The legacy of Sekou Smith lives on

The Legacyof

Sekou Smith Lives On

By Kelsei Scott

Clement Gibson, a 2019 Jackson State University alumnus, gained real-world experience thanks to the 2021 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. For two weeks last August, Gibson edited press releases, worked alongside a social media manager and edited film, to name just some of the tasks that were part of the Sekou Smith Hawks Summer League Experience. “I got a chance to write a story about Skylar Mays, who plays for the Atlanta Hawks, that got published on NBA.com,” Gibson said. “That was cool getting my first authored published work.” Gibson was the first recipient of the internship that the Atlanta Hawks set up in memory of Sekou Smith, a JSU alumnus and longtime NBA.com reporter and television analyst who died Jan. 26, 2021 from COVID-19. The internship was open to journalism, broadcast or multi-media students from a Southwestern Athletic Conference university or college and provided for the cost of travel to Las Vegas as well as hotel, meals and incidentals. Born in West Africa and calling Minneapolis, Minnesota home, Gibson earned an associate degree from North Country Community College and another from Long Beach City College before attending JSU, where he earned a bachelor’s in mass communication with a focus on journalism. Enrolled in a master’s program at Columbia University, Gibson applied for the internship after a friend suggested it. He soon realized he shared several things in common with Smith. While at JSU, Gibson and several other students helped start an NBA podcast. “I remember trying to reach out to Sekou Smith so he could listen knowing he is a Jackson State alum, knowing he loves the NBA,” he said. “We were really trying to get it out to him so he could listen or maybe share it.” During the internship, Gibson discovered additional similarities he shared with Smith. “I learned that he learned about JSU from an HBCU tour as well and that he came from a community college like myself, studied journalism at JSU like myself and was an editor-in-chief,” he said. “We walked very similar paths. When I found all of that out, it felt like it was meant to be.” Time management proved critical during the internship because of the full experience it offered, and the fact that Gibson was completing his master’s program at the time. “I was waking up earlier and staying up longer,” he said. “I still had to go do the internship all day and come back and study, take final exams and do presentations.” Gibson is now focused in the short term on growing his video producing and writing skills and in the long-term looks for opportunities to give back to the institutions that helped develop his talents. “I know how hard it is being a community college student and then going from a community college to an HBCU and then to the Ivy League,” he said. “It was a hard, long journey. I definitely want to give back resources to make it easier for the next person, who travels a similar path.”

Ursula Debi and Kevin May

Over 30 years ago, Kevin and I met on the Plaza at Thee Jackson State University. I was a communicative disorders (speech language pathology) major and Kevin was a criminal justice major. I am a native of Natchez, Mississippi and Kevin is a native of Jackson, Mississippi. Our paths may not have crossed but thanks to JSU and the matchmaking of three close friends (Karen Cooke, Ray Davis and Nat Younger), we met.

Shortly after meeting, Kevin and I knew we wanted to be together. I remember our long conversations when he would call me on the hall phone in Alexander. Yes, the communal hall phone! Later, Kevin and I established a weekly date night. I looked forward to him picking me up every Tuesday to go to dinner or just for a ride. We have managed to keep our date nights going after many years of being together. After we graduated from JSU, Kevin asked me to go for a reminiscent walk with him on the JSU Plaza. All along, he planned to take me to the very place we met and propose. I said, “Yes” and we have been inseparable! In fact, “Inseparable” by Natalie Cole is one of our favorite songs. I surprised Kevin by singing “Inseparable” to him during our wedding ceremony. Fast forward, nestled in Jackson, Mississippi, Kevin and I have been married for 28 years. We are the proud parents of three children, Kelsi, Kelli and Kevin. Kelsi, a 2018 graduate of JSU (communicative disorders) works as a speech therapist while enrolled in graduate school at Mississippi College. Kelli, a 2020 graduate of Millsaps College attends law school at Mississippi College. Our son, Kevin, a 2021 high school graduate, served as a ball boy for the JSU football team from third grade to his senior year. He attends JSU and is a freshman marketing major with a minor in business. We are absolutely overjoyed that our son is a running back on the historic JSU football team!

Kevin and I are long-term supporters of all things JSU, especially the football team. We attend most of the away games and have not missed a JSU Home football game in 28 years. Truly, JSU football season is our favorite time of the year. During that time, we look forward to entertaining fellow JSU fans in our home, tailgating, enjoying Thee Sonic Boom of the South and of course, cheering

for our Tigers! Among many things, we are most thankful for the quality education we received at Thee Jackson State University and certainly, our everlasting love for one another.

