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| Dr. John Banks House, Natchez, Miss. |
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| Robert Pernell, Chairman Natchez U.S. Colored Troops Monument Committee |
Presentation on the Natchez U.S. Colored Troops Monument Project at the Friday Forum, which is sponsored by the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce. Program was held Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. It was led by Robert Pernell, chairman of the Natchez USCT Monument Committee.
See the Facebook Live video at this link:
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| Dr. Carolyn Myers will host a Black History event that will honor the contributions of African American women at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Natchez City Auditorium. The program is titled, "Back Down Memory Lane: African American Women (Past and Present) who Changed History and Culture." |
NATCHEZ, Miss. – Dr. Carolyn Myers is organizing a
Black History program that will honor the contributions of African American
women at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Natchez City Auditorium, 207
Jefferson St. The program is titled, “Back Down Memory Lane: African American
Women (Past and Present) who Changed History and Culture.” It is free to the
public.
Myers said the program will feature local women of
various churches and organizations who will portray the women being recognized.
A special segment of the program will focus on Mississippians and Natchez
natives, she said.
The program is part of an on-going effort by Myers to
share the stories of African Americans each year during Black History Month and
throughout the year.
“Each year we do something for Black History Month,” she
said. “Last year I did something on Emmett Till. We had two movie nights with a
free showing of the film, ‘Women of the Movement.’ The weekend following, I
took two buses of seniors to the Mississippi Delta to learn more about Emmett
Till and the civil rights movement.”
Myers and her traveling seniors were joined on the trip
by Mayor Dan and Marla Gibson, and Alderwoman Valencia Hall.
Myers’ travel group is called “Seniors on the Move.” The
group takes week-long trips to historical sites in Mississippi and other states
every year.
“This year I wanted to do something different,” she said.
“I want to let people know about a lot of women who became ‘the first person’
in their respective fields that many people do not know about. Some of them
have not received the recognition they deserve.”
Myers, a retired educator, said she “did a lot of
research on women all over the world, not just those in Natchez.”
“In 2019, I did a program recognizing the ‘50
Distinguished Men Across the Miss-Lou Area,” Myers said. “During that program,
the women presented the awards to the men. This time, the men will present the
awards to the women.”
Those attending the “Back Down Memory Lane” program are
asked to bring two canned goods or non-perishable items to donate to Stewpot.
This program is sponsored by Seeds of Change Resource
Foundation.
For more information, call 601-870-6343.
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| An art exhibit highlighting the story of slain civil rights leader Wharlest Jackson Sr. is featured in new exhibit. Pictured from left are Robert Pernell, in background, Malcolm Innis, and George Lee aka G.Lee. |
NATCHEZ, Miss. – The second annual art exhibit
featuring the works of African Americans is on display in the lobby of the WTYJ
/WMIS radio station at 20 E. Franklin St.
The event, which is called the Natchez Black History
Month Art Exhibit, is hosted by Malcolm Innis, owner of New Vision Media, and
is being featured for the entire month of February in recognition of Black
History Month. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. It is free to the public.
“I’m pleased to say that we have art work that is influenced by Natchez notables,” Innis said. “We have several artists participating in the exhibit, and their work speaks for them.”
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Malcolm Innis, owner of New Vision Media, reviews an exhibit of African American art on display in the lobby of WTYJ/WMIS at 20 E. Franklin St. |
On the wall is a framed collection of photos of historical African American sites by Natchez folk artist Debra McNeal. Her work presents images of the Forks of the Road slave market site, the Proud to Take a Stand monument, the William Johnson House, Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church, site of Wharlest Jackson Sr.’s bombing, NAPAC museum, Richard Wright’s childhood home, the Rhythm Night Club Memorial Museum, and Brumfield School.
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| This collection of photographs features some of the prominent historical African American sites in Natchez. |
A table in the lobby presents the art of Virgie Prichett
of Fayette who uses a bust, doll, and drawings to tell the story of Wharlest
Jackson Sr. Jackson was a civil rights leader who worked as a treasurer for the
NAACP in the 1960s. He died when his truck was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan on
Feb. 27, 1967.
