By Bill Marcy

Jackson Advocate Guest Writer

Traditionally, the month of February has been set aside to be what is commonly called Black History Month.  In actuality, this month has been selected to remind America of the achievements of the descendants of Africans who were brought to America, primarily as slaves, from the 1600s until the present.

Today, most of our attention regarding Black history is focused on the Civil Rights struggles of the 1950s and 1960s.  Now it goes without saying this period was an exciting part of the battle to gain the rightful freedoms of the descendants of the enslaved Africans who were brought to this country to work the fields of the south and the factories of the north.  However, to limit our observations to this era, even though it was led by many great heroes, simply highlights the tip of the iceberg and leaves the majority of the history hidden.

I think an individual who could be easily considered one of the first of our heroes is Crispus Attucks.  On March 5, 1770, Crispus Attucks, a 47- year-old escaped slave,  was one of our nation’s first founders.  Crispus Attucks stood shoulder to shoulder with the first patriots who not only fought for freedom for the African slaves but more importantly, the freedom of all Americans from the colonial rule of the British Empire.

On March 5, 1770, Crispus, along with others, protested in the streets in opposition to the unfair taxes that the British were forcing the colonists to pay for imported items from England.  During the protest, a group approached armed British troops who fired on them, killing five civilians.  One of the first killed was Crispus Attucks, a black man.

Many today incorrectly say that blacks were not part of our Founding Fathers, but Crispus Attucks was the first to shed his precious blood for this country. “Remember Crispus Attucks Death” was the sounding cry for the abolitionists until the end of the Civil War.

Another black leader who has drifted into anonymity is John Roy Lynch of Mississippi. It is surprising John Roy Lynch has been forgotten.  The elimination of John Roy Lynch from our history would be like eliminating George Washington from the nation’s history.

John Roy Lynch, a former slave, was born in Concordia Parish, Louisiana, on September 10, 1847. Lynch’s mother was Catherine White, a slave, and his father Patrick Lynch, was a white man.  Patrick Lynch and Catherine White were undoubtedly in love but in those times it was impossible for a white man to marry a black woman.

Patrick Lynch was not a rich plantation owner and had to work to purchase his true love so she would not be subjected to the slave life.  After purchasing Catherine White and with the birth of John Roy Lynch and his brother, he left to make arrangements in New Orleans to take them off the plantation.  Patrick Lynch became deathly ill during his absence from his family and only returned in time to make arrangements for his family’s protection before his death. Patrick Lynch turned his family over to a friend who swore on Patrick’s death bed he would arrange for his family’s protection.  However, after Patrick’s death, the friend resold the family back into slavery.

The Lynch family was brought to Natchez, Mississippi, where John Roy Lynch, age 16,  and his family were enslaved until the Union forces arrived and President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which freed them.

After the Civil War ended with the victory of Union Forces, John Lynch worked as an apprentice to a photographer and soon began running the shop for the owner.  John Lynch became active in politics joining the Republican Party.

As a novice in politics, John Lynch was a quick learner.  He was self-taught, and with only four months of formal education, he became literate. John took every opportunity to read anything that was available to him.  John Lynch quickly became one of the most eloquent men in the state of Mississippi with only four months of formal education.

As the recognized leader of the Adams County Republican Party, John Lynch at age 22 was appointed by the Military Governor Adelbert Ames as Justice of the Peace in Natchez.  Later, Lynch was appointed to the first Constitutional Convention of 1868.  In 1871, John Lynch was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives.  In 1872, John Roy Lynch was elected to be Speaker of the House as a Republican with a vote of the majority of white and Negro members.  Later, Lynch went on to be elected to the United States House of Representatives and became a confidant to almost all the presidents of his time.

John Roy Lynch started out as a slave and later became not only a business man but by the age of 25, Lynch had also become a national leader in the Republican Party, the Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives and a member of the United States Congress. This young man who started off with every obstacle that none of us could even imagine, succeeded. All the following African American leaders have stood on the shoulders of men like Speaker of the House / Congressman John Roy Lynch.

