www.mississippilink.com Vol. 20, No. 16 February 6 - 12, 2014 50¢ Forward Lookers Dr. Evie Garrett African-American Federated Club’s 28th Dennis: International History Month kicked annual luncheon honors Olympic Committee and off with ‘Living legacy of ‘Lifting As We Climb’ Mississippi history maker Freedom Out Loud’ By Ayesha K. Mustafaa Editor The XXII Olympic Winter Games begin Friday, Feb. 7, 2014, in Sochi, Russia, amid concerns of terrorist at- tacks and general complaints of un- preparedness for the arriving world athletes and audience. On January 30, Evie Garrett Den- nis, age 89, traveled from her home in Denver, Colo. to her native Mis- Fitzgerald Bynum Chambliss sissippi to visit her 98-year-old sister, retired evangelist Ozie Wattleton, and sister Ola Crockett, age 84. By Ayesha K. Mustafaa “1) To help others improve During her visit, she made the Editor Cooper-Stokes, Dominic Dantzler, Sharice Taylor and Tambra the quality of their lives, Mississippi connection to the Olym- Dennis Cherie PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE R. JONES The Forward Lookers 2) to bind together women, pics reflecting on the historic firsts Federated Club was formed young adults and youth for she achieved as an African American said Dennis. By Stephanie R. Jones City Councilwoman LaRi- when two groups under the social, moral, religious and and woman. “I got started when my fifth grade Contributing Writer ta Cooper-Stokes (Ward 3) auspices of the late Clara educational betterment and Another Mississippian linked daughter, Pia, came home and said A pro-Jacksonian, mu- brought together the group Alexander Jackson and Dr. 3) to raise to the highest lev- with the Olympics, explained Den- she wanted to run track. Being the sical entertainer, spoken of participants at City Hall Jessie B. Mosley merged. el in the home, moral con- nis, is Gold Medalist Ralph Boston, persistent kid that she was and still word artist, and other to kick start Black History The women also credit their sciousness and civic life.” who broke the last of Jesse Owens’ is, I told her to have the coach come speakers herald in the Month for 2014. Maranda origin to “a seed planted by On the first day of African world records in August 1960, with and talk to me. He wanted to start month that is dedicated Joiner hosted the celebra- the Mary Church Terrell Lit- American History Month a long jump of 26 feet 11-1/4 inches. a little girls track club and I helped to celebrating, honoring tion. erary Club” in 1972. for 2014, the women host- Boston broke the record five times him organize that. That’s where it all and remembering African- The message, “Living The purpose of the club ed a capacity audience at over the next five years. started.” Americans whose efforts Freedom Out Loud,” res- is three-fold and very simi- their 28th Annual Heritage “I started with the Olympic move- To represent her daughter’s club, changed the face of the onated with the younger lar to the historic African- Luncheon held in the JSU ment in 1958. And I have traveled to Dennis said she decided to attend United States from one of generations of African American group of women every Olympic Game since 1976 ex- racial inequality to a high- known as the National Asso- Forward Lookers cept one - summer or winter games. I Olympic Commitee er quality of life for many. Living Freedom ciation of Colored Women: Continued on page 3 was just at the last Olympic Games,” Continued on page 3 Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014 Continued on page 3 Mission Mississippi’s 14th Annual Governor’s Prayer Luncheon features Whole Foods Market ‘Conversation with Congressman opens in Jackson Thompson and Governor Bryant’ By Ayesha K. Mustafaa Editor By Ayesha K. Mustafaa Bennie Thompson and Mayor Chokwe Editor Governor Phil Bryant. Lumumba opened A representative from each seg- Cong. Thompson his remarks at the ment of Mississippi government narrated the many hard- grand opening of was called forward and prayer ships of growing up the Whole Foods offered for them at Mission Mis- black in Mississippi Market, Tuesday, sissippi’s 14th annual Governor’s - from segregated and Feb. 4, 2014, stat- Prayer Luncheon. There were unequal schools to ab- ing, “The city of special prayes for Mississippi rep- sence of health care. Jackson is open for resentatives in the U.S. Congress, Gov. Bryant iterated business and proud for State legislators, judges of the how much we have to to have Whole various courts and prayer for the be thankful for. Foods Market here Mayor Chokwe Lumumba welcomes Whole Foods Market to Jackson PHOTO BY governor and lieutenant governor. After each gave their in Jackson - the city AYESHA K. MUSTAFAA Liza Cirlot Looser, CEO of personal testimonies, with the theme ‘one Cirlot Agency, and Maggie Wade Winters