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www.mississippilink.com VOL. 23, NO. 30 MAY 18 - 24, 2017 50¢ Congressman Bennie Thompson announces $180K in grant funds BancorpSouth Bank and FHLB Dallas Provide Funds for 25 Home Renovations in Marcus Bottom The Mississippi Link Newswire at a home dedication ceremony in to the city of Vicksburg for the repair U.S. Representative Bennie the Marcus Bottom neighborhood of and rehabilitation of 25 homes in the U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson joined local dignitaries, BancorpSouth Bank, the city of Thompson (MS-2) joined local digni- Vicksburg, Mississippi. Marcus Bottom neighborhood. Twen- Vicksburg and FHLB Dallas at a home dedication ceremony today in the Marcus Bottom neigh- taries, the city of Vicksburg, Bancorp- BancorpSouth Bank and FHLB borhood of Vicksburg, Mississippi. An $180,000 Affordable Housing Program grant helped repair South Bank and the Federal Home Dallas awarded $180,000 in Afford- Thompson 25 homes in the neighborhood. Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) able Housing Program (AHP) funds Continued on page 3 House votes to limit Banks wins runoff race powers of first black Becomes Democratic nominee for city council Ward 6 By Othor Cain Librarian of Congress Editor By Lauren Victoria Burke In what was billed as ‘the battle of the pastors,’ NNPA Newswire Contributor Aaron Banks, pastor of Glory Empowerment Cen- ter located at 3874 I-55 South Frontage Rd in South In a vote of 378 to 48, the Jackson, was victorious in his quest to become the House passed legislation to take Democratic nominee for councilperson in Ward 6. power away from the current Banks defeated Ernest Slaughter, pastor of New Librarian of Congress, Carla Canney Creek MB Church located at 815 McCluer Hayden. Rd., also in South Jackson, by garnering 675 votes The legislation, H.R. 1695, or 59 percent. Slaughter received 465 votes or 40 authored by House Judiciary percent. Chairman Bob Goodlatte (D- This was the first political race for both candi- Va.) and ranking member John dates. Conyers (D-Mich.), would limit While voter turnout was low, it was higher than the powers of the librarian. It is most expected with a little more than one thousand expected to pass the Senate and people returning to make a decision. be signed into law by President South Jackson encompasses four wards with the Trump. largest portion belonging to Ward 6. The bill makes the head of the In recent years Ward 6, and south Jackson as a Copyright Office, the Register Carla Hayden was appointed the whole, has been plagued with an onslaught of di- of Copyrights, a presidential ap- 14th Librarian of Congress by lapidated housing, an influx of crime and changing pointment that would have to be President Barack Obama on Feb- demographics. “I recognize that the greatest re- confirmed by the Senate, rather ruary 24, 2016. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS source in south Jackson after its citizens, is its real than an appointment by the Li- estate,” Banks said. “I want to be able to utilize all of brarian of Congress, as it has from appointing the next Regis- these vacant building and create some new activity been since 1870. The bill also ter of Copyrights. That legisla- in Ward 6.” limits the position of Librarian tion passed the House April 26. Banks recently held a press conference at Ap- of Congress to a ten-year term. Supporters of the bill argued pleRidge Shopping Center which was once home to The previous Librarian of that the legislation would help a skating rink, bowling alley and many other retail Congress, James Billington, to modernize the Copyright Of- shops. Today, it sits empty and abandoned. “I want served in the position for 28 fice and make it more account- to help find ways to restore this center,” said Banks. years. able to Congress. Attempts to “I remember the glory days of south Jackson.” President Obama appointed contact the office of Rep. John Banks is proposing a program for churches to get Hayden, the 14th Librarian of Conyers (D-Mich.) for details involved in the process by offering a payment in lieu Congress, February 24, 2016. on why he authored H.R. 1695, of taxes. “We believe whole heatedly that there are She is the first African Ameri- were not answered. many churches and other non profits willing to in- can to hold the position, as well “This bill serves no purpose vest in south Jackson,” Banks said. “If we are suc- as the first woman to be the other than to take power away cessful in bringing this initiative online, we will re- Librarian of Congress, in the from the Librarian of Congress agency’s history. and give it to powerful lobby- On March 23, legislation was Banks introduced to block Hayden Hayden Continued on page 3 Banks Continued on page 3 Chambliss wants to An Open Letter to IHL Dr. Glenn Boyce, Commissioner of Higher