www.mississippilink.com VOL. 18, NO. 40 JULY 26 - AUGUST 1, 2012 50¢ Black businesses featured on new Web site • P. 3 JPS new executive leadership team • P. 8 The state’s HIV/AIDS crisis Inside Canton native can be ‘best’ • P. 11 Relying on ‘faith,’ Mississippi determined First black as MS United Methodist bishop • P. 11 to remove stigma By Othor Cain hoped to be the first of a series of Managing Editor Cooper-Stokes wins Annual HIV/AIDS Days at the Mississippi, like most of the Deep Capitol. South, is facing a devastating HIV “We talked to people who jury-ordered runoff crisis. According to a March 2012 said they would rather die report released by the Southern from the disease than let HIV/AIDS Strategy Initiative: The their neighbors know they Still plans to seek Deep South has the highest rates of have HIV,” said Megan new HIV and AIDS diagnoses in the McLemore, a senior United States and people living with health researcher with investigation of HIV in the Deep South die at much Human Rights Watch higher rates than in other parts of the (HRW), which co- perjury allegations country. hosted the gathering This crisis is particularly acute in with the Mississippi certain populations in the South: 54 organization A Brave By Gail M. Brown Editor percent of new HIV cases among New Day and Harvard African Americans in the United investigators. The coali- HIV/ Receiving 1,503 votes Tues- States were in the Deep South; 1 in 5 tion requested that legis- day, July 24, in a jury-ordered African American MSM (men who lators review several state run-off election, LaRita Coo- have sex with men) in the South are polices, augment appro- per-Stokes won the Ward 3 estimated to be living with HIV; 8 of priations for treatment, City Council seat against her the Deep South states report a high- and improve sex educa- opponent Joyce Jackson, who Cooper-Stokes er proportion of women among new tion legislation. received 1,340 votes. HIV infections than the U.S. aver- An HRW report The two met in a runoff ear- to get her point across regard- age; and one-half of the new HIV alleges that Missis- lier in which Cooper-Stokes ing voter fraud. diagnoses among Hispanics/Latinos sippi has encour- AIDS was declared the winner, but In a press release from occur in the Southern U.S. aged sexual ori- opponent Jackson contested her office before press time In Mississippi, African Americans entation-based with allegations of voter fraud Wednesday, July 25, Cooper- make up 78 percent of new HIV di- prejudice in and took her concerns to court. Stokes expressed gratitude to agnoses, although they constitute schools, de- A Hinds County jury found the citizens of Ward 3 for their only 37 percent of the population. clined ad- the case in Jackson’s favor and prayers and support. She indi- The death rate from HIV/AIDS is d i t i o n a l ordered a new runoff election. cated she will request that the 10 times higher for African Ameri- f e d e r a l Cooper-Stokes was still per- Hinds County District Attor- cans than for whites. monies, and mitted to remain active on the ney’s office investigate allega- Misunderstandings and taboos ignored tactics verified to decrease Council during the process. tions of perjury by witnesses in surrounding HIV/AIDS in Missis- the spread of the disease - thus dis- According to 16 WAPT, sippi are tantamount to those in sub- Jackson said her legal fight Runoff Saharan Africa, health officials told HIV was worth it, and she was able Continued on page 6 state legislators recently, at what is Continued on page 6 New superintendent Glover speaks at AIDS responds to Lanier 2012 Global Village boosters’ outcry By Othor Cain tance of getting involved in AIDS ad- the need to engage in AIDS activism Managing Editor vocacy. “This is something that we all back home. WASHINGTON, D.C. - Since should get involved in,” said Glover, “Phill said it is fine to talk about the early years of the epidemic, pro- whose own brother has been HIV- what is happening in Africa,” Glover lific actor Danny Glover has worked positive for more than 20 years. After recalled. “But we must also add to Glover in a profession that has been devas- addressing the public, Glover spoke the conversation what is happening tated by AIDS. “I had a friend who to a team of black journalists. in under-served communities in the American community.” died from complications of AIDS Glover is no stranger to advocacy United States, right in our own back- “I was encouraged to continue my in 1987,” he said. “Even then when or humanitarian work. At 20, while a yards.” mission of