Mississippi

Civil rights movement of ’50s, ’60s sparked anthems of peace, love. Tune in to hear some.

Published

2 years ago

August 21, 2022

Civil rights movement of ’50s, ’60s sparked anthems of peace, love. Tune in to hear some.

Mac Gordon
| Particular to the Mississippi Clarion Ledger

The American Civil Rights Motion from 1955 to 1968 was outlined by heroic leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King and Robert Moses, brutal violence that shocked the nation and provoking music that galvanized the volunteers within the “Freedom Summer time” voting rights marketing campaign.

Tonight (Sunday, Aug. 21) on the Mississippi Public Broadcasting community, these anthems of affection and peace can be memorialized earlier than the nation, beginning at 7 o’clock.

“For a short second in time, just a few daring musicians stood on the crossroads of a revolution in music and tradition. They had been America’s rhythm rebels, and the spirit of what they created then lives on right this moment,” MPB stated in saying “Freedom Songs: The Music of the Civil Rights Motion.”

In 1964, a few of us of a sure age in Pike County skilled that music dwell in a church off historic Summit Road in McComb. Probably the most outstanding people singers of the age, Joan Baez, carried out there through the peak of Mississippi’s “Lengthy, Scorching Summer time.”

Through the remaining hymn of the night time, “We Shall Overcome,” attendees clasped arms of unity for the track thought-about essentially the most significant of the turbulent motion.

A rising senior at McComb Excessive College, I had gotten phrase of the Baez look on the native newspaper, the Enterprise-Journal. My father labored there for 35 years and was the lead reporter protecting the violence perpetrated all year long on Black companies and householders by home-grown klaverns of the Ku Klux Klan.

As a child reporter who took photos and carried out darkroom work, I had ears out for well-known guests like Baez to the “Bombing Capital of the World.” The place had acquired that epithet throughout a summer time by which the Klan firebombed 13 Black church buildings, houses and companies in McComb and Pike County.

Dad by no means knew that my cadre of classmates had discovered of her upcoming live performance or our full intentions to attend. Months later once I instructed him of our secret mission, he was furious. “Did y’all have any concept that the Klan may have bombed the church that night time?”

I considerably sheepishly instructed him that when my group discovered Baez was coming to McComb, nothing may’ve stopped us. Miss an opportunity to listen to the fantastic voice of essentially the most well-known balladeer on this planet? Not in that lifetime of silly adolescence.

Charlie Hewitt, a revered musician of the realm whose numerous teams excelled in people music made common by Baez, Bob Dylan and Peter, Paul and Mary, stated he felt some anxiousness about going, however couldn’t resist the chance.

“We slipped by way of the again door onto the final row. An enormous, younger black man took his place in entrance of the door, sporting a pink Ole Miss sweatshirt. I knew if the Klan bombed the church that night time, the blast would come by way of that door. A couple of different younger white folks sat down entrance and that made us really feel slightly safer,” Hewitt recalled.

“As soon as we heard Joan’s stunning voice and noticed her pretty face, concern didn’t cross our minds once more that night time. She requested if there have been any requests. Hawkeye (James Higginbotham, one other space songwriter) requested for ‘There However for Fortune.’ Joan stated she’d already sung that track. Hawk was dissatisfied &mldr; however for the remainder of his life he instructed all people he had talked to Joan Baez personally,

“Fortuitously, we completed ‘We Shall Overcome’ and the night with out bombs, a welcome hiatus from the explosions that had been all too frequent that summer time. We heard solely the attractive music from this pretty singer who appeared and gave the impression of an angel.”

Tonight, angels sing once more.

Mac Gordon is a local of McComb. He’s a retired reporter. He may be reached at macmarygordon@gmail.com.

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Mississippi

Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school player of the week? (Aug. 25-31)

Published

7 hours ago

September 2, 2024

Press Room

Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school player of the week? (Aug. 25-31)

Here are the candidates for SBLive’s Mississippi high school Athlete of the Week for August25-31. Read through the nominees and cast your vote. The poll will close Sunday at 11:59 p.m. If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, email Tyler@scorebooklive.com. For questions/issues with he poll, email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com.

Editor’s note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.

Kohl Bradley, DB, George County: Racked up 17 tackles and returned an interception 80 yards for a touchdown in a 33-7 win over East Central.

DaJuan Colbert, DB, Natchez: Recorded 15 tackles, forced one fumble and returned another one 75 yards for a touchdown in a 58-50 win over Hancock.

Garrison Davis, QB, Holmes County Central: Completed 14 of his 21 pass attempts for 375 yards and three touchdowns in a 20-6 win over Vicksburg.

Xzavion Gainwell, DB, Yazoo County: Recorded nine tackles, an interception and an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Panthers’ 20-16 win over South Delta.

Elijah Jones, RB, West Jones: Had 24 carries 226 yards and four touchdowns in a 34-6 win over Laurel.