posed the ques- city, one aim, one Dixon, news anchor on WLBT tion, “How do we rise destiny.’” TV and a co-chair of the prayer above the political rhet- Cong. Thompson and Gov. Bryant PHOTO The 34,000 luncheon planning committee, oric to build relation- BY AYESHA K. MUSTAFAA square-foot store gave the welcome message to ships of trust?” In closing, he added, “I believe in its new home in more than 600 guests. Bryant responded, “My faith we accomplished our goal. We Highland Village, Among those leading the is larger than the political world wanted the audience to hear these 4500 I-55 North, prayers were State Treasurer Lynn in which I live.” Thompson said, two tell their story and share about will feature natural Fitch, Speaker of the House Phil- “The best thing you can do is get their faith. And they showed that and organic foods, lip Gunn and State Senator Ken- to know people.” although they may not agree, they including an organ- neth Wayne Jones. Joining the Winters said, “Race matters but can still share their commonalities ic salad bar, natural public officials in leading a prayer grace matters more, and grace is in faith and in many other ways. body care products was Jeffrey Webster, director of greater than race. For 14 years, we “The focus was not on their po- and beer on the tap. human resources at Nissan Can- have brought together Christians litical views. Mission Mississippi Regular store hours (Center) Omar Gaye, Whole Foods’ Southern Region President, and local staff ton. from around the state to pray for is about building relationships of will be 7 a.m.-10 break bread in place of ribbon cutting at the opening. PHOTO BY JAY JOHNSON Neddie Winters, president of our governor and state leaders. trust, respect and honesty.” p.m., seven days a Mission Mississippi, was mod- And this year we are focused on For more information, visit week. nies to Work For in America erator for the discussion that fol- the theme ‘50 years later, how has their website www.missionmissis- The mayor said, “… Ranked by Fortune Magazine, Whole Whole Foods lowed between Congressman the story changed.’” sippi.org as one of the 100 Best Compa- Foods Market is creating an Continued on page 4 Delta Blues Judge to decide if IN MEMORIAM: Share this issue with a friend Museum black press will be Dorothy Faye by mailing it to: celebrating treated fairly by Jasper st Inside 31 anniversary tobacco firms Page 2 Page 6 Page 6 Celebrating African American History Month 2 • the mississippi link February 6 - 12, 2014 www.mississippilink.com A piece of African American History…. Delta Blues Museum celebrating 31st anniversary XXXX Mississippi’s oldest music museum marks milestone with events throughout 2014 Historic freight depot in downtown Clarksdale, now home of the The Muddy Waters Addition at the Delta Blues Museum (Photos cour- Delta Blues Museum The Delta Blues Museum today tesy of The Delta Blues Museum The Mississippi Link Newswire in the story of the blues. Estab- CLARKSDALE, Miss. - The lished in 1979 by the Carnegie Delta Blues Museum marked its Public Library Board of Trustees 35th year January 31, 2014 with and re-organized as a stand-alone celebrations to continue through- museum in 1999, the Delta Blues out the year. Located “in the land Museum is the state’s oldest mu- where blues began,” 1 Blues sic museum. Alley, Clarksdale, it is just 90 Since 1999, the museum minutes south of Memphis. Cur- has been housed in the historic rent visitation hours are Monday freight depot, located just across through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 from Ground Zero Blues Club in p.m. downtown Clarksdale. Its expan- New exhibits featuring art- sion, known as The Muddy Wa- ists Jessie Mae Hemphill, Sugar ters Addition, was designed to Blue, North Mississippi Allstars complement the depot structure, and R.L. Burnside have recently which was built in 1918 for the A collection of guitars in the museum A scene depicting Muddy Waters inside museum been added to the year’s lineup. Yazoo and Mississippi Valley The museum will also offer spe- Railroad. The museum building tion of the art form and the artists grow with future generations of Gospel Festival in August and Muddy Waters Addition. cial 35th anniversary exhibitions was designated as a Landmark who created it. musicians.” the Juke Joint Festival in April. Expanded exhibits will en- to be displayed during Juke Joint Property in 1996. “The power of this place and The Delta Blues Museum As a 2013 recipient of the Na- able the cultural organization to Festival (April 10-13) and the Director Shelley Ritter said of the artists who came from it Stage is adjacent to the museum tional Medal for Museum and better preserve and display the Sunflower River Blues and Gos- that the museum has never is immeasurable,” Ritter said.