sandbars on navigable rivers are considered public property, so the task of tidying up after local litterbugs falls to volunteers like Hilton, who participates in the “Clean Sweep” each year, which combs through the refuse of the Pearl River from Neshoba County to the Gulf Coast.

Hilton is hopeful that the heavy task of keeping public waterways and shorelines clean will eventually be distributed more evenly if the City of Jackson takes an interest in sandbars like Belhaven Beach.

“It’s not really officially a park. Right now, it’s kind of a no-man’s land,” Hilton concludes. “I’d like to see the city promote the area and attract more people there.”

Visit theswimguide.org/beach/9175.

Personal Reflections: Aimee Nezhukumatathil and Lauren Hough will lay their lives bare as they consider their personal memoirs.

Afrofuturism: Tim Fielder and Jesse Holland continue the wonder of Black Panther with their contributions to the syfy-esque lore.

Eudora Welty, William Faulkner and Richard Wright while simultaneously saluting its modern voices, like Natasha Tretheway, Jesmyn Ward and John Grisham.

The single-day festival is on Aug. 21 this year, featuring dozens of panels, commemorative art and an extensive lineup of popular writers.

Former Congressman Gregg Harper will be on hand to discuss his new book, “A Fool’s Errand: Creating the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the Age of Bush, Obama and Trump.” Editor of Time Magazine Walter Isaacson will be in attendance, as will recent Faulkner Award winner Deesha Philyaw.

Mississippi’s own will also stud the list of offerings, as Jacksonian Angie Thomas will promote her latest YA novel, “Concrete Rose,” alongside activist Kiese Laymon, who is rolling out his recent novel, “Long Division.” Catherine Pierce, the state’s newest Poet Laureate who recently published “Danger Days,” will also join the list of featured authors.

Visit msbookfestival.com or find the festival on Facebook and Twitter.

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All About Hub City Press: The Hattiesburg-based indie publisher will host a panel with three of its authors: Mark Barr, Anjali Enjeti and Gordy Sauer.

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Meet Me in the Middle: Young readers will have the opportunity to meet New York Times Best-Selling author Nic Stone, along with Alda P. Dobbs, Carrie Seims and Gilbert Ford.

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Rhythms of the Region: Regina Bradley, Bobby Rush and David Whiteis talk about their foray into writing about Mississippi’s musical past.

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Book Club Picks: Those who prefer to read in groups with coworkers, neighbors or friends can find their next monthly selection by listening to Katherine St. John, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Karen White.

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Southern Writers: With one of the largest panels on the docket, LeTanya McQueen, Lee Durkee, M.O. Walsh, Katy Simpson Smith and Gin Phillips will discuss the influence of their southern roots on their stories of the deep South.

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August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

music

#StandAgainstHate Concert Encourages Medical Testing and Vaccinations

by Dustin Cardon

August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

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courtesy xperience entertainment

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olanda Singleton, a Jackson native concert promoter who owns her own company called Xperience Jxn, has partnered with the Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to host the #StandAgainstHate Old School Hip Hop Reunion on Saturday, Aug. 28, at the Mississippi Coliseum (1207 Mississippi St.).

The organizers say their goal is to use the #StandAgainstHate concert to promote peace and unity in Jackson and to stand against violence, racism and other negativity within the capital city. Another major goal for the concert lies in increasing awareness of issues that those enduring HIV and AIDS face, while minimizing stigmas those individuals can experience in the community.

Queen Boyz, a Jackson-based band known for tracks like “Hata Blockaz” and “Say It to My Face,” are among the performers appearing live at the event.

Its members serve in the Mississippi Artists and Producers organization. Other performers include 8 Ball & MJ, Bun B, Scarface Mystikal and Ying Yang Twins, with sounds from DJ Koollaid.

Ahead of the concert, Xperience Jxn and its partner organizations aspire to increase rapid HIV testing in Jackson and plan to give away concert tickets to individuals who get tested.

Rapid testing will take place at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation Healthcare Center (766 Lakeland Drive, Suite A) in Jackson through Aug. 25, and free tickets will be available while supplies last.

