Jackson Free Press

How do we save a city in the throes of blight? This has been the omnipresent question for the last 20 years facing residents and public officials here in Jackson. And, yet, how successful have we been?

Just ask your neighbors. It seems everyone has a complaint and a suggestion. If only we'd pave our roads, they say. If the rich white folks hadn't left. If the schools were better. Crime needs to be lower. Buildings are in disrepair. The public officials are corrupt or incompetent. The residents are lazy or apathetic.

And the Monday morning quarterbacking continues.

From a distinctly psychological perspective, placing blame seems to assuage our guilt or our pain with what has happened in the city that we love. When I place blame, then I don't have to feel bad about myself. Someone else get's the pleasure of my dumping on them. Suggestions help us to think we're doing something good; that we're contributing in a meaningful way.

So long as its their problem, then we rest on our mighty thrones proffering solutions that the imbeciles just refuse to accept. Ah, its good to know it all.

Jackson's cure is not in the many solutions we can invent nor in the myriad of ways we can find blame. That's all been done.

Jackson will be cured when we all feel - from Madison to inner city Jackson to Clinton to Belhaven - a sense of community attachment. We must feel inextricably linked to the neccessity of the urban community and the success of its people. But, right now we don't. Instead, we feel attachment to our family, our Church, and sometimes our work.

But, what about about our city? We spend 8 hours - or more - at work, countless hours with our family, and a few at our Church. How many hours do we think about and work on our community? Sure, we can say that we pay taxes for other folks to do that, but that answer assuages our sense of responsibility.

They say when one does the same thing over and over again and expects the same results, then that is a marker of insanity. Well, where has blame and the flooding of surface level solutions gotten us over the years? I guess somewhere, but not where we want to be.

Looking inward and feeling attached - bound even - to Jackson may just be our best bet at generating some outward signs of recovery.

Previous Comments

ID

117831

Comment

I don't disagree with you, John, especially about looking inward and feeling attached—but I do see one red-flag statement in your post: Jackson will be cured when we all feel - from Madison to inner city Jackson to Clinton to Belhaven - a sense of community attachment. Be careful about setting up impossible scenarios (like the Ledger et al do when they say that good development won't happen/can't work until crime is cured, thus ignorantly making it harder to get the eco-devo that is needed to help reduce crime and fund better schools). The truth is, "we all" will never feel a sense of community attachment. There will always be people, in the white community, in the black community, who want to divide for their own purposes. So we don't need an impossible standard that we "all" have to be on board. We don't. Positive efforts always have to happen despite the naysayers and the petty egotists. BUT we do need a tipping point of sorts, which I believe we're living through right now. We need enough people to cross racial barriers and stop blaming and start doing. The JFP has pushed for this from day one, amid belittlement from those who don't want to see the power of unity and what it can reap. Kaze's column takes it on this week; Obama's speech said it well recently. That attachment will come as more and more people reject division in whatever form it takes and work toward the good of the community. I know that's what you're saying; I just want to make sure your feet are on earth about the need for it to be "all" of us. It won't be. Division serves too many personal agendas.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-03-30T11:45:13-06:00

ID

117832

Comment

I cant stress this enough Jackson needs a leader a mayor who has a plan for every aspect of the city, economic Development, community development and crime reduction. I think majority of Jacksonians want a prosperous city, Nice and good schools and jobs and a vibrant downtown. We can have that here in the city Limits we need a Mayor a hero someone to inspire us like obama. Iam glad the mayoral elections coming up soon now we get a chance to elect a visionary thinking and Jackson loving Mayor, iam excited.

Author

NewJackson

Date

2008-03-30T12:27:57-06:00

ID

117833

Comment

Ladd i want to get together with you to help me with getting the young of Jackson involved, Many of my friends love this city but they don't know how to get involved to help change the tone of how things have been done in this city. I know the youth when inspired get out and get involved. Ladd look at the voter turnout and in so many ways we can do that same thing in Jackson. Inspire us and we will come and take our city and be the policy makers and the city leaders. Ladd call me lets do this i'am fresh back from my spring break trip to Chicago and i fell in love with that city, thats what i want that for JACKSON.

Author

NewJackson

Date

2008-03-30T12:36:16-06:00

ID

117834

Comment

NewJack...email me [email][email protected][/email] The army is being amassed now..How many ya got??

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2008-03-30T12:54:39-06:00

ID

117835

Comment

Excellent. I think we need to do a forum this summer, with food and music. Maybe a voter rally; screw Blackhawk and the Neshoba County Fair's pandering to racists. More importantly, we need to get a group of young, and even younger, people together to brainstorm on how to make education cool and a gangbanging lifestyle—sure to lead to death, prison or poverty—uncool. Call me optimistic ... because I am. I believe in believing, praying and taking action, all at once. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that has." — Margaret Mead And you're right, NewJack, we need to harness the energy that Obama has created so it doesn't die back into apathy, regardless of what happens in the presidential election. Call me at the office if you want to set up a time to talk about how you can help at the JFP: 362.6121 ext. 5. And Kaze, let's set a planning meeting for the forum - probably 6 or 8 people would be good to start. Talk to me or Sage about it.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-03-30T13:07:57-06:00

