Jackson Free Press

Education holds importance to record producer and rapper David Banner. This week, he will be a keynote speaker at two separate events about education in Jackson.

Lavell "David Banner" Crump was born and reared in Jackson. Now 38, he attended Provine High School, graduating in 1995. He went on to receive his bachelor's degree in business at Southern University where he served as president of the Student Government Association. Banner went on to pursue a master's degree at the University of Maryland but left to focus on his music career.

In 2008, Banner received best producer, best hip-hop collaboration and best video honors at the BET Hip Hop awards. He has completed six solo albums. Outside of his music career, Crump advocates nationally about the importance of reading and graduating from high school.

Invited by the United Way of the Capital Area and Gallery 1, Banner will speaking "Reading Revolution: Black Males Achieving Success Through literacy" Tuesday, Feb. 26. Accompanying Banner on the agenda are fellow JPS graduates and local success stories Hinds County Sherriff Tyrone Lewis, Jackson attorney Robert Gibbs and Jackson physician Dr. Carl Reddix. Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. and Dr. James Renick will also address the students.

Reading Revolution is a dropout-prevention effort aimed at encouraging students to graduate from high school and will discuss the importance of literacy. For this event, high school principals have chosen 50 African American males to attend. Banner will engage in conversations with the young men about how graduating from high school contributed to his successful career and how reading influences their success through graduation. Later, Banner will take a trip back to his alma mater, Provine High School, and speak to students and parents at a Graduation Summit.

The event is free but space must be reserved ahead of time. Sign up at Provine High School's front office or call 601-960-5393 to save your seat. The event starts at 6 p.m. but doors will be open at 5 pm.