Xperience Jxn also partners with the

A number of music artists headline the Old School Hip Hop Reunion concert on Aug. 28, including Bun B (pictured), 8 Ball & MJ, Scarface Mystikal, the Ying Yang Twins and Jackson’s own Queen Boyz. DJ Koollaid also performs.

Jackson Hinds Comprehensive Health Center, Dr. Quinn Healthcare and Moore Healthy Family Medical Clinic to offer discounted tickets to people who receive a COVID-19 vaccine at those places from Aug. 1 through Aug. 28.

“I started organizing this concert to

build awareness about HIV in Jackson and plan to use this opportunity to share information with concert-goers so they can inform others about HIV,” Singleton says. “As an African American woman, I’ve seen firsthand how heavily this issue affects Black communities. It wasn’t long ago

There’s still time to get those last minutes gifts from the comfort of your couch.

that Jackson had the fourth-highest rate of newly diagnosed HIV infection in the country.”

“I feel like this will be the perfect way to bring attention to the health disparities involving HIV and AIDS and other problems going on in the city,” Singleton says.

“We’re hoping to be able to do even more of this with community block parties full of activities, games, T-shirts and prize giveaways throughout Jackson.”

Before shifting her focus to event promotion, Singleton spent time working as a percussionist with local bands in Jackson and performing as a DJ under the stage name Madame DJ. She originally opened Xperience Jxn as Family Affair Entertainment in 1992. Her company, which focuses on blues, R&B, gospel, southern soul music and comedy, took on its current name in 2010. She also worked to form a network with out-of-state promoters and venues in Alabama and Georgia to help bring larger shows to Mississippi.

In addition to her work with Xperience Jxn, Singleton manages local back-toschool supply drives, mentorship programs and disaster relief programs. She is also a retired registered nurse with St. Dominic Hospital and the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She lives in Jackson with her sons, Lewil and Daryl.

The #StandAgainstHate concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 28, and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the event are $55 to $85 based on seating.

Tickets are available at the Mississippi Coliseum Box office and at ticketmaster.com. For more information, call 678-322-8098.

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aladdininjackson.com

The Mississippi Black Business Expo offers visitors the chance to learn about hundreds of Black-owned businesses in the state.

jacksonfreepress.com Daily updates at jfpevents.com

BEST BETS Farmers Market Features begins at 11:30 a.m. at Mississippi Farmers Market (929 High St.). The farmers market hosts a new monthly event featuring different speakers addressing agricultural topics each month.

Participants are invited to buy lunch at City Limits Cafe, located inside the market, and take their plates to the presentation at the north end of the market. Doors open at 11 a.m. Free admission; find it on Facebook.

SUNDAY 8/8

courtesy peter heller

Drag Brunch is from noon to 4 p.m. at Hal and Mal’s (200 Commerce St.).

Capital City Pride presents their monthly drag brunch at Hal & Mal’s. Host Courtney Cruise and the Ladies of the Brunch provide the show while guests partake of brunch offerings from Hal & Mal’s and

from 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. and is virtual.

The Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership presents the webinar featuring the tech evangelist for Amazon AI. Dr. Sephus is also the founder and CEO of The Bean Path and owner and developer of the Jackson Tech District. Free webinar.

SATURDAY 8/14

Bright Lights Belhaven Nights is from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Belhaven neighborhood. The Greater Belhaven Neighborhood Foundation presents the 16th annual Bright Lights Belhaven Nights street festival. The festival features live music, local craft vendors, food and beverages, and children’s activities. The event takes place along Carlisle Street from the Corner Market parking lot toward New Stage Theatre, onto Kenwood Place extending into Belhaven Park. Entry gates are on Carlisle and Poplar Streets. $15 general admission, greaterbelhaven.com.

FRIDAY 8/20

Cathead Vodka. $40 show, brunch and unlimited drinks; $30 show, brunch and one drink; $25 show and brunch (under 21); $15 show only (no food or drinks, all ages); find it on Facebook.