ID

117836

Comment

I actually think no music needs to be involved initially..unless its a separate part of a bigger event. This is a serious topic that needs real attention in a forum where white and black folks feel safe speaking their real feelings. Where white folks wont fear being called racist and neither will black folks who speak their realities..Understand the scope..there will be anger and vitriol spewed..folks will yell.talk over one another..cry..but dammit thats what we need. I think May is better because in order for this work we need students college AND high school. I was excited about the dialogue Matt and I started with the kids at the Youth Leadership Jackson Luncheon recently..A dialogue that allowed kids from the academies and public schools to FINALLY speak on race. THATS where this needs to begin. Then get Millsaps and JSU students etc..But not in a feel-good, this isgoing to be fun, type of setting..One where anger and hurt can come out and we can heal together. June will lose us the students. I am disappointed and ANGRY in reading and listening..and talking and finding that some folks are not at all interested in unity. Division allows them to be confrontational and antagonistic. White and Black alike. Youre a sellout if you sit at the table with someone of another race. Its getting disgusting around here. I don blame kids in high school for being confused cuz HELL..We're the ones confusing em! But lets do it.!

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2008-03-30T13:30:19-06:00

ID

117837

Comment

Kaze, can you send me info on Youth Leadership Jackson? Don't know if that includes my school....or if my school needs a sponsor for that. Lord knows I've got the interest. Please email me about that.... I also agree on the music for right now. I never thought I'd see Kaze write that, or that I'd ever agree with him so much :P

Author

emilyb

Date

2008-03-30T14:32:06-06:00

ID

117838

Comment

Donna Email me and let me know when y'all want to meet. I'll be happy to brainstorm with you all. john sawyer

Author

John Sawyer

Date

2008-03-30T15:28:07-06:00

ID

117839

Comment

Does Youth Leadership Jackson involve students who are in student government?

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-03-30T16:46:23-06:00

ID

117840

Comment

You don't have to be in student government to be a part of YLJ. I applied to be a part of it when I was in high school, but I didn't get picked. To join, you have to get teachers, principals, etc., to recommend you. I don't believe YLJ was exclusive to JPS, but this was well over 15 years ago so my memory of the criteria to join is rather shaky.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2008-03-30T18:34:21-06:00

ID

117841

Comment

YLJ..is not exclusive to JPS and golden is right..Like Leadership Jackson you have to be recommended. Emily, there were students from Jim Hill at the luncheon so J.H. is already in the loop. and I will email ya David Molina's email..He'll tell ya bout the exchange deal I told ya about. Its not exclusive for students in student government just students who teachers think exemplify leadership qualities. I think this years class is over..but I suppose you can nominate for next year.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2008-03-30T19:58:39-06:00

ID

117842

Comment

Good. I've been talking with David. Thanks :) Funny how things all fall together.

Author

emilyb

Date

2008-03-30T20:01:43-06:00

ID

117843

Comment

and Emily why would it surprise that I would say that?? you cant be buying into those rapper stereotypes again are you?? :-).

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2008-03-30T20:28:39-06:00

ID

117844

Comment

No. Just understanding more about the stereotypes. Referring to MY PAST stereotypes :P And honey, you had them too. Signed, Oprah's White Woman

Author

emilyb

Date

2008-03-30T20:45:10-06:00

ID

117845

Comment

People should contact Colonel Jim Wallace at the Hind’s County Sheriff’s Office to run for Mayor of Jackson immediately.(601.857.4810) He has more knowledge about running an organization that anyone could imagine. He is Sheriff/Chief McMillin’s Chief of Staff. I would put money on the fact he could run many state agencies simultaneously.

Author

JMK

Date

2008-03-31T13:03:16-06:00

ID

117846

Comment

We need someone thats not apart of the old system, you see what Mississippi state had a air force general we dont need that for a mayor. We need fresh energetic blood. Jackson lets stop being small minded and catch up with everybody else.

Author

NewJackson

Date

2008-03-31T13:35:37-06:00

ID

117847

Comment

NewJackson Colonel Jim Wallace would be that person. He is not a part of the old system. He comes from many years with the MS state law enforcement. He knows how to problem solve, streamline and get many jobs done with much professionalism and integrity. He was my former boss, that is why I know that beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Author

JMK

Date

2008-03-31T14:20:23-06:00

ID

117848

Comment

How old is he JMK

Author

NewJackson

Date

2008-03-31T16:37:51-06:00

ID

117849

Comment

New Jackson He is ONLY 60

Author

JMK

Date

2008-04-01T19:07:48-06:00

ID

117850

Comment

Another McCain

Author

NewJackson

Date

2008-04-01T20:39:45-06:00

ID

117851

Comment

NewJackson, Please don't forget that Dr. King, Ghandi, Mandela and all other successful progressive leaders were successful because they were able to judge people on their character and actions, and not their race, age or religion. Give Col. Wallace a chance...you might find that you owe him an apology!

Author

FrankMickens

Date

2008-04-04T10:48:45-06:00

ID

117852

Comment

Ladd, Kaz, emilyb and John Sawyer, Please include me in your planning activities. I can be reached at 601-826-1150 Thanks

Author

FrankMickens

Date

2008-04-04T10:52:48-06:00

ID

117853

Comment

how about a "Hinds County Fair" in downtown Smith park, ala Neshoba but urban style? I'd play there!

Author

Izzy

Date

2008-04-04T12:00:24-06:00

ID

117854

Comment

lmao at newjack...

Author

skipp

Date

2008-04-04T13:12:20-06:00

ID

117855

Comment

Young blood with a new way of thinking and doing things for Jackson.

Author

NewJackson

Date

2008-04-04T16:54:35-06:00