disseminating information I didn’t know a whole lot about the student at San Francisco State, Glover When he spoke in the Global Vil- to communities of color,” said Jason disease, I would bring him food and formed a social-justice group to draw lage in Washington, he addressed Davis, a black HIV-positive 23-year do what I could to help him.” attention to some of the unrest occur- hundreds of researchers, community old, who uses his positive status as Moved by the disease’s destruc- ring in communities of color. advocates and AIDS activists from an opportunity to teach. “As teenag- tiveness, Glover embarked upon a In 1998, he was named United Na- around the world, as well as the pub- ers, we tend to think that we will live mission to increase AIDS awareness tions Development Program goodwill lic. “We are in a crisis situation now, forever and we live our lives very Gray addresses the media. in hopes of challenging minds and ambassador. He travels throughout with this disease adversely and dis- carelessly.” saving lives. African, Latin American and the Ca- proportionately affecting black men, Glover, who turned 66 this week, By Jackie Hampton players were scheduled to The award-winning star of such ribbean countries, visiting economic and in particular, gay black men. With encouraged the audience to fight Publisher face-off in a tournament that blockbusters as the Lethal Weapon development projects and using his the platform I have, I intend to con- within whatever space and platform “Unauthorized activities had been planned weeks in series, Mandela, Beloved and The celebrity to publicize the fight against tinue to speak out about it,” he said. that God has endowed them. “Every- put athletes at risk for fu- advance. Color Purple, Glover spoke this week poverty and HIV. First-time conference attendee one, not just athletes, actors or famous ture scholarships and aca- Everyone including play- at the Global Village of the XIX Inter- In Durban, South Africa, at the Cassandra Dillworth was moved. people should help to raise awareness demic opportunities and I ers and coaches were locked national AIDS Conference-the por- 2000 International AIDS Conference, “His presentation was ground level. about HIV/AIDS,” he said. “Chances am not willing to take that out of the gym and booster tion of the health gathering that is free Glover met Phill Wilson, president It met me where I am, and I’m grate- are you know someone infected with risk,” said Jackson Public club officers and other sup- and open to the public in Washington, and CEO of the Black AIDS Insti- ful for that,” she said. “His being here the disease or you will be affected by School’s new superinten- porters were upset. D.C., where he addressed the impor- tute. Wilson opened Glover’s eyes to really is raising the bar in the African- it, so we are all in this together.” dent Cedrick Gray Monday, They were embarrassed July 23. over the entire incident. Gray faced local media Sonja Love, president of ML managing editor among and the Lanier High School the booster club, said, “I Booster Club at a press con- do not understand why the thousands reporting from ference, which he scheduled winningest coach in high to explain why current La- school basketball would be the IAC in nation’s capital nier basketball players and locked out of his own gym.” former players were locked Love was referring to coach By Gail M. Brown Editor Othor Cain is among the out of the gym Saturday, Thomas Billups, known Editor journalists assigned to cover the July 21. throughout Mississippi for An estimated 25,000 people and event. In addition to representing Gray said all of JPS’ use his many wins and having 3,000 journalists from around the the Jackson, Miss.-based weekly, of facility requirements coached basketball stars world converged on Washington, Cain is also among a limited number must be met. “All [the] re- such as Monta Ellis and Jer- D.C., this week, for the 19th Inter- quirements were not met for national AIDS Conference (IAC). IAC this event,” he said. Lanier The Mississippi Link Managing Continued on page 6 Cain in media pool at IAC Old school - new school Continued on page 6 JSU football Minority Small In the end...what will be Share this issue with a friend player loses battle Business Expo remembered are the good by mailing it to: with cancer See details “people who were impacted by this tragedy. Inside Season dedicated in his memory - President Barack Obama Page 16 Page 18 ” Page 5 2 • the mississippi link July 26 - August 1, 2012 www.mississippilink.com July 2012 Compiled by Gail M.