Taylor Hicks & The Delta Funk Revival begins at 8 p.m. at Duling Hall (622 Duling Ave.). BankPlus showcases the American Idol winner alongside Jason Harrelson of Hannaward Pass and Patrick Smith of The Patrick Smith Band for a concert event benefiting Friends of Children’s Hospital.

General admission tickets are standing room only. VIP tickets grant early access to the venue for snacks and happy hour, access to special VIP section during the show, a meet-and-greet photo-op with the headlining band, a commemorative show poster and a show T-shirt. Doors open at 7 p.m. A $5 upcharge will be in place for attendees under the age of 21. $30 advance general admission, $35 day of show; Eventbrite.

TUESDAY 8/10

SATURDAY 8/21

Author Peter Heller discusses his new book with James McLaughlin on Lemuria Books’ Facebook livestream.

Dialog & Donuts with Dr. Nashlie Sephus: Seeds to STEM in Downtown Jackson is

Mississippi Book Festival is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Mississippi State Capitol

trip burns / peggy brown / trip burns

THURSDAY 8/5

THURSDAY 8/5

Fondren Live features live music, food, drinks, vendors and other entertainment in Fondren.

MONDAY 8/16

The Central Mississippi Blues Society presents the weekly blues night at Hal and Mal’s.

SATURDAY 8/28

The Friends of Children’s Hospital hosts its annual end-of-summer fundraiser with a disco theme at the art museum. complex lawn (400 High St.). The event known as Mississippi’s literary lawn party features panel discussions, author interviews, book signings, a Kids’ Corner, onsite booksellers and more. Free admission, vendors’ prices vary; msbookfestival.com.

begins at noon and includes a craft market, talent competition and a home-brew competition. The evening’s lineup starts at 4 p.m. with Strung Like a Horse, J & The Causeways, Sweet Crude, and The New Respects. Additional date: Aug. 28, noon. $15 Saturday pass, $20 weekend pass, $125 VIP pass, children under 10 years of age enter for free; redbrickroads.com.

SATURDAY 8/28

Old School Hip Hop Reunion begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Mississippi Coliseum (1207 Mississippi St.). The hip-hop concert raises HIV and AIDS awareness and encourages attendees to help to minimize the stigmas associated with the conditions.

The concert features Scarface, BunB, 8 Ball & MJG, Mystikal, Ying Yang Twins and Queen Boyz. $52-$82 tickets, prices vary by seat location; find it on Facebook.

SUNDAY 8/29

6th Annual Mississippi Black Business Expo is from noon to 5 p.m. at the Jackson Convention Complex (105 E. Pascagoula St.). The Mississippi Black Pages hosts the business expo for Mississippi’s Black business owners. In addition to the businesses represented, this year’s expo features business workshops, a food court, and a family fun zone. Vendor spaces are limited. Free admission, vendors’ prices vary; Facebook.

Build a Leaf Birdbath Workshop is from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Mississippi Museum of Natural Science (2148 Riverside Drive).

Wildlife rehab specialists at the museum lead the workshop teaching participants to make their own birdbath using leaves that they bring from home and from materials the museum provides. Participants should wear clothes that can get dirty and bring large, thick leaves (such as elephant ears, catalpa, or hostas leaves) to use for casting, as well as a reusable water bottle. Class is designed for teens and adults. $35 registration fee includes museum admission and all materials; find it on Facebook.

FRIDAY 8/27

TUESDAY 8/31

SATURDAY 8/21

Red Brick Roads Music & Arts Festival begins at 6 p.m. at Olde Towne Clinton. The Clinton music and arts festival kicks off on Friday evening with its Songwriter Showcase at 7 p.m., followed by a performance by Elliot Root at 8:30 p.m. Saturday’s schedule

“The Guide’’ Book Discussion begins at noon and is virtual. Author Peter Heller discusses his new book with James McLaughlin via Facebook live on Lemuria Books’ Facebook page. Free event; $27 signed copy; lemuriabooks.com.