Jackson became a target of the Klan because of his work
with the NAACP and his promotion at the Armstrong Tire and Rubber Company.
Other featured artists include Georgette Houston of
Fayette; Bradley Bruce of Woodville; Leon Hollins III, Mack James, and Diane
Penfield, all of Natchez.
Hollins, who works as a photographer and artist, created
a mixed media presentation of Richard Wright, the famous author of “Native Son”
and “Black Boy.”
“We’re trying to give the Natchez community and our core
radio listeners a taste of the beauty of art,” said Inniss. “We want to create
inspiration for people to come and see this important talent. We also plan to
reach out to schools and ask them to provide field trips to students.”
Additionally, Innis said, the exhibit is a great
attraction for tourists coming in off the boats. Wine and cheese will be served
every Saturday or Sunday.
For more information, call Leon Hollins at 601-334-0987.
Program will feature Jerry Jenkins and his drums
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| Jerry Jenkins will present a program on West African music at Alcorn State University at 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 13, in the Biotechnology Building Auditorium, on the Lorman Campus. |
LORMAN, Miss. – Alcorn State University will host a West African music program in recognition of Black History Month at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, in the Biotechnology Building Auditorium, on the Lorman Campus.
The program will feature Jerry Jenkins, a professional drummer, who will offer a historical look at African music and give demonstrations of how the music was played. He also will discuss its value as well as its impact on today’s culture in Southern Mississippi.
Jenkins’ presentation is titled, “A Look at Mande’ (West African) Culture through Traditional Music.”
The event is hosted by the Southwest Mississippi Center for Culture & Learning and Alcorn State University School of Arts and Sciences. Teresa Busby, the center’s executive director, said the program is part of the center’s Coffee & Culture series. The presentation is free to the public.
“We are delighted to host Mr. Jenkins at Alcorn State University,” Busby said. She explained that he uses music to tell an important story and to engage his audiences.
Jenkins is originally from Chicago. He grew up in Vicksburg, but now lives in Jackson. Jenkins is a member of the Mississippi Humanities Council’s Speakers Bureau. He also is listed as a performance artist on the Mississippi Arts Commission’s Artist Roster.
For more information on Jenkin’s presentation, call 601-877-6551. To request disability-related accommodations contact the Disability Coordinator at least five days in advance at 601-877-6460 (office) or email at disabilityservices@alcorn.edu
A rendering: The City of Natchez is working to develop a portion of the M.L.K. Triangle into a community park that will be called Hiram Rhodes Revels Plaza. This rendering shows the planned statue of Hiram R. Revels, who became the first African American to serve in either house of the U.S. Congress.
NATCHEZ, Miss. – Officials of Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church donated a portion of the church’s M.L.K. Triangle property to the City of Natchez in a special ceremony Thursday, Jan. 25, at the church. The property will be dedicated to the memory of the late Rev. Hiram Rhodes Revels, an early pastor of Zion Chapel who became the first African American to serve in either house of the U.S. Congress. He was also the first president of Alcorn State University.
Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church officially donated a portion of its M.L.K. Triangle property to the City of Natchez on Thursday, Jan. 25, at the church. The church officials and Mayor Dan Gibson signed the required papers for the donation during a special ceremony. The property will be used for the Hiram Rhodes Revels Plaza. From left are Rev. Birdon Mitchell, pastor; Norma West, trustee pro tempore; LeVera Allen, secretary for the Trustee Board; Herman Sidney Ransom, trustee; Ernest Tony Fields, trustee; and Gibson.
Pastor Birdon Mitchell and members of the church board of trustees joined Mayor Dan Gibson in signing the property over to the city. Mitchell and Gibson were joined by Norma West, trustee pro tempore; LeVera Allen, secretary for the Trustee Board; Herman Sidney Ransom, trustee; and Ernest Tony Fields, trustee.
West presented the official offer of the property on behalf of the church and its trustee board.
