[Stiggers] Love and Black History | Jackson Free Press | Jackson, MS

[Stiggers] Love and Black History

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Ken Stiggers

Miss Doodle Mae: "The staff of Jojo's Discount Dollar Store had a very informative and inspiring meeting this morning on the first day of Black History Month. Jojo recalled his boyhood experience when Black History Month was Negro History Week. He told us about Miss Lilly Mae Sweet, his fifth-grade music teacher, and her special way she taught her students black history. What he remembered the most about Miss Lilly Mae Sweet was how she made sure that during Negro History Week her students understood and memorized the lyrics to James Weldon Johnson's 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' and Nina Simone's 'Young, Gifted and Black.' Her purpose was to instill pride and dignity in Jojo and his classmates. Jojo continued Miss Lilly Mae Sweet's annual tradition by providing the staff and me copies of 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' and 'Young, Gifted and Black.'

"Jojo wants to give his customers the gift of history to instill in them the ability to learn and think critically during the 'Tribute to Carter G. Woodson and Pre-Valentine Day Sale.' Therefore, Jojo will stock his store with plenty of black history books. My sister, Miss Dipsy Doodle Mae, will sing folk tunes from the civil-rights era and sell her new line of 'Love and Black History Valentine Cards.' And Kunta 'Rasheed X' Toby will premiere his new movie adaptation of J.A. Rogers' controversial book 'From Superman to Man.'

"Remember: Everything is still a dollar during Black History Month at Jojo's Discount Dollar Store."

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