Kingi McNair, WR, Pearl: Caught four passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns in a 26-20 win over Neshoba Central.

Ashton Nichols, DB, Clinton: Recorded six tackles to go with two big pass breakups, a blocked punt and a return for a touchdown in a 26-20 win over Warren Central.

Ethan Prater, RB, Pisgah: Rushed for 132 yards on 27 carries with three scores and caught a 60-yard touchdown pass in a 33-32 win over North Forrest.

Glen Singleton, RB, Madison Central: Rushed for 174 yards on 18 carries with all four touchdowns in a 27-20 win over Ocean Springs.

Damarius Yates, RB, Kemper County: Rushed for 193 yards on 17 carries and returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown in a 38-15 win over Kosciusko.

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Mississippi

‘If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all’: Broadway in Jackson speaks out about possible show cancellations

Published

14 hours ago

September 2, 2024

Press Room

‘If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all’: Broadway in Jackson speaks out about possible show cancellations

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – It’s been one month since Thalia Mara Hall closed its doors due to a mold outbreak.

Innovation Arts and Entertainment is the company responsible for bringing Broadway productions to Jackson.

Representatives from the company visited Jackson after hearing the building had been closed.

CEO Adam Epstein says the City of Jackson did not inform them of the news.

“We did not find out from anybody within the city. We found out by reading news clippings forwarded to us by other people in Jackson,” Epstein said.

Certified Industrial Hygienic Testing reported visible dirt, debris, and suspected mold growth on many surfaces.

Epstein fears this could change the possibility of bigger shows coming to the capital city.

“They’re going to skip over us because of this mess. We need to show as a community that Jackson cares about this valuable asset and that we demand our elected leaders to support and treat this really, incredibly valuable asset with the TLC it deserves,” he said.

Thalia Mara Hall is the only venue in the state that can host a Broadway production due to the technical needs and accommodations required.

“Touring theatrical shows. If they cannot play Thalia Hall, they cannot play in Mississippi at all,” he said.

Broadway in Jackson is not only a great source of entertainment in the city, but it’s also beneficial economically.

“Those other businesses don’t benefit. The city doesn’t earn tax revenue from events that we present. They don’t earn rental income from the events we present. They don’t earn facility fees from the events we present. This is a real tragedy. It’s unacceptable.”

The well-being of the potential audience is the company’s main priority.

“I will not risk our ticket buyers’ health and safety and comfort. Our shows can and will cancel before we’d ever put somebody in jeopardy. We’ve issued a 100% guarantee of a full refund if the venue is not given a clean bill of health,” Epstein said.

All shows will be canceled on a case-to-case basis.

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Mississippi

Tire failure suspected in deadly Mississippi bus crash, NTSB says

Published

22 hours ago

September 1, 2024

Press Room

Tire failure suspected in deadly Mississippi bus crash, NTSB says

Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board are conducting a probe into Saturday’s crash that killed seven and injured 36 people.

The deadly bus crash in Mississippi that killed seven people and injured dozens of others early Saturday occurred after the vehicle experienced a tire failure, causing it to run off the road and overturn, officials and authorities said.

Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board, in coordination with the Mississippi Highway Patrol, are conducting a probe into Saturday’s crash that left seven people dead and another 36 people injured. The collision occurred at about 12:40 a.m. on Interstate 20 near Vicksburg, Mississippi, when the bus left the roadway and overturned.

The bus, which authorities described as a 2018 Volvo commercial passenger bus, traveled westbound when its left front tire failed, NTSB member Todd Inman said at a news conference Sunday. The bus then moved onto an embankment and rolled over on its left side.

Inman added that investigators will be at the scene for at least another week and are looking into several factors of the crash, including the vehicle’s mechanical condition, motor carrier safety, the condition and experience of the driver, and environmental factors.

According to U.S. Department of Transportation records, the bus was operated by Autobuses Regiomontanos. Records show that in the 24 months before Saturday, the transit company’s vehicles were involved in one fatal crash, two injury collisions, and a crash requiring a tow truck.

The transit company has over 20 years of experience and provides trips between more than 100 destinations throughout Mexico and the United States, according to Autobuses Regiomontanos’ website.

“Everyone at the NTSB sends their expressions of sorrow for everything that the survivors and victims of this crash went through,” Inman said.

7 killed, 36 injured in bus crash

The bus carried a total of 41 passengers and two drivers, according to authorities. It was traveling from Atlanta to Dallas when the incident occurred.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash, according to Master Sergeant Kervin K. Stewart with the Mississippi Highway Patrol. Six people were pronounced dead at the scene and another person died later at a hospital, Stewart said.

Another 36 people were transported to area hospitals.

Warren County Coroner Doug Huskey said two victims killed in the crash were identified by their mother as a 16-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy, according to The New York Times. Authorities were working to identify the other victims.

Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY

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