Despite the barriers, men like John Roy Lynch and Crispus Attucks proved to all Mississippians and the world that men of color were the equal to any other men in the world.  This lesson should be passed on to our youth that no matter the circumstances of one’s birth, there are no limits to what one can become.  If a man, born a slave and without formal education, can achieve so much with so little, what can our children become with so much more?  John Roy Lynch was a man to admire.

The following is an excerpt from one of his most famous speeches on Civil Rights when asked what the newly freed people wanted of their country:

“They were faithful and true to you then; they are no less so today. And yet they ask no special favors as a class; they ask no special protection as a race. They feel that they purchased their inheritance, when upon the battlefields of this country, they watered the tree of liberty with the precious blood that flowed from their loyal veins. They ask no favors, they desire; and must have; an equal chance in the race of life.”

Faithfulness and loyalty continues to be the payment of the freedom now and then.  John Roy Lynch said it clearly above and I say it clearly now. We must have an equal change in the race for life.

Forward Lookers Federated Club

Foremost club that fosters cultural, social and community growth

By Dr. Jerry Komia Domatob

Often questions like: how did and do African Americans survive and succeed despite the manifold adversities they encounter? How did they and do cope with the travesties of slavery, discrimination, segregation and colonization that crippled many people of African heritage for centuries?

Forward Lookers

Federated Club

Although no clear-cut answers explain the doubts that the issues raise, one suggestion analysts often proffer is that African American community groups such as the Masons, Eastern Stars, Elks and several other associations, partly assisted and still empower them forge ahead.

One of these clubs, based in Mississippi,  is Forward Lookers Federated Club, an association of distinguished women who foster social, cultural, economic and individual development.

Heritage Celebration

On Saturday, February, 4 2012 as they have done with remarkable splendor for the past 26 years, the dynamic Forward Lookers Federated Club members converged at the gorgeous Jackson’s State Student Center, where they celebrated their anniversary with prayers, food, music and dignity. The theme was: “Claiming our Legacy Through Leadership and Service.”

The hall, which was jammed to capacity with elegantly dressed families, friends and admirers saw, heard and witnessed what these marvelous ladies accomplish. Dressed in sky red outfits, they told their inspiring  story, re-stated their purpose, honored distinguished community leaders, awarded scholarships to exceptional students and provided inspirational words to all present.

Highlights

Other highlights included songs, greetings from Jackson State President, Dr. Myers as well as representatives of the other two female African American Presidents, prayers by Rev. Dr. Michael T. Williams and songs from Carolyn D. Coleman.  Honorees at the occasion included: the president, Jackson State University, Dr. Carolyn W. Meyers; the president, Tougaloo College, Dr. Beverly W. Hogan and the president, Mississippi Valley State University, Dr. Donna Oliver. Ms. Alice Thomas Tisdale, the editor and publisher of the Jackson Advocate also received an award for her myriad services to the community and the world.

Award Winners

Forward Lookers Federated Club came into being in 1972 under the auspices of late Mrs. Clara Jackson and Dr. Jessie B. Mosley. The club is currently led by the dynamic and articulate Carol Jackson Cooper.

By Marc H. Morial

President, CEO, National Urban League

“At last…My love has come along. My lonely days are over.  And life is like a song.”  Etta James’ rendition of her signature hit record, “At Last.”

On January 20th, the legendary Matriarch of the Blues, Etta James, died at the age of 73 in her hometown of Riverside, California.  In a life filled with struggle, heartache and illness, Etta James was able to carve out one of the most eclectic careers in recording history and earn a place of royalty in the annals of American music.  Many young people today may only know Etta James through Beyonce’s acclaimed portrayal of her in the 2008 movie, Cadillac Records. Born Jamesetta Hawkins in 1938, she began singing in church at the age of 5.  She released her first recording, Roll with Me Henry, at the age of 15.  In 1960, she signed with Chess Records and had a long list of R & B, jazz, blues and pop hits, including “Something’s Got a Hold on Me,”  “All I Could do was Cry,” and her 1961 soulful rendition of “At Last,” which became an iconic pop standard.  President Obama and the First Lady appropriately chose “At Last” for their first dance at their inaugural ball in 2009.