August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

events@

courtesy mississippi black pages

Events Calendar August 2021

by Shaye Smith

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FOOD&DRINK

Heirloom Tomato Fattoush Salad submitted by Alex Eaton

A James Beard-nominated chef, Alex Eaton owns both The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen in the Belhaven neighborhood and Aplos Simple Mediterannean at the Highland Village Shopping Center. With a month and change left in the summer, Chef Eaton has provided the Jackson Free Press with a summer salad recipe to share with its readership.

Salad Ingredients • 4 ounces chopped romaine • 2 ounces diced heirloom cherry tomatoes • 1 diced avocado (large cubes) • 1 ounce red onion • a drizzle of pomegranate molasses (available at Aladdin Grocery in Jackson) • pinch of sumac • 1 ounce feta cheese • 4 pita chips • 3 fluid ounces lemon sumac vinaigrette

Pita Chips • pita bread • olive oil • salt, pepper and garlic powder Lemon Sumac Vinaigrette • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard • 1 teaspoon diced shallot • 1 teaspoon diced garlic • 1 teaspoon honey • 2 teaspoon sumac • 1/4 cup lemon juice • 1/2 cup olive oil • salt and pepper

Directions 1. Slice pita bread into triangles, drizzle them with olive oil, and top with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Bake at 325°F until crispy, approximately 13 minutes. Remove to cool.

2. To prepare the lemon sumac vinaigrette, whisk together all listed ingredients—dijon mustard, diced shallot, diced garlic, honey, sumac, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper.

3. Combine salad ingredients, including the pita chips, in a bowl and toss with the lemon sumac vinaigrette until evenly coated. Serve and enjoy!

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August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

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August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

courtesy mississippi black pages

so that money would stay within the community,” Franklin says.

“We felt like that was a way for us to contribute to what was going on in the world at the time.”

The inaugural Black Business Expo debuted in 2014 at Tougaloo College with more than 100 metro-area vendors in attendance. Five years later, the event had outgrown the original Tougaloo location and included vendors from across the state.

This year will mark a return to the in-person event after the pandemic caused last year’s exhibition to be held virtually.

The 6th annual expo will be held Aug. 21 at the Jackson Convention Center and will feaMississippi Black Pages supports and promotes more than 1,000 Black-owned ture more than 200 vendors sellbusinesses in the state, with many based in Jackson metro. More than 200 of these ing a myriad of products. businesses will attend this year’s Mississippi Black Business Expo to sell their wares.

Items for sale include clothing, fitness supplies and other retail items, along with n 2014, the world watched as Eric Garner lost con- promotional efforts by those representing and promoting nonsciousness while in a chokehold by a New York City Po- profit organizations and businesses from across the state.

In addition to shopping and networking, the expo will lice Officer. The video prompted a bevy of marches and calls for actions. The months that followed were filled host business workshops, including one the City of Jackson’s with introspection, challenges and the desire for change. Department of Economic Development will host titled “DoIn Jackson, friends George Patterson, Sabir Abdul-Haqq, ing Business with the City.”

A “food garden” will be set up under the breezeway on Brad Franklin and Queen Franklin began discussing how they could make an impact. They wanted to do something different Lamar Street, while children can enjoy the family fun zone as well as music from DJ George Chuck. Organizers are expectthan the protests, uprisings and pushes for legislation.

“We were talking about … what we can do as Black ing more than 2,000 people to flow through the halls over the people to better our situation, to contribute to the economy course of the event, each leaving with the sixth edition of the Mississippi Black Pages directory. and to flourish within our community,” Brad Franklin says.

The City of Jackson serves as a title sponsor and partner “We said that our economic power—the Black spending power that exists in this nation—is so great that we need to be of the event. Franklin says that the significance of the city’s able to harness that spending power. Because of the money that partnership in a municipality where more than 85% of the resiwe spend as consumers, our dollars can dictate what happens dents are Black cannot be denied. “(It is) an effort to mobilize, take advantage of and particin our community.”