Education [email protected] re-open Ayers case Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Mr. C. D. Smith Jr., President & Chair of IEO Search Committee By Janice K. Neal-Vincent [email protected] Contributing Writer Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning May 17 was the 63rd anni- Board of Trustees versary of Brown v. Board of Education. Poised on the advent of the announcement of the preferred candidate for Concerned citizens met in Jackson State University president, I sincerely request that the Board of Room 113 of the Capitol with Trustees respect the recommendations made by the individuals chosen original civil rights lawyer to represent the administration, faculty, staff, students, foundation, com- of the Jake Ayers Case – Al- vin Chambliss, Jr. who quoted munity and alumni of Jackson State University. President Donald Trump as say- ing that he would not enforce On May 8, in executive session, the Board of Trustees conducted second- Title III funding for black col- round interviews with finalists. The JSU constituents selected to serve leges because they are vestiges on the Interview Search Advisory Committee (IASC) also participated. of the past and violate the 14th At the conclusion of the interviews, the Board of Trustees met to hear Amendment to the Federal Con- candidate assessments from the JSU constituents. stitution. In refutation, Chambliss ex- Within strict guidelines, each of the eight JSU representatives was given plained that the systematic ap- the opportunity to express his or her opinion regarding the finalists. The proach to marginalizing Histori- JSU constituents provided feedback based on the resumes, interviews, Ayers Alvin Chambliss, first civil rights lawyer of Jake Ayers case, holds press conference (Letter continued on page 3) Continued on page 3 for re-opening the case. PHOTO BYJANICE K. NEAL-VINCENT Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area and The “Underground” Share this issue with a friend Lowe’s partner for 2017 National Women Build Interview with by mailing it to: Amirah Vann Inside Page 5 Page 18 LOCAL 2 • THE MISSISSIPPI LINK MAY 18 - 24, 2017 www.mississippilink.com MDAH ‘History is Lunch’ series presented the book Brother Hollis: The Sankofa of a Movement Man by Hollis Watkins By Janice K. Neal-Vincent Contributing Writer During their History is Lunch Series, the Mississippi Depart- ment of Archives and History gave voice to long-time civil rights activist/founder of the Veterans of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement, Hollis Wat- kins May 3. With C. Liegh McInnis, an instructor of English at Jack- son State University and former publisher/editor of Black Mag- nolias Literary Journal, Watkins discussed various aspects of JSU English instructor/civil rights veteran C. Liegh McInnis chats with au- Mississippi Department of Archives and History listens as Hollis Watkins and C. Liegh McInnis expound upon his book, Brother Hollis: The thor Hollis Watkins. issues raised in the book, Brother Hollis: The Sankofa of a Movement Man. PHOTOS BY JANICE K. NEAL-VINCENT Sankofa of a Movement Man, the author’s first book. The well- on the farm, Watkins pointed out blessed that we didn’t die from sissippi as opposed to those in- ing things for ourselves.” prevented us from getting what written book breaks ground by that he was being prepared for carbon monoxide poisoning. But side.” Contrary to leadership actions we deserved,” said Watkins. detailing what black life is like various jobs in the movement. we used solitary confinement to “A chapter of the book is of yesterday, Watkins noted that During Watkins’ book sign- in America along with analyzing “It gave me the insight to ensure our satisfaction. We discovered devoted to unsung heroes. He today many things are done via ing, Pamela Junior, director of and critiquing the black leader- that everyone who worked with that if we didn’t go into the hole (Watkins) was determined to mobilizing rather than orga- The Mississippi Civil Rights ship establishment. me or under my supervision as a large group, then it wasn’t devote a substantial number of nizing. “We were better off in Museum, said, “My thing is how Watkins explained that he could do anything that needed to too bad. We sang and sang and pages to people who are unsung Mississippi because we formed wonderful it is to have a soldier grew up in a family that em- be done,” he chuckled. sang and after a while officials – people who prepared lunches, COFO (Council of Federated of the Civil Rights Movement phasized respect and truth. His Watkins argued that because let us out.” donated money on the side, etc. Organizations). When we went who has written a book about his parents chastised him and his of his instilled values, he never McInnis zoomed in on Free- were important,” said McInnis.

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