In her 1995 autobiography, “Rage to Survive,” which she co-authored with David Ritz, Etta James described her struggles as the daughter of a 14-year-old single mother, growing up in poverty, facing both sexism and racism, and her bouts with drugs, jail and rehab that threatened several times to end her career.  Speaking of the rage she developed and that was common to many African Americans of her generation, she wrote, “Rage.  You can hear it in my music.  It’s always been there.  I had it when I was a little kid.  I have it now.  I’ve been racing, raging through life as long as I can remember.”

Fortunately, Etta James was able to channel that rage into her music.  Her life is a lesson in overcoming adversity and never giving up.  Due her range of styles and the diversity of her repertoire, she did not fit neatly into any musical category.  She was a 1993 inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, joined the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 and entered the Blues Hall of Fame in 2001.  She toured with the likes of Jackie Wilson, the Rolling Stones, and jazz flutist, Herbie Mann.  And her six Grammy’s include one for Best Jazz Performance and one for Best Blues album.   Rolling Stones Magazine ranks her 22 on its list of the 100 greatest singers of all time.  She inspired generations of singers who came after her, including Bonnie Raitt, Brandy, Kelly Clarkson and, of course, Beyonce.

In her later years, Ms. James developed several debilitating health problems, including dementia, diabetes and leukemia, which was the cause of her death.  She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Artis Mills and two sons, Donto and Sametto James.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and we join all Americans in mourning the passing of a true musical genius, America’s Matriarch of the Blues, Ms. Etta James.

The Jackson Police Department is urging residents to sign up for the upcoming Citizens Police Academy.  The Citizens Police Academy will begin February 6, 2012 and will run through February 13, 2012.  The Academy runs after hours and during the weekend to accommodate working adults who want to participate.

Those citizens who enroll are exposed to the various divisions within the Police Department, including the 911 Communications Center, Investigations, the Firing Range, the Police Training Academy and others.

“We encourage Jackson residents to sign up for the Academy.  There are still slots available for the upcoming class,” said Mayor Johnson. “Citizens who go through the academy often report that it is truly a rewarding, eye-opening experience and those residents become ambassadors for JPD and work with us when they return to their neighborhoods.”

The goal of the Citizens Police Academy is to provide opportunities for citizens to understand their police department and how it carries out the mission of public safety and crime prevention. The Citizens Police Academy is also an effective way to develop cooperation and strong partnerships with the community.

Residents who wish to enroll may also call 601-960-1389.

JANS – The Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship Foundation (TASF) and the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) announced the establishment of the Della H. Raney Nursing Scholarship, named after the first chief nurse assigned to the Tuskegee Army Air Field.

The $2,000 scholarship is targeted to nursing students enrolled in at least the sophomore year at an accredited BSN degree program.  Each applicant must submit an application, official transcript, two page statement about their nursing career/journey, resume, and two letters of references.  The annual scholarship deadline is April 15.

“We are delighted to partner with the National Black Nurses Association to provide scholarships to worthy nursing students in pursuit of their nursing career. This scholarship acknowledges the role that women played in the success of the Tuskegee Airmen Experience”, said Jerry Hodges, President of TASF and a Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen.

“NBNA is excited to expand its collaborative partnership with the Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship Foundation.  We share the same goal to help our Nation prepare professional, licensed nurses.  NBNA offers scholarships to student nurses at all levels. The scholarships are based on merit and financial need”, stated Dr. Deidre Walton, President of the National Black Nurses Association.  “It is a special privilege to join with TASF in honoring a military nurse.  NBNA has military nurse members who contribute not only service to our country but provide valuable leadership to our organization.”

About Della H. Raney

Della Raney was born in Suffolk, Virginia on January 10, 1912.  She was the first African American nurse commissioned as a Lieutenant in the United States Army Nurse Corps (ANC) during World War II.

To join the Army Nursing Corps and receive an officer’s commission, a woman had to be a registered professional nurse and a member of the American Red Cross.  She was a graduate of the Lincoln Hospital School of Nursing in Durham, North Carolina – the first nursing program established for African American nursing students in the United States.