DR. MALCOLM AND EMMA KERN BLACK

Emma and I met our first night on campus as freshmen at then Jackson College (Jackson State University) in August 1955.

My cronies and I, who were graduates of Jim Hill High School in Jackson and played with The Duke Huddleston Band around the tri-state area and on a Saturday afternoon TV program believed

to be the first in Mississippi for blacks, went to the gymnasium and checked out the freshmen. Walking in the door presented us with a crowd circling and cheering a couple on the dance floor. I was encouraged to meet the female dancer described as wearing a gray dress. I discovered a young lady wearing a gray dress who piqued my interest as to why she was suddenly available, considering the attention she had just received. Without hesitation, I requested a dance that lasted until the blinking lights indicated the end of the social, at which time I walked her to the dormitory. The next day I discovered Emma, in the somewhat conservative gray Princess dress, was not Margaret, the dancer dressed in the gray, hot Carmen Jones attire.

We learned we were both high school standouts, and we had several classes together. My admiration for Emma solidified when I visited her home during the Christmas holiday and received a tour of all her family throughout Kosciusko and outlying areas. I met her parents, Jimmy and Manella Kern, and other family as the son of Henrietta and Rev. Fred B. Black, co-host of a Sunday morning radio broadcast with Rev. Newsom, of which Emma’s family were all patrons. My father also pastored St. Luther and Mt. Nebo Baptist Churches that attracted a number of JC students each Sunday. Emma’s mother, Manella, and sister, Louise, a former Miss Jackson College, and my parents were Jackson College alumni and they developed an ongoing camaraderie. Emma’s job in the library gave us a place to secretly chat during our initiation into Omega Ps Phi and Delta Sigma Theta, respectively. Emma received permission from her parents to spend holiday weekends with my family four blocks from the campus.

Our marriage in 1959 at our parents’ home was highlighted by five guests and a half gallon of ice cream and a bag of vanilla wafers for the reception. Our delayed honeymoon consisted of weekends on our farm in Hermanville (Port Gibson), Mississippi and St. Louis, Missouri where Emma experienced morning sickness with twins: Karen, now a lawyer, and Varen, who entered broadcast journalism; they are JSU alumni, residing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Chicago, respectively.

Other expeditions led us to graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin. After traveling domestically and internationally over the years, we now spend weekends with our granddaughter, Portia, a Florida A&M University alumna who teaches in Palm Beach County and is a doctoral student at the University of Florida. We continue to focus attention on JSU by funding the Dr. and Mrs. Malcolm and Emma Kern Black Endowed Scholarship, Honor Roll of Donors and other activities of the Development Foundation and Alumni Affairs.

De’Suan Dixon, Ph.D. and Laquala C. Dixon, Ph.D.

De’Suan and I met while working at Jackson State University. I was the associate dean of students at the time and he was one of the men’s basketball coaches. We were both enrolled in JSU Ph.D. programs when we met. I inquired about him when I first arrived at JSU, but he was never informed until we started dating. Ironically, years later, a colleague who knew both of us felt we would be a “good match.” I attempted to avoid the matchmaker game. Then, De’Suan expressed interest to me directly and I was intrigued.

We began dating and embraced the connection we made. We dated for a couple of years. In 2020, we were scheduled to visit family out of town for the Fourth of July, but the trip was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. De’Suan suggested having a Zoom party with our family for the Fourth of July instead. I did not think anything of it. During the Zoom party, we danced and I did a spin as a part of my dance moves. When I turned back around, De’Suan was on one knee proposing to me with our immediate family watching and cheering us on from the computer screen. It was a beautiful surprise to have fireworks and a fiancé as a part of our Fourth of July celebration. We then confirmed a date to get married six months later. Unfortunately, our wedding was not what we imagined due to COVID.

Our ceremony was officiated by our pastor, but we were unable to have loved ones present because of the necessary COVID safety protocols. Although COVID has been challenging, we have experienced endless blessings in the midst of adversity. De’Suan has three degrees from JSU and I have one; we both hold a doctorate from JSU. We are proud alumni contributing each day to make a difference in the lives of our students, while also being grateful for finding #JSULove. ONEJSU