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| Norma West, trustee pro tempore at Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church, signs legal documents to transfer a portion of the M.L.K. Triangle property to the City of Natchez. She is pictured here with the Rev. Birdon Mitchell, left, pastor; LeVera Allen, secretary for the Trustee Board; and Herman Sidney Ransom, trustee. |
“We consider it an honor to give this gift, a portion of the Martin Luther King Jr. Triangle property, to the city of Natchez for the purpose of creating a community park in honor of Hiram Revels to be called Revels Plaza,” she said, noting the park will be “a place that our community and city will be proud of.”
Mitchell said he was thankful for the opportunity to
honor Revels. He expressed gratitude to the church and to the city.
“Our bishop and board of trustee for the Mississippi
conference are all on board with this, and they voted unanimously that we could
do this along with the city,” he said. “I think this is a new day for Revel’s
Plaza.
The donated property is located at N. Dr. M.L. King and St. Catherine streets. It is across the street from the church, which is at 228 N. Dr. M.L. King. Though currently known as “The M.L.K. Triangle,” the new and improved site will be called “Hiram Rhodes Revels Plaza.”
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| Mayor Dan Gibson, right, signs legal documents to transfer a portion of the M.L.K. Triangle property to the City of Natchez. He is pictured here with Ernest Tony Fields, trustee at Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church. The property will be used for the community park, Hiram Rhodes Revels Plaza. |
According to Gibson, it will be a” future city park at
the gateway to Historic Downtown Natchez.”
The white two-story, historical building that sits on the
west side of the property, will remain under the ownership of the church,
according to church officials. The building houses Don’s Barber Style Shop on
the first floor. It is owned by Don Gordon, who attended the ceremony at Zion
Chapel.
According to Gibson, Gordon is one of many who supported
the project from the very beginning, “even though it could affect the parking
for his barbershop.” Gibson assured everyone that Gordon’s business will not be
leaving.
“Don Gordon is not going anywhere,” he said. “He’s going
to continue giving haircuts. The church is holding on to that building because
Don’s barbershop has to continue.
“But just in front of that barbershop, Revel’s Plaza will
now take shape. They may not have mention of Revels in Washington, D.C., yet,
but we will have a major park dedicated to him right here at the front door of
this church.”
Transferring the church property to the city is similar
to how property was deeded to the city by the heirs of Stephen Duncan for what
is now Duncan Park, Gibson explained.
“Just as with Duncan Park, the city can never sell this
piece of property,” he said. “The property has to be used for the good of the
people as a park honoring Hiram Revels. And if at any time the city goes back
on that agreement, then this property will revert back to the church.”
The park will include a statute of Revels. The planned
development of the site is part of the city’s official 2018 Downtown Master
Plan, which was initiated to help revitalize the historic downtown area.
Several groups have been working on the project since
2018. They include Downtown Natchez Alliance and Natchez Friends of the
Riverfront.
Mitchell thanked Chesney Doyle who was instrumental in
organizing the city’s downtown master plan effort.
Speaking after the ceremony, Doyle said there were many
who played a role in the city’s master plan.
“The visioning process for what ultimately became the
city’s downtown master plan began in 2015 with a group of about 25 people, some
of whom are here tonight,” she said as she noted the attendance of Darrell
White, Alderwoman Sarah Smith, Monroe Sago, and Eddie Burkes, among others.
“It was under Mayor Butch Brown’s administration, after a
motion and a second made by former city Alderman Tony Fields and Alderwoman
Smith that we got the unanimous greenlight to proceed,” Doyle said.
“Sometimes sustainable development, growth, and change is
a marathon, not a sprint, and always, always it must involve community
engagement. The marathon is not over yet, but thanks to Mayor Gibson and the
current city Board of Aldermen – I see Ben Davis, Felicia Irving, and Valencia
Hall here tonight — the finish line for Revels Plaza is truly in sight!”
See more here: https://listenupyall.com/2024/01/27/zion-chapel-donates-property-for-hiram-rhodes-revels-plaza/
A 1984 summer job at The Enterprise-Tocsin gave me my start as a news reporter and led to an unexpected mention in my former editor's me...