In response, Patterson founded the Mississippi Black ularly spotlight Black Businesses in the city of Jackson because Pages. The directory lists more than 1,000 Black-owned busi- this is an 86% to 87% Black city. It’s imperative that we supnesses and services with the goal of strengthening the economic port Black businesses because if you support Black businesses, you are supporting the city as well,” Franklin says. power base in the Black community.

“It is important for Jackson as far as economics is conThe group saw the potential that the directory presented and decided to take it a step further, creating the Mississippi cerned. It is important for Jackson as far as our infrastructure Black Business Expo. The steering committee believes that and our tax base is concerned, and it’s important for the City the expo provides a space that helps empower Black-owned of Jackson and its administration to show that they are in tune businesses, create networking between business owners and with and have on their agenda to help more Black businesses to thrive and grow in the city.” offer shopping opportunities for the public.

The event is free to the public, while vendor prices vary. For “We wanted to be able to present a platform where Black businesses would be able to network, but where people would more information, find The Mississippi Black Business Expo on be able to come in and spend money with Black businesses Facebook or visit msblackpages.com.

25

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R. Kelly Kyle and Elizabeth L. Wynn thank you for your nominations.

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August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

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Kimberly Sweeney Best Bankruptcy Attorney By working with the Law Office of Kimberly S. Sweeney, PLLC, you get more than professional legal representation. Attorney Kimberly S. Sweeney-Oviasogie and her staff are focused on your vision, opportunities, and long-term solutions.

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Last Issue’s Answers 41 Symbol of Canada 42 State capital where Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock was born 44 Declutter 45 Twain, actually 47 “___ n’est pas une pipe”: Magritte 48 Outcast 49 Half of a dance?

50 Ice melter 54 Magician Shin ___, “America’s Got Talent: The Champions” winner 55 Expression when someone suddenly needs help 58 One, in Italy 59 Sewing machine inventor Howe 60 Their work is often in anthologies 61 50-Across, in French 62 Send, as a payment 63 Chilean mountain range

BY MATT JONES

Down

“This Or That?” --probably not.

Across

August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

1 “___ Can” (2008 campaign slogan) 6 Shoes in the 2015 “What are those?!” meme 11 Part of MRE 14 Word repeated on “Teletubbies” 15 Accounting inspection 16 FX in the Transformers series, e.g.

17 “Let’s change the subject” 19 Product of the mined?

20 Egyptian cross 21 Scratch or scuff 22 Oregon lake where you can drive

28

around the rim 24 T-bone region 26 They may be pulled 27 “Baby Driver” actor Ansel 30 Private response?

31 ___ Laredo (city on the Rio Grande) 32 “Go on! Git!” 33 Perform like Migos 36 Instrument with a conical bore 37 Survey choice found in the four theme answers 38 Dash, for one 39 Pieces to be played 40 Breed like salmon

1 When repeated, a “Seinfeld” catchphrase 2 “Ghostbusters” character 3 Did well at Battleship 4 Heartfelt sign-off 5 H.S. course 6 Settlers of ___ (board game) 7 Industrial region of Germany 8 Shelley work 9 Advertisement insert 10 Clavicle neighbor 11 Healing through nature, e.g.

12 “Hollywood Squares” option 13 Arena levels 18 Leave unmentioned 23 Show initiative 25 Gold, to Pizarro 26 Figure above a 9 or 0, for short 27 1961 space chimp 28 Auto maintenance task 29 Type of power in Iceland

30 Either side of Aruba, for instance?

32 Overdoes the fandom, slangily 34 “Because Freedom Can’t Protect Itself” org.

35 Squishy Easter candy 37 Reason to put up a “Danger” sign on a drilling site 38 Marriott competitor 40 ___-Kinney (band that formed in Olympia, Wash.)

