Jackson Free Press

A Bad Rap? A Collision of Politics And Music

Scene A: In April 2004, young black women at Spelman College in Atlanta protested the rapper Nelly's planned appearance there because his videos are offensive and misogynistic to women. The …

‘Not a Dungeon’: The Evolving Approach to Juvenile Detention

Across the pod, from inside the darkness of a cell, two shining circles stared out: the still and steady eyes of a black boy, locked up before he is even …

Left to Fend: The State’s Mental Health Failure

In 2013, MSH decided, with help from the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, to close their community-based services and prioritize their acute inpatient care at Whitfield.

[Kamikaze] Heaven's Bus

Sometimes the hypocrisy in modern society troubles me. I've known for years that the playing field for African Americans has never been level. I've always known that those who disagree …

Kerry's ‘Merit Pay' Plan

A while back, I had occasion to talk to a woman named Lillian Lopez about a bold choice she had decided not to make. Lopez, who lives in a barrio …

Most Intriguing Jacksonians 2007

<b>Josh Hailey</b>

If Ron Chane is the king of Fondren, then photographer/ceramicist Josh Hailey, 26, has got to be its crown prince. An avid supporter of Fondren (his studio is located in …

EYES ON LONDON: A Mayor's Rejoinder to Romney

The London mayor talks back to Mitt Romney and so much more from around Olympic Village.

Hip-Hop on ‘The Help'

The film 'The Help' has 99 problems but garnering critical acclaim ain't one. Armfuls of awards and nominations haven't immunized the film based on Kathryn Stockett's best-selling novel about African …

The Battle Over Schooling

Public-school K-12 education is slated to take a top spot on Mississippi lawmakers’ agendas again this year. Heat notwithstanding, Republicans will probably get their way on both issues.

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The Surveillance Reforms Obama Supported Before He Was President

When the House of Representatives recently considered an amendment that would have dismantled the NSA's bulk phone records collection program, the White House swiftly condemned the measure.

Stringfellow on city's ‘renaissance'

House Bill 882

The Problems with a Supermajority

The 2016 session marked a turning point in the political landscape of the state. After a contested election resulted in the removal of former Rep. Bo Eaton, a Democrat from …

Electing Justice: The JFP Interview with Justice Jim Kitchens

Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Jim Kitchens will complete his first full eight-year term on the state's highest court this year. Before joining the court in 2008, Kitchens worked primarily as …

A Deal with el Diablo: The Immigration Bill's Dirty Fine Print

Much of this country's legislative history is built on compromise. Indeed, deal making among lawmakers has contributed to a robust, if sometimes flawed, system of American democracy. One of the …

No. 22, Vol. 4

<b><u>She Had It Coming</b></u>

It is indeed laudable that you are pressing to have this unfortunate young woman's remains returned to her family in Omaha ("Missing Shannon," Feb. 2-8, 2006), and the authorities involved …

[Kamikaze] Hip-Hop Wins Again

Have no fear, readers. Your friendly neighborhood rabble-rouser is back after a self-imposed hiatus. I had to take a short vacation to shake the haters off. But before your mouths …

[Kamikaze] Getting Control of Our Kids

I watched a piece on "The Today Show" a few days back that really bothered me. As the days have passed, it has still stuck with me.

The Big Lie

The felony trial of Mayor Frank Melton and police detectives Michael Recio and Marcus Wright begins Monday. Although we cannot yet know what defense their lawyers will mount, it seems …

Still Waiting

Marriage might be far away from most teenagers' minds, especially as they relish freedom from teachers and textbooks this summer. But waiting until then to engage in sexual activity was …