Renowned Author Maya Angelou Dies at 86
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www.mississippilink.com Vol. 20, No. 31 May 29 - JuNe 4, 2014 50¢ VOTE Get out andJune 3 Renowned author Maya Congressman John Lewis tells Ole Miss graduates he saw “a Angelou dies at 86 Mississippi that has changed” The Mississippi Link Newswire In the Grove at the Uni- versity of Mississippi Law School graduation, among the distinguished graduates were students from Jackson and Canton, Miss. Marcus Amir Williams, of Jackson, spoke to the class as president of the Law School Student Body. Marcus is the son of Bernard and Renee Williams of Jackson. Gradu- ate Bradford Jerome Black- mon is the son of Edward and Barbara Blackmon of U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) spoke to UM School of Law graduates Canton. during the school’s 2014 commencement ceremony in Oxford, Mis- Congressman John Lewis sissippi. PHOTO BY NATHAN LATIL/OLE MISS COMMUNICATIONS of Georgia was the gradua- tion speaker May 10, 2014 others just ‘shook and challenged the graduates their heads.’ Those to do what he did when he chickens reminded was a young lad of 4 years him of the people old; at that tender age he he served with in wanted to be a minister. Congress. Lewis utilized the chick- He told the ens that his parents required graduates to use he take care of to insure they their degrees and laid eggs and hatched as ex- change the state of Maya Angelou delivers inauguration poem, “On the Pulse of Morning,” in 1993. AP photo amples for the graduates. He Mississippi and the stated that some of the chick- world. However, Ole Miss Law School graduates Bradford Blackmon and Marcus Williams By Hillel Italie en to enjoy mainstream success. television reporter, and often ap- ens ‘looked at him attentive- he acknowledged Associated Press The world was watching in peared on her friend’s talk show ly,’ while some ‘pretended’ that Mississippi has Lewis Maya Angelou’s story awed 1993 when she read her cau- program. to be paying attention, and changed and the ‘graduates Continued on page 3 millions. A black woman born tiously hopeful poem “On the She mastered several languag- poor, wrote and recited the most Pulse of the Morning” at Presi- es and published not just poetry, popular presidential inaugural dent Bill Clinton’s first inau- but advice books, cookbooks poem in history. guration. Her confident perfor- and children’s stories. A childhood victim of rape, mance openly delighted Clinton She wrote music, plays and NAACP Jackson branch shamed into silence, eventually and made publishing history by screenplays, received an Emmy told her story through one of the making a poem a best-seller, if nomination for her acting in most widely read memoirs of the not a critical favorite. “Roots,” and never lost her pas- awards those keeping with its past few decades. For President George W. sion for dance, the art she con- Angelou, a Renaissance wom- Bush, she read another poem, sidered closest to poetry. an and cultural pioneer, died “Amazing Peace,” at the 2005 “The line of the dancer: If you Wednesday morning, May 28, Christmas tree lighting ceremo- watch (Mikhail) Baryshnikov principles and traditions 2014 at her home in Winston- ny at the White House. and you see that line, that’s what By Stephanie R. Jones lores Orey Lifetime Salem, N.C. Her son, Guy B. Presidents honored her in re- the poet tries for. The poet tries Contributing Writer Service Award for Johnson, issued the statement turn with a National Medal of for the line, the balance,” she The Jackson Branch NAACP her service to the announcing her death. Arts and the Presidential Medal told The Associated Press in handed out awards Saturday, May organization. She is Born April 4, 1928, the of Freedom, the country’s high- 2008, shortly before her 80th 24, 2014 to people whose work currently the assis- 86-year-old had been a profes- est civilian honor. In 2013, she birthday. has been in keeping with the tra- tant secretary for the sor of American studies at Wake received an honorary National Her very name as an adult was ditions and principles set forth by Jackson Branch. Forest University since 1982. Book Award. past leaders of the association. Certificates of “She lived a life as a teacher, She was a mentor to Oprah The keynote speaker at the appreciation were activist, artist and human being. Winfrey, whom she befriended Angelou 88th annual Freedom Fund given to sponsors of Continued on page 3 She was a warrior for equality, when Winfrey was still a local Awards Banquet, held at the the event. tolerance and peace,” Johnson M.W. Stringer Grand Lodge in Jackson, speak- said. West Jackson, was Rev. Dr. Isiac ing in ministerial Angelou had been set to