Prior to joining the military, Raney was an operation room supervisor at the Lincoln Hospital in Durham, North Carolina.  Raney’s first assignment was at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  She was promoted to chief nurse at Fort Bragg in 1942.  Raney then transferred to Tuskegee Army Air Field and became the first chief nurse at Tuskegee.  She later became chief nurse at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.  Raney was promoted to captain in 1945 and to major in 1946.  She retired in 1978.

By Kathy Y. Times

Children’s Defense Fund-SRO

A study commissioned by the Children’s Defense Fund-Southern Regional Office (CDF-SRO) is finding that Mississippi students get few options or parent-student conferences before being suspended or receiving corporal punishment. The community can get a preview of this research and important information about zero tolerance school policies during a summit sponsored by CDF-SRO and its community partners. Parents, students (14 and over), and the public are invited to the Cradle to Prison Statewide Summit Focusing on Civil Rights and Zero Tolerance School Discipline Policies on Saturday, January 21, 2012 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. It willbe held at the Jackson State University Mississippi e-Center at 1230 Raymond Road in Jackson, MS. Zero tolerance policies require mandatory punishments for specific offenses. Students who violate the rules can be expelled, suspended, transferred to an alternative school or receive corporal punishment for many of those offenses. Policies that were intended to combat drug and weapons charges are now being used for lesser offenses. “Children who are college bound can end up in an alternative school,” said CDF-SRO Director Oleta Garrett Fitzgerald. “Any concerned community member, especially those with children in public schools, should attend this summit to learn their rights.” There will be educational fun or “edutainment.” South Panola High School’s talented drama team, Risque Business, will perform skits on teen issues, and sing and dance. CDF-SRO is teaming up with the ACLU of MS, Mississippi NAACP, SPARK-MS, Southern Poverty Law Center, Mississippi Center for Justice to inform parents and youth about this important issue and brainstorm solutions during the summit. CDF-SRO has commissioned the PERICO Institute to research discipline policies and their impact around the state. Charles L. Perry, MPA is the senior researcher. He will discuss trends at the summit.

JANS – The law firm of Adams and Reese received the Corporate Counsel Women of Color® Diversity Award of Excellence, an inaugural award given by the CCWC as a recognition of the firm’s initiatives, outstanding achievement in commitment to diversity and advancement of women attorneys of color. The firm received the award at the 7th Annual Career Strategies Conference in Beverly Hills. The CCWC is an international organization of women of color attorneys who work primarily for Fortune 1000 and Forbes 2000 companies, and work to foster diversity in the legal profession. Adams and Reese is one of four companies to receive the award, along with the law firm of Hughes Hubbard & Reed, and two corporations, Southern California Edison and American Airlines.

JANS – Mississippi is the poorest state in the U.S. To address child poverty in the state, a forum was held at Jackson State University on Oct. 20, 2011. Participants agreed that the state of American children is in critical condition, and without help it will continue to worsen. The Children’s Defense Fund reports that a level playing field is needed to prevent the national dilemma from becoming a national tragedy.

“We need immediate help for the largest number, proportionately, of children of poverty and how Mississippi’s children are being affected,” stated Oleta Fitzgerald, Children’s Defense Fund Southern Regional Office, who also moderated the program. Panelists were Jed Oppenheim, Southern Poverty Law Center; Mary Ann Hill, Policy Research and Planning, Mississippi Institute of Higher Learning; Sarah Welker, Policy Analyst, Mississippi Economic Policy Center; and Rhea Williams-Bishop, Director, Mississippi Center for Education Innovation.

The forum was sponsored by the Medgar Evers/Ella Baker Civil Rights Lecture Series, Jackson State University, The Fannie Lou Hamer National Institute, The Veterans of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement, and The Margaret Walker Alexander Research Center.

By Atty. Jaribu Hill

Jackson Advocate Guest Writer

Sunday, September 15, 1963, was the Lord’s Day! It was a time for worship and thanksgiving – a time to rise early ­– put on Sunday’s best and head to the sanctuary. When organized hate mongers bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, Denise McNair and Addie Mae Collins were getting ready for Sunday school and practicing for the church play. They were giggling and teasing each other about “usual” girl-child things. They planned to be best friends through adolescence, graduation, college and beyond.