41 Dropped item 43 Former Big Four record co.

44 Unwrap hastily 45 In the high 70s 46 Patrik of the Winnipeg Jets 47 X-ray area, maybe 49 It may be spiced with cardamom 51 Waltzed through 52 Troubadour’s instrument 53 Julia Roberts’s “Ocean’s Eleven” role 56 “I Think You Should Leave” star Robinson For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 57 Superfund agcy. cents per minute. Must be 18+. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800 655-6548. Reference puzzle #955

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):

The next two months will be a propitious time for you and your intimate allies to grow closer by harnessing the power of your imaginations. I urge you to be inventive in dreaming up ways to educate and entertain each other. Seek frisky adventures together that will delight you. Here’s a poem by Vyacheslav Ivanov that I hope will stimulate you: “We are two flames in a midnight forest. We are two meteors that fly at night, a two-pointed arrow of one fate. We are two steeds whose bridle is held by one hand. We are two eyes of a single gaze, two quivering wings of one dream, two-voiced lips of single mysteries. We are two arms of a single cross.”

Filmmaker Federico Fellini had an unexpected definition of happiness. He said it was “being able to speak the truth without hurting anyone.” I suspect you will have abundant access to that kind of happiness in the coming weeks, Aries.

I’ll go even further: You will have extra power to speak the truth in ways that heal and uplift people. My advice to you, therefore, is to celebrate and indulge your ability. Be bold in expressing the fullness of what’s interesting to you.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):

“Look for a long time at what pleases you, and longer still at what pains you,” wrote the novelist Colette. What?! Was she making a perverse joke? That’s wicked advice, and I hope you adopt it only on rare occasions. In fact, the exact opposite is the healthy way to live—especially for you in the coming weeks. Look at what pains you, yes. Don’t lose sight of what your problems and wounds are. But please, for the sake of your dreams, for the benefit of your spiritual and psychological health, look longer at what pleases you, energizes you, and inspires you.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):

If you deepen your affection for butterflies and hummingbirds, I will love it. If you decide you want the dragonfly or bumblebee or lark to be your spirit creature, I will approve.

You almost always benefit from cultivating relationships with swift, nimble, and lively influences—and that’s especially true these days. So give yourself full permission to experiment with the superpower of playful curiosity. You’re most likely to thrive when you’re zipping around in quest of zesty ripples and sprightly rhythms.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):

Life is showing you truths about what you are not, what you don’t need, and what you shouldn’t strive for. That’s auspicious, although it may initially feel unsettling. I urge you to welcome these revelations with gratitude. They will help you tune in to the nuances of what it means to be radically authentic. They will boost your confidence in the rightness of the path you’ve chosen for yourself. I’m hoping they may even show you which of your fears are irrelevant. Be hungry for these extraordinary teachings.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):

Virgo spiritual author Don Miguel Ruiz urges us not to take anything personally. He says that if someone treats us disrespectfully, it’s almost certainly because they are suffering from psychological wounds that make them act in vulgar, insensitive ways. Their attacks have little to do with what’s true about us. I agree with him, and will add this important caveat. Even if you refrain from taking such abuses personally, it doesn’t mean you should tolerate them. It doesn’t mean you should keep that person in your life or allow them to bully you in the future. I suspect these are important themes for you to contemplate right now.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):

“People who feel deeply, live deeply, and love deeply are destined to suffer deeply,” writes poet Juansen Dizon. To that romanticized, juvenile nonsense, I say: NO! WRONG! People who feel and live and love deeply are more emotionally intelligent than folks who live on the surface—and are therefore less fragile. The deep ones are likely to be psychologically adept; they have skills at liberating themselves from the smothering crush of their problems. The deep ones also have access to rich spiritual resources that ensure their suffering is a source of transformative teaching—and rarely a cause of defeat. Have you guessed that I’m describing you as you will be in the coming weeks?

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):

Professor of psychology Ethan Kross tells us there can be healthy, creative forms of envy. “Just as hunger tells us we need to eat,” he writes, “the feeling of envy could show us what is missing from our lives that really matters to us.” The trick is to not interpret envy as a negative emotion, but to see it as useful information that shows us what we want.