ap- Jackson, president of the General tone while deliver- pear this week at the Major Missionary Baptist State Conven- ing a message of League Baseball Beacon Awards tion of Mississippi, Inc. and pas- social conscience, Rev. Isiac Jackson Luncheon, but canceled in re- tor of Liberty Missionary Church touched on issues cent days citing an unspecified in Canton. He spoke on the ban- the NAACP has ad- when all you’ve known is adver- illness. quet theme, “All In For Justice & dressed throughout its history and sity all your life, what’s one more Tall and regal, with a deep, Equality.” others that have developed in re- challenge? Bring it on,” he said. majestic voice, she was unfor- Greater Blair Street AME Zion cent decades. Jackson urged the crowd not gettable whether encountered Church received the Medgar The NAACP has faced ad- to be afraid to speak out and fight through sight, sound or the print- Evers Award, named after the versity from the beginning and for things that benefit them. He ed word. slain NAACP field secretary. continues to do so. Jackson ref- also talked about his support of She was an actress, singer and The Dr. Aaron Henry Award erenced the movie character For- unions, something the NAACP dancer in the 1950s and 1960s went to Lolita Bolden. Henry rest Gump who when confronted Jackson Branch has been pushing and broke through as an author was president of the Mississippi by bullies ran so fast that he ran for at the Nissan plant in Canton. in 1970 with “I Know Why the NAACP for 33 years. out of his crutches, thus learning Jackson, who taught in the Caged Bird Sings,” which be- The Boys and Girls Club of to walk freely. came standard (and occasionally The Capitol Area was recognized “Adversity is good for you. It censored) reading and made An- President Obama kisses Maya Angelou after awarding her the 2010 will make you leave your crutch- NAACP with the John Dixon Award. Continued on page 3 gelou one of the first black wom- Medal of Freedom. AP Photo by Pablo Martinez Monsivais Mary Garner received the De- es behind,” Jackson said. “And OPINION: First Lady The summer read Share this issue with a friend Dishonoring responds to kickoff with WJTV by mailing it to: our vets school meal critics news anchor Inside Erin Pickens Page 2 Page 4 Page 8 2 • the mississippi link may 29 - June 4, 2014 www.mississippilink.com OPINION Dishonoring our vets By Julianne Malveaux for veterans. rates, though falling, remain NNPA Columnist There are other issues re- high. Minority and women The last Mon- garding fair and compassion- veterans had even higher un- day in May, ate treatment for veterans employment rates, and often Memorial Day, that must be considered. The greater challenges. was designed recent killings at Fort Hood, More than 58,000 veterans to honor those Texas suggest that there is are homeless, representing who died in insufficient focus on mental about 12 percent of the home- service to our health issues for our military, less population. More than country. It is tragically ironic with the rate of Army sui- half have disabilities or men- that around the same time we cides doubling between 2004 tal health problems. Hinds County Supervisor Robert Graham Expresses are honoring and remember- and 2009. As many as 70 percent have ing the dead, we are learn- Many veterans say that one substance abuse problems. Concern Over Inactive Hinds County Voters ing about deficiencies in the of their stressors is the inac- There would be fewer Wants Voters to be Aware Department of Veteran’s Af- curacy involved in evaluat- homeless vets if the mental fairs that negatively affects ing their disabilities that have and physical health needs the quality of life for those come from their service. Miss- of veterans were addressed Hinds County District One Supervisor, Robert Graham, is concerned about who were injured during their ing limbs, impaired mobility, when these soldiers leave the the increased number of inactive voters reported in Hinds County. In the term of service. extreme stress and insomnia military. Tougaloo area alone, which is in District One, there are some 386 voters Allegations that many vet- are all factors included when When our soldiers return showing inactive. eran’s hospitals and medical a monthly disability check is from fighting for our coun- centers do not assist those calculated. Many take issue try, they face a new fight - a Supervisor Graham received information from City of Jackson election veterans needing medical care with the evaluation, and chal- fight to be treated fairly. That commissioners stating that as many as 500 inactive voters showed up to within the mandated 30 days lenge an evaluation may take means shorter waits for medi- vote in the mayoral election.