Sallie Hemings First Lady
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www.mississippilink.com VOL. 25, NO. 19 FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019 50¢ “ People of color have a constant frustration of not being represented, or being misrepresented, and these images go around the world. ” - Spike Lee Sallie Hemings College Hill First Lady celebrates BHM A 2018 exhibit at Monticello forthrightly stated Hemings’ relationship with Jefferson: the mother of six of his children. PHOTO BY STEVE RUARK / AP By Evelia Jones fi rst lady. But Martha died in Special to The Mississippi Link 1782, nearly two decades before It is now widely under- Jefferson became president. stood that my ancestor Sally Hemings was with Jefferson Hemings, an enslaved black from the late 1780s until his woman, was the intimate com- death in 1828. And although panion of Thomas Jefferson she didn’t live at the White for nearly four decades. Mon- House, Hemings bore three of ticello, the Virginia plantation Jefferson’s children during the operated as a museum by the years when he was president. Thomas Jefferson Foundation, For these reasons and others, acknowledged as much with an it’s Sally Hemings, not Martha exhibit last year: Hemings’ liv- Wayles Skelton, who should be ing quarters. recognized as fi rst lady. The exhibit presents as fact This may seem a complex Asha Wilkerson PHOTOS BY JAY JOHNSON Rev. C.J. Rhodes that Hemings gave birth to at concept to wrap one’s mind least six of Jefferson’s children. around. Much about their relationship Here’s what we know about By Jackie Hampton College Hill announced the stipends. The guest speaker at Fisher is known for her work remains lost to history. We my family. In the 1730s, an Publisher winner of the Samuel L. Bai- this event was Asha Wilkerson, at College Hill serving in sev- know that Hemings was Jef- English sea captain whose last Like so many African- ley Scholarship award and the granddaughter of Sam Bailey. eral ministries to include Girl ferson’s property, and that in name was Hemings conceived a American churches, members recipient of its’ annual Black Wilkerson passionately Scouting, public relations and America she did not have the child with an enslaved African of College Hill Baptist church Achiever award. spoke about her grandfather pastoral support. She is also a right to refuse sexual advances woman. (Some historians spec- consider every month Black Justin Coleman gave a his- as a civil rights worker during Sunday School teacher. Fisher from her owner. We also know ulate that the African woman’s History month; however, on tory of the scholarship prior some of the most tumultuous volunteers her time and re- that Hernings was able to nego- name was Parthenk). The child, February 21 C.J. Rhodes, to Denise Griffi n–Whittington times in Mississippi history. sources helping youth in the tiate freedom for her children Elizabeth Hemings, became the pastor of Mt. Helm Baptist presenting the awards. KeS- Wilkerson was pleased to re- community by seeing that they and extraordinary privileges. property of a wealthy planta- Church, helped the College haun Blackmon was the winner ceive a portrait of her grandfa- attend church on a regular for herself, and that she occu- tion owner named John Wayles. Hill family celebrate BHM, of a $2000 cash scholarship. ther presented by Druthie Bai- basis and makes certain they pied a central place in Jeffer- Wayles married three times. with a presentation regarding a It was named in honor of the ley. It was a drawing by artist have books and clothes. for son’s life. All three wives died relatively historical relationship between late Sam Bailey, who is known Gail Ghettis of College Hill. school and church. Margarette Mainstream historians and young, but not before bearing the black church and black col- for his work in Mississippi for The Black Achiever award Meeks presided over the Satur- the White House have long des- children. One of those children leges and universities. voter’s rights and race equality. was presented by Frank Yates. day night event. ignated Martha Wayles Skelton Clay Morris and John Coleman Mary Octavia Fisher, received Hemings Then, on Saturday night at College Hill Jefferson as our country’s third its’ annual Heritage Banquet, Hall each received $600 book the Black Achiever award. Continued on page 3 Continued on page 3 Director Spike Lee wins fi rst Oscar at 91st Annual Academy Awards By Lauren Victoria Burke Boulevard in Los Angeles, Lee Lee’s production company, 40 NNPA Newswire Contributor was nominated for two Oscars: Acres and a Mule Filmworks, Director Spike Lee, who was fa- Best Adaptive Screenplay for has produced over 35 fi lms since mously passed over for Best Film “Blackkklansman,” and for Best 1983. Lee, 61, has created sev- and Best Director for his 1992 Director