In my astrological opinion, that’s a valuable practice for you to deploy in the coming days. So pay close attention to the twinges of envy that pop into your awareness. Harness that volatile stuff to motivate yourself as you make plans to get the very experience or reward you envy.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):

Poet Walt Whitman bragged that he was “large.” He said, “I contain multitudes.” One critic compared him to “a whole continent with its waters, with its trees, with its animals.” Responding to Whitman, Sagittarian poet Gertrud Kolmar uttered an equally grandiose boast. “I too am a continent,” she wrote. “I contain mountains neverreached, scrubland unpenetrated, pond bay, river-delta, salt-licking coast-tongue.” That’s how I’m imagining you these days, dear Sagittarius: as unexplored territory: as frontier land teeming with undiscovered mysteries. I love how expansive you are as you open your mind and heart to new self-definitions. I love how you’re willing to risk being unknowable for a while as you wander out in the direction of the future.

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CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):

Poet Ezra Pound wrote a letter to novelist James Joyce that included the following passage: “You are fucking with my head, and so far I’ve been enjoying it. Where is the crime?” I bring this up, Capricorn, because I believe the coming weeks will be prime time for you to engage with interesting souls who fuck with your head in enjoyable ways. You need a friendly jolt or two: a series of galvanizing prods; dialogs that catalyze you to try new ways of thinking and seeing; lively exchanges that inspire you to experiment.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):

Blogger Mandukhai Munkhbaatar offers advice on the arts of intimate communion. “Do not fall in love only with a body or with a face,” she tells us. “Do not fall in love with the idea of being in love.” She also wants you to know that it’s best for your long-term health and happiness if you don’t seek cozy involvement with a person who is afraid of your madness, or with someone who, after you fight, disappears and refuses to talk. I approve of all these suggestions. Any others you would add? It’s a favorable phase to get clearer about the qualities of people you want and don’t want as your allies.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):

I gave my readers homework, asking them to answer the question, “What is your favorite rule to break?” In response, Laura Grolla sent these thoughts: “My favorite rule to break is an unwritten one: that we must all stress and strive for excellence. I have come up with a stressbusting mantra, ‘It is OK to be OK.’ In my OKness, I have discovered the subtle frontier of contentment, which is vast and largely unexplored. OKness allows me not to compete for attention, but rather to pay attention to others. I love OKness for the humor and deep, renewing sleep it has generated. Best of all, OKness allows me to be happily aging rather than anxiously hot.” I bring this to your attention, Pisces, because I think the coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to investigate and embody the relaxing mysteries of OKness.

Homework. Tell me what subtle or not-so-subtle victories you plan to accomplish

by January 1, 2022. Newsletter@freewillastrology.com

August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

ARIES (March 21-April 19):

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Samantha Busby

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aving worked in the restaurant industry since she was 15, Samantha Busby thrives when she is serving guests and making them happy. She loves interacting with the people who make up the greater Jackson community, and she puts her passion for makeup and costuming to use when cosplaying in her position at Dogmud Tavern. Here are some of her local favorites.

August 4 - 31, 2021 • jfp.ms

1. Dogmud Tavern (681 S. Pear Orchard Road, Ridgeland, 601499-4932, dogmudtavern.com) Dogmud offers a variety of games, pub food, well-balanced cocktails and opportunities for both guests and employees alike to cosplay. The restaurant and bar also hosts regular trivia nights and gives away cool prizes to participants. My favorite items on the menu are the “Chib Nibs” and the “TPK-Sadilla.”

2. Certifiable Studios (267 S. Perkins St., Ridgeland, 601-6052594, certifiablestudios.com) The company creates extremely detailed board games featuring some of the most beautiful artwork you can find.

“D6,” for example, is a fun adventure game.

3. Walker’s Drive-In (3016 N. State St., 601-982-2633, walkersdrivein.com) Along with an awesome wait staff, Walkers is one of the best places in Fondren to get a glass of wine. Walkers also has 30 some of the best loaded mashed potatoes in the metro.

DOGMUD TAVERN / CERTIFIABLE STUDIOS / WYATT WATERS GALLERY / FENIANS PUB / AVE CALVAR ON UNSPLASH / THE HUNGRY GOAT / JOSEPH POWELL / SAN & MOOKIE’S / KAZUEND ON UNSPLASH / ACACIA CLARK

LOCAL LIST

5 6 4 8

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4. Fenian’s Pub (901 E. Fortification St., 601-948-0055, fenianspub.com) The Irish pub has a very customer service-oriented staff, as well as tasty drinks and quality food.

