Congressman Bennie Thompson addresses Jackson State University 2021 graduates
Congressman Bennie Thompson addresses Jackson State University 2021 graduates
By Jackie Hampton,
JSU 2021 Undergraduate Speaker, Congressman Bennie Thompson PHOTOS BY JACKIE HAMPTON
The ceremony for the 2021 Undergraduate Class of Jackson State University was held at 9 a.m., Saturday May 8, at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in Jackson, MS. The keynote speaker was U. S. Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson, 2nd District. There were hundreds of attendees present and the ceremony was also live streamed.
Thompson said to the students, “For the past four, five, six and maybe seven years you have struggled to get to this day and all the late nights and early mornings have paid off.” He told the graduates that they represented the hopes and dreams of those in the audience that were proud of them for the momentous milestone they had reached.
By India Fuller,
Holmes County Central Boy’s Basketball team with coaches and staff
The Holmes County Central boys’ basketball team recently won the state’s 5-A Championship with a lead of 64-58 win over Lake Cormorant at the Mississippi Coliseum. The city of Lexington held a celebration in their honor for both the boys’ and girls’ basketball team, Saturday, April 3.
The Lady Jaguars were not far behind in their vie for the girl’s state championship. They fell a little short of the gold to Laurel’s Lady Tornadoes with a score of 39-36.
In a recent telephone interview with
JSU Intern,
Holy Temple M.B Church in West Jackson made its history, Sunday, Feb. 28. It held its “first virtual” Black History Program due to the COVID-19 safety guidelines.
The program began with a Black History reading by Drummer John Lacy, who shared facts about famous jazz drummer Tony Williams of the 1960s.
Selective speeches and creativity followed from the youth ministry. Azalea Oliver and her sister Aamia McGee presented Historical Perspective on Jazz and Creative Dance. McGee danced to “Go Down Moses” by the late Jazz Great Louis Armstrong. Corey McGee portrayed the late famous U.S. Congressman John Robert Lewis.
Morris
The commemoration of “Bloody Sunday” 2021 looked a lot different this year, due to the COVID-19 safety guidelines.
Sunday’s observance also marked the first commemoration without Civil Rights Icon John Lewis. Lewis was a civil rights activist and leader who served in the United States House of Representatives until his death in 2020. Lewis was one of the “Big Six” leaders that organized and marched down the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965. Alabama state troopers and police brutally attacked the marchers including Lewis while they marched for the right to vote.
Pre-pandemic, an average of 40,000 people would usually be in attendance. There was still a way for it to be seen as if you were there. The commemoration was recorded live and you were able to buy tickets online to join the virtual activities.