of the same fi lm. eral memorable fi lms including, fi lm “Malcolm X,” won his fi rst Though Lee did not win for “She’s Gotta Have It” (1986), Oscar at the 91st Annual Academy Best Director for “Blackkklans- “School Daze” (1988), “Do the Awards. man,” the evening featured a great Right Thing” (1989), “Mo’ Bet- Wearing a purple suit and hat deal of diversity as the director of ter Blues” (1990), “Jungle Fever” and seated in the front row at the fi lm “Roma,” Alfonso Cuarón, the Dolby Theatre on Hollywood was awarded for Best Director. Lee Continued on page 3 Spike Lee jumps on Samuel L. Jackson when he won Best Director Oscar. COURTESY OF A.M.P.A.S. / ABC Tougaloo College Brown Share this issue with a friend 31st Annual White by mailing it to: Business Luncheon Black Inside Page 23 Page 13 2 • THE MISSISSIPPI LINK FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019 www.mississippilink.com Hinds County School District Weekly Update ENGAGING-EMPOWERING-ENSURING-EXCELLENCE Hinds County School District will host its 2019 Job Fair March 2nd Hinds County School District announces the 2019 Job Fair Saturday, March 2, 2019 from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM. The event will take place at Byram Middle School, 2009 Byram Bulldog Blvd., Byram, MS 39170. Candidates attending the 2019 Job Fair will be able to speak with district administrators and contracted employers. The goal of the event is to showcase all schools in the district and provide an opportunity for candidates to apply in-person. HCSD will be seeking to hire all positions, including Certifed Teachers, Teacher Assistants, Substitute Teachers, Bus Drivers, Custodians and Food Service Workers. To view a list of all open positions at HCSD and to apply online, visit www.hinds.k12.ms.us. Should you have questions, please contact HCSD Human Resources Department at 601-857-5222. www.mississippilink.com FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 6, 2019 THE MISSISSIPPI LINK • 3 College Hill Lee Black History Month Quiz Continued from page 1 Continued from page 1 The presentation by Rhodes took place Wednesday night in the (1991) and “Malcolm X” (1992). Family Life Center. This event was sPonsored by the Christian When Best Actor nominee Denzel Test Your Knowledge Education Ministry. It didn’t take long for Rhodes to dive into Washington, who starred in “Malcolm his presentation after an icebreaker from church member Lenora X,” lost to Al Pacino for his performance 1. Who is known as the father of Black History 4. Legislation to restrict the movement and Reed challenging the attendees to name at least 25 historical- in “Scent of A Woman” it was considered Month? freedom of freedmen was enacted in 1865 in ly black churches in 3 minutes. Church member Lenita Knight one of the biggest snubs in Oscars his- a. Martin Luther King Jr. Mississippi and was known as: b. Booker T. Washington a. Black Rules named 26. tory. Overall, “Malcolm X” won no ma- c. Thurgood Marshall b. Negro Restriction Rhodes was introduced by Michael T. Williams, pastor of Col- jor awards. d. Dr. Carter G. Woodson c. Black Papers lege Hill. Even though he stated there are more than 100 his- “It was so funny and so horrifying d. Black Codes torically Black Colleges and Universities throughout the nation, because it was based on the truth and 2. The frst Black mayor of a major American city e. None of the above was: Rhodes said there are six in MississiPPi. His Presentation focused truth is so Precious these days,” said a. Tom Bradley (Los Angeles) 5. What are the names of the frst Black actor and mainly on the four colleges started before reconstruction with legendary singer and flm director, Bar- b. Maynard Jackson (Atlanta) actress to win the Academy Award for Best Actor religious backgrounds. bra Streisand, as she introduced Lee’s c. Carl Stokes (Cleveland) and Best Actress? Rust, which was started in 1866 was affliated with the United flm “Blackkklansman,” at the Academy d. Harold Washington (Chicago) a. Denzel Washington (2001) and Hallie Berry e. None of the above (2001) Methodist Church; Tougaloo, founded in 1869 was affliated with Awards. b. Cuba Gooding Jr. (1996) and Jennifer Hudson the United Church of Christ and Disciples of Christ; Alcorn was Though Lee was born in Atlanta, he 3. Baseball legend Jackie Robinson famously (1996) established in 1871 on the grounds of a former white Presbytar- was raised in New York and has made broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947 while c. James Earl Jones (1970) and Hattie McDaniel ian church and Jackson State University, founded in 1877 by a Brooklyn, NY his hometown. playing for which team? (1939) a. Brooklyn Dodgers d. Sidney Poitier (1963) and Hallie Berry (2001) genesis of a black seminary. The other two HBCU’s in Missis- Lauren Victoria Burke is an indepen- b.