5. 5th Squad (facebook.com/5thsquadMS) This nonprofit works with Colson’s Beer Co. and the Mississippi Braves to ensure veterans who need a helping hand have a few hands to hold onto.

6. The Hungry Goat (1006 Top St., Flowood, 769-233-8539, thehungrygoatcarryout.com) The owners who serve this restaurant’s comfort food are two of the most hardworking, dedicated and genuine people I have ever seen.

7. Martin’s Downtown (214 State St., 601-354-9712, martinsdowntownjxn.com) This business hosts great live-music acts and offers plenty of outdoor patio space.

8. Sal & Mookie’s (200 District Blvd. E., 601-368-1919, salandmookies.com) This popular pizza joint has some of the sweetest staff members around the area, along with a huge variety of ice cream flavors and the best house-made ranch dressing you can find.

9. The Little Pub (387 US-51, Ridgeland, 601-898-2225, facebook.com/TheLittlePubRidgelandMS) While embracing this pub’s relaxing atmosphere, guests can play pool or darts as well as eat and drink. My go-to pizza is bacon and pepperoni.

10. The Apothecary at Brent’s Drugs (655 Duling Ave., 601-3663427, apothecaryjackson.com) The trendy vibes of this laid-back speakeasy-like establishment enhances the experience. The cocktails are great, too.

From complex blends to more simple drinks, the passionate staff know exactly how to prepare whatever beverage your heart desires.

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Since its founding, Sisters in Birth’s mission has been to improve health and birth outcomes among women in Mississippi by providing evidenced based, holistic care.

Recently, it opened a women’s health clinic staffed with a primary care physician, midwife, family nurse practitioner, population health expert, and community health workers that work as a Christa Turner, Devon Turner, closeknit team to provide husband, and Trinity Turner, preconception, prenatal, and their newborn. postpartum wellness care and support to their patients.

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Patty Peck

Used Car Super Center Call 601-957-3400 to reach one of our used car specialists and mention these deals featured in the Jackson Free Press.

We strive to offer a large selection of quality used cars, SUV’s, Sedans, Coupes, Minivans and Trucks for our Jackson area shoppers. We work very hard to ensure our customer’s satisfaction, as well as making the car buying process as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

t 146 point inspection on all Premium & Premium CertifyPlus Used Cars t Lifetime Powertrain Warranty on every Premium Used car, truck, SUV or minivan t Love it or Leave it Money Back Guarantee

Used 2018 Kia Rio LX FWD

Used 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT AWD

Used 2019 Nissan Sentra SV FWD

SALE PRICE: $14,224

SALE PRICE: $22,210

SALE PRICE; $18,250

Used 2017 Chevrolet Malibu LT FWD

Used 2019 Toyota Camry LE FWD

Used 2016 Honda Odyssey EX-L w/RES FWD

SALE PRICE: $16,500

SALE PRICE: $24,500

MARKET PRICE: $25,000

STOCK: P16513A | MILEAGE: 40,124 FUEL EFFICIENCY: 29 CITY / 37 HWY

STOCK: P16231 | MILEAGE: 91,98 FUEL EFFICIENCY: 27 CITY / 36 HWY

STOCK: P16495 | MILEAGE: 68,889 FUEL EFFICIENCY: 25 CITY / 30 HWY

STOCK: P16587 | MILEAGE: 18,253 FUEL EFFICIENCY:28 CITY / 39 HWY

STOCK: P16585 | MILEAGE: 46,033 FUEL EFFICIENCY: 29 CITY / 37 HWY

STOCK: P16610 | MILEAGE: 62,008 FUEL EFFICIENCY: 19 CITY / 28 HW

Advertised price excludes tax, tag, registration, title, and $179.85 documentation fee.

The Patty Peck Promise Lifetime Powertrain Warranty Money Back Guarantee

Honda Certified Express Service Free Car Wash and Vacuum

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