Jackson Free Press

In the early spring of 1993, I had a serious decision to make. One choice was to become a lance corporal in the United States Marine Corps, having served six months reserve duty in a special program designed to lure African Americans into the Corps' officer ranks. The other was to serve as the campaign manager for a long-shot mayoral candidate whom most people saw as a protester rather than a public servant.

I chose the campaign manager's job. The candidate was Henry J. Kirksey. It was a no-brainer for me because Kirksey was my idol in this Mississippi political landscape. I had the privilege of working for successful campaigns in the past and running unsuccessfully for