The deadly act of cowards who walked free with impunity for decades after committing the heartless deed devastated an already embattled community and sent a message to all those who dared to stand against a status quo that sanctioned the killing of innocent children. As songwriter Richard Farina wrote: On Birmingham Sunday, a noise shook the ground And people all over the earth turned around. For no one recalled a more cowardly sound. And the choirs kept singing of Freedom.* The murderers of Cynthia, Carole, Denise and Addie Mae, were protected by a vicious state’s rights system that covered up these and other racially motivated deaths at the hands of known persons.

It was a back in the day crime that resonates today. It resonates today as we demand justice for 21st Century victims of the same hatred that killed the Four Little Girls. We must remember these young martyrs by vowing never to rest until all those responsible for the death of James C. Anderson, who was killed in Jackson, Mississippi on June 26, 2011, by a vehicle driven by modern day night riders, looking for a Black life to claim, are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We can’t accept anything less! We must insist that a Black life has the same value as that of a White life. We must lift the veil of denial and become part of the solution that will once and for all put an end to such acts of racial hatred. As we remember the Four Little Girls, we also must demand answers that will solve the mystery shrouding the death of Frederick Jermaine Carter, whose body was found hanging from a tree on December 3, 2010, in Leflore County, Mississippi.

We can no longer remain in the safety zone. We, who are the beneficiaries of the opportunities denied so many, must come out of our comfort zones and use our inquiring minds and influence to question how such events can occur today, despite the distance we have come. For the sake of our children and all the “Four Little Girls” and “Boys” to come, we must challenge structures and institutions that continue to exclude the majority to enrich the minority. Remembering this day and celebrating the lives of Cynthia, Carole, Denise and Addie Mae should propel us into action. It should make us work harder to dismantle all of the 21st Century separate but equal schemes that deny millions of children their constitutional right to equal access to a quality education. It should make us work harder to level the playing field for those who, despite this country’s wealth, are caught in a web of grinding and unrelenting poverty. To survive the onslaught of contemporary forms of injustice, we must demand ACCOUNTABILITY from all those elected to improve the quality of our lives. No longer can we accept their silence and inaction.

Now is the time to demand more. Now is the time. On this day, when our hearts are so heavy, we must renew our resolve to fight the good fight until the job is done!!!!! Remember the martyrs and fight for the living! Shame on us, if we don’t. *The song, “Birmingham Sunday,” was written by Richard Farina (1964).

By Monique Armstrong

Jackson Advocate Guest Writer

The Honorable Constance Slaughter-Harvey was the special guest speaker in McComb, MS, on July 30, 2011, at McComb’s local NAACP’s Annual Freedom Fund Banquet, where civil rights activist, Robert (“Bobby”) Talbert received the C.C. Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award. The event was held at S.W. Regional Medical Center and brought together civil rights leaders, politicians, judges, attorneys, ministers, community leaders, NAACP members, and the general public. The theme of the program was “Courage for Change.”

Ms. Slaughter-Harvey, who has received several NAACP Awards for dedication and commitment to the continuing struggle for legal justice, told audience members that if they ever talk about C.C. Bryant, “you know you have to talk about change and courage.” “It’s courage that makes a man a man and a woman a woman,” she said. “It takes courage to tell the truth. All you have to do to sustain the momentum you need to get through is to know that what you are doing is right.” She gives credit to her parents and the village that raised her for the fact that she has accomplished so much with her life. “My parents taught me that right is always right,” she said.

“Right is right today. Right will be right tomorrow, and right will be right the day after tomorrow.” Ms. Slaughter-Harvey’s speech occurred three days before elections in Pike County, MS. More African American candidates were running for office than had ever run before in history. It did her heart good, Ms. Slaughter-Harvey said, to see so many African Americans stand and announce their candidacies. The majority of candidates present running for office were African Americans. “If you lose,” she said, “run again, and keep on running!” She told the audience to insist on honesty from elected officials. With regard to those in office who are not considering the interests of African Americans, she urged the African American community to “Be Real,” adding that they had a right to be critical of anyone who was not doing their job.

Ms. Slaughter-Harvey, who received the National Black Caucus of State Legislators Award, previously served as coordinator of the Mississippi State Democratic Party responsible for all Democratic candidates in the state. She was also assistant secretary for State Elections and a member of the Board of Directors of the Election Center. She founded the National Association of State Election Administrators (NASEA). In 1991, she was elected the first female and first black to serve as President. She told the audience that “The ballot must continue to be utilized because it empowers. The ballot changes … it took courage for individuals to insist on the ballot. If we lose the ballot, we are back where we started!” “The ballot is so important, because it empowers. It’s powerful!”

In an interview, Ms. Slaughter-Harvey said she was more determined to be a civil rights attorney after losing a case she should have won, Burton v. Williams, where Jackson State students were killed by State Patrolmen in 1970. Fresh out of law school, she took a Rankin County court case representing 24 young students, State v. Adams. During a court proceeding, the judge called her a “n—-r” from the bench, indisputably abusing the privilege he had been given to judge cases indiscriminately. The incident left a lasting impression. She thought, “Now he can call me a ‘n—-r’ 24 hours a day, but I’ll be d–n, if he calls me a ‘n—-r’ from the bench!” She wondered if she had dared him to call her a “n—-r” again, if he would have actually been hateful and ignorant enough to do it. That was his last term. Ms. Slaughter-Harvey has joined the procession of influential women who have taken a strong stand for civil rights and equal justice under the law.

She urges African Americans to turn from a life of apathy to one of intimate personal involvement to reignite the stagnated struggle, especially in southern cities, small towns and communities, where racist ideology thrives in spite of all that has been done to prevent it. She is a “no-nonsense” civil rights fighter, a tough advocate, a woman of power. She has the courage needed for continuing change. We cannot define her as an essentialist “female” in terms of our cultural norms. Her educational and career accomplishments are phenomenal and compel us to acknowledge her as a critical agent for change—space traditionally dominated by the male species as a right of birth.

Yet, at the same time, we see shining through the tough “Here I Take My Stand” lawyer, the civil rights fighter, the tough advocate, those aspects of womanhood we have long valued and would not be without. She brings us the best of both worlds. Constance Slaughter-Harvey, who has received numerous honors over the years, is the former Assistant Secretary of State/General Counsel and is presently Scott County’s Youth Court Prosecutor, and a private practitioner with Slaughter Harvey Law Office, Forest, MS. She is the recipient of the American Bar Association’s Margaret Brent Award, the Mississippi Bar Association’s Susie Blue Buchanan Award, and the 2001 Mississippi Women Lawyer. She was the first female African American to serve as a Mississippi judge, Scott County Chancery Court (1975.)

Other previous employment includes staff attorney for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (1970-72), executive director of Southern Legal Rights Association (Lay Advocacy Program) (1972-78), executive director of East MS Legal Services and one of the founders (1978-1980), Fair Hearings officer under Governor Cliff Finch’s administration (1977-1979), executive director of the Governor’s Office of Human Development (William Winter’s administration – 1980-84), assistant secretary of State of Elections and Public Lands/General Counsel (1984-1996 under Dick Molpus’ administration), executive director – MS Democratic Coordinating Committee (May, 1996-December, 1996), and Private Practitioner (1996-present). Ms. Slaughter-Harvey is a 1967 graduate of Tougaloo College, where she was elected President of the Student Government Association, becoming the first female to serve in that capacity. On January 27, 1970, she became the first African American female to receive a law degree from the University of Mississippi.

She was a former Tougaloo College adjunct professor (Pre-Law) for 36 years and a former member of the Tougaloo College Board of Trustees. She is also a member of the Tougaloo College Hall of Fame. She was appointed by President Jimmy Carter as a Presidential Scholars Commissioner. Ms. Constance Slaughter-Harvey is one of the founders of the National Black Law Student’s Association at Rutgers University in New Jersey, 1969. In 1998, the University of Mississippi’s Chapter of the Black Law Student Association was named in her honor. Attorney Slaughter-Harvey is past President of the Magnolia Bar Association and recipient of the prestigious R. Jesse Brown Award. Ms. Slaughter-Harvey is the mother of Constance (James) Burwell and the grandmother of James Arthur Emmanuel Burwell, III, a/k/a Tre’.