www.mississippilink.com VOL. 23, NO. 16 FEBRUARY 9 - 15, 2017 50¢ AC Newman: “The airport operation is sound and profitable.” BL K By Stephanie R. Jones the airport stands a year later. Jackson Municipal Airport Authority CEO, Contributing Writer Newman outlined the stats accu- Carl D. Newman, A.A.E., (center) at the JMAA It’s been a year since Carl D. mulated during his tenure, painting State of the Airport Address, Feb. 6 at the M Newman took the helm at Jackson- a picture of what’s been going on Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International O NT H Medgar Wiley Evers International with the airport. Airport. From left, JMAA Board Commissioner Airport. On Monday, he gave a re- Newman said the airport author- James L. Henley Jr.; Vice Chairman Rosie L.T. History port to Jackson Municipal Airport Pridgen, Chairman Evelyn O. Reed; Mississip- See Black History Section Authority board members, media pi State Rep. Alyce Clarke; and Commissioner on pages 4 and 5 Airport and community leaders on where Continued on page 4 Vernon W. Hartley Sr. PHOTO BY JANICE K. NEAL VINCENT Baldwin documentary “I Am Not Your Negro” New Hope Baptist Church receives Oscar nod presents Legacy Night Honoring Notable African Americans By Janice K. Neal-Vincent Contributing Writer New Hope Baptist Church began its Sixth Annual Back in the Day Black History Month Celebration Thursday, February 2. The theme Baldwin was New Hope Legacy Night. A space for racial pride was created By Lauren Victoria Burke with marches, speeches, songs and NNPA Newswire Contributor poems that depicted the saga of the On February 1, the first day of Black African-American race. History Month, the National Museum of Presiding officers, Eddie and Ma- African American History and Culture pre- rie Johnson, laid the evening’s foun- miered the Oscar-nominated documentary dation by portraying African Ameri- “I Am Not Your Negro,” which features cans as a strong people. Backing commentary by James Baldwin. The film is them was Major Frank Branch who a tribute to the staggering contribution of pitched the African-American race one of America’s greatest men of letters. as descendants of kings and queens Director Raoul Peck spent ten years com- from royalty. Adding to the flavor pleting the film. The documentary was in- were youngsters who energized their spired by one of Baldwin’s unfinished man- intellectual and vocal skills. uscripts regarding his friendships and views New Hope Youth Choir ushered on three of his friends: Medgar Evers, Mar- in Hezekiah Walker’s Every Praise tin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. None is to our God and the American Ne- of the three would live to see their 40th gro Spiritual, It’s Me O Lord, Stand- New Hope Christian School boy reminds audience of President Barack Obama’s “Yes We Can” appeal for a better America. birthday. Medgar Evers was assassinated ing in the Need of Prayer. Mikayia in 1963 in Jackson, Miss.; Malcolm X was Faulkner, an 11th grade student at basketball player Wilt Chamberlain; Child. Military Salute. assassinated in 1965 in New York City; Murrah High School, rendered a first African-American woman evan- These key players demonstrated The above were the essential tools King was assassinated in 1968 in Memphis, special musical feature. New Hope gelist, Amanda Berry Smith; first the team spirit needed to command Collins needed to remind the audi- Tenn. Christian School children celebrated black Congresswoman and lifelong the audience’s attention. Attorney ence, “We come together to talk At the heart of the film, the jarring docu- the vital role of African Americans in social activist, Shirley Chisholm; Mike Espy’s introduction of the about history that we should never mentary provides Baldwin’s sociopolitical history. first African-American woman to guest speaker, Retired Major Gen- forget, to teach people how we came observations and showcases the writer’s el- During that particular phase, the open a charter bank, Maggie Lena eral Augustus L. Collins of Jackson, to where we are today. I would not oquence and directness as a communicator. children presented the subtheme ti- Walker; first African-American Miss., put a smile on his lips when he have been able to accomplish the Peck credits Baldwin with changing his tled I Won’t Give Up; I Can’t Give President, Barack Obama; and pro- referred to Collins as a commander things I’ve accomplished had it not life after he read “The Fire Next Time” Up. Historical contributions of the lific writer, Langston Hughes. The of men. One additional note, howev- been for the people who’ve gone be- when he was a teenager. following persons were recognized: audience’s heads were then turned er, occurred prior to Collins’ podium fore me.” prominent scientist and inventor, with an uplifting dramatic version of posture. The Mississippi National Baldwin George Washington Carver; famous Mychal Wynn’s poem I am the Black Guard rendered an unforgettable New Hope Continued on page 3 Continued on page 3 Jury reaches verdict in Ben Allen’s embezzlement trial Woman who falsely vindicated during this process.” NOT guilty on nine Count IV, in which the jury accused Emmett Till will counts; guilty on one found Allen guilty of, specifi- cally charged him with: “will- avoid prosecution By Othor Cain fully, unlawfully and feloni- Contributing Writer ously covert to his own use any By Erick Johnson After a little more than money or other valuable thing The Chicago Crusader/NNPA Member six hours of deliberations, a to with a $1,738.37 for pay- He’s been dead for more than 12-member jury hearing the em- ment of Benjamin Wade Allen 60 years. Buried with Emmett bezzlement trial of Downtown III and Susan Allen’s personal Till was the truth to what led to Jackson Partners President Ben cell phone bill said $1,738.37 the brutal murder in 1955. But Allen, found him guilty of only being the lawful property of the latest development in the case one count in a ten count indict- Downtown Jackson Partners, is not going well with the Till’s ment. That one guilty verdict a nonprofit corporation, which relatives in Chicago, the murder was for paying $1,738.37 for lawful currency came into his boy’s hometown, where schools his and his wife’s cell phone possession by virtue of his and streets are named after him. bills using DJP funds. employment at Downtown A new book about the murder The ten-count indictment Jackson Partners, a nonprofit is out and the woman whose ac- included allegations that Allen corporation, and which monies Allen cusations led to the brutal killing Till misused and embezzled pub- he did not return to Downtown of the 14-year-old confessed that lic funds for his personal use. committee of DJP to operate Allen’s attorney said. “While Jackson Partners in violation of her story was a lie. Like Till’s kill- Till’s mother, Mamie Till-Mo- Allen’s lawyers maintained in the manner in which he did. we are pleased with the jury Miss. Code Ann. 97-11-25.” ers, Carolyn Bryant Donham will bley, never found justice for her throughout the trial that he was “Mr. Allen was given this au- finding Mr. Allen not guilty of not be brought to justice or face given permission by the board thority and we proved that dur- nine of the ten counts, I remain Allen any charges for perjury. Till of directors and the executive ing this trial,” Merrida Coxwell, frustrated that he wasn’t totally Continued on page 3 Continued on page 3 Educate Me Forward Film Review Share this issue with a friend Foundation Lookers 2017 The LEGO by mailing it to: growing the Luncheon Batman Movie Inside number of black teachers Page 7 Page 19 Page 18 IN MEMORIAM 2 • THE MISSISSIPPI LINK FEBRUARY 9 - 15, 2017 www.mississippilink.com Betty Joyce Collins James Earl Grant July 30, 1945 - Feb. 1, 2017 May 12, 1947 - Feb. 1, 2017 church projects. and loving wife Dixie of 36 years, five children Mo- She received her early education in nique and Jason of Jackson, Miss.; Jennifer of Me - George County School System, a bachelor tairie, La.; Christopher (Lauren) New York, N.Y.; in business education from Alcorn State Brittany of Hattiesburg, Miss.; six grandchildren, Do- University and a master of science in edu- monique, Damien, Dylan, Devin, Jaleel and Kinvette; cation from Jackson State University. step-mother, Lenora Grant of Jackson, Miss.; sisters, She was an educator. She taught Kinder- Annie Ruth Smith (Samuel) of Raleigh, N.C.; Phyl- garten students at Florence High School in lis Grant-Bowman, Charlottesville, Va.; Janice Pierce the 1970s. She then began working at Uni- (Teffany), of Atlanta, Ga.; sister-in-law, Cassandra versity of Mississippi Medical Center as Grant (Ralph-Deceased), Jackson, Miss.; step-sister, an educational specialist. For twenty five Sandra Hayes (Melvin) Stockbridge, Ga.; three broth- years she worked with third year medical ers, Harold (Joyce) of Byram, Miss.; Larry (Faye) of students. Jackson and Dennis (Mae) Terry, Miss.; mother-in- Joyce was united in holy matrimony to law Lillie Hampton; sister-in-laws, Judy Moore (Ed- Lee Marcus Collins November 25, 1967. die Jr.) Braxton, Miss.; Paula Johnson (Tony) Jackson, They became the proud parents of two Miss.; Cindy Hampton, Atlanta Ga.; brothers-in-law, children, Keith and Sharon. Rickey Hampton, Braxton, Miss. and Bruce Hampton She was predeceased by her father, Ira (Angelene) Florence, Miss. Dorsett Sr., her mother, Annie Bell Dorsett; Aunts, Lea Bryant, Emily Wilson, Aleen Lillis (Ar- two brothers, Alfred Wells and Rev.