October 2, 2013
Laurie Bertram Roberts
Stories this photo appears in:
Civil Rights
Safe in Our Own ‘Castles’
One of the last places I want to find myself when traveling with my family is on the side of dark stretch of freeway with flashing lights behind me.
City & County
Kingston’s Death: The Tragedy It Is
I can't speak for Kingston Frazier's mama, but I know what it's like to be a black single mama who's judged because your child was a victim of a crime.
Civil Rights
The Myth of the Welfare Queen
I am old enough to remember the promise of welfare reform in the '90s. I recall quite well the nasty rhetoric used to shred our social safety net.
Politics
Another Do-Nothing Legislature?
For the past four years, I have read almost every bill presented to the House and Senate, and most of them are complete and utter nonsense.
Kuumba and Imani to You
My family and I have been celebrating Kwanzaa for 11 years as of this year. In 2003, I decided my family was going to have our first Kwanzaa after researching ...
Civil Rights
I’m Here, and I Can’t Breathe
I wanted to write a warmer, fuzzier column. I'm sorry, but my conscience won't let me. We're in the midst of a national moment, so warmer and fuzzier can wait; ...
Mr. Barbour, Stop Insulting Black People
A few days ago I popped on the Jackson Free Press website to see what's going on in the city and noticed the interview with Ward 1 County Supervisor candidate ...
Politics
Courting Dixiecrat Votes
This election season has been exceedingly disappointing to me as a liberal. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would see a Democratic candidate sign a pledge from ...
Domestic Violence
Stop Blaming the Victims
In the past few weeks, I have watched countless victim blamers come out to ask why Ray Rice's wife, Janay, stayed rather than focused on his violence. The truth is, ...
Civil Rights
I Hold My Son Close
Black mothers do not have reproductive justice. If we choose to parent, we have a long list of things to protect our children from.
That’s Not How Pregnancy Works
Sit back for a moment and think back to the long gone days of 2011. That was the year many of us were either working to ensure Initiative 26 (better ...
LGBT
Step Up on LGBT Rights, City of Jackson
I am wondering how it is that Waveland just became the seventh city in Mississippi to pass a diversity resolution acknowledging that LGBT citizens are a valued part of their ...
Teen Pregnancy, Misunderstood
It takes a lot of courage for teens to go to a clinic. Shaming them when they get there doesn't encourage them to come back or tell their friends it's ...
LGBT
Whole, Fulfilled, Loved
Standing on the playground that day, it was clear I liked the little blonde girl who was playing in front of me. It wasn't in a "I want to be ...
In Love of Humanity
Change, like time, has no care for how you feel or if you are ready for it. It shows up when it wants and makes itself known. We must choose ...
We Don’t Need Another Hero, Jackson
As we are faced with the challenge of moving forward after the loss of Mayor Lumumba, I recognize the appeal of being told there is someone who can save us. ...
Playing Politics with Abortion
Our lawmakers are choosing to focus on abortion because it is low-hanging fruit to get political points with their base.
Politics
Gov. Phil Bryant’s Welfare-Queen Rhetoric
There are no simple fixes for poverty in our state. Yet, instead of coming up with a multifaceted comprehensive plan to help, Phil Bryant is feeding us bumper-sticker slogans and ...
Overcoming Ableism
When my twins were diagnosed with autism at age 2, I did what most parents do: I learned how to advocate for my kids.
Economy
Not Buying It This Year
As many people come off the high of the Thanksgiving holiday and the shopping experiences of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, I am spending my time contemplating if all the ...
Panic Doesn’t Fight Crime
We in the Jackson area have been rocked recently by some horrific murders. My thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims.
No Apologies, No Excuses for Racist Symbols
Recently on social media I've read a lot of conversation about the state flag and, because of Halloween, white people wearing blackface.
Milking Our Emotions
With all that is going on with the government lately, people on all sides of the political spectrum seem to be on edge. Nothing will make people emotional faster than ...
Save People, Not Just Boobies
Every October, almost every company in the country suddenly—and suspiciously—cares about the health of womenfolk and wants to stop breast cancer.
Help When It’s Needed
Recently, fast-food workers across the country went on strike. They asked for something fairly simple: a living wage. Make no mistake: The multinational companies that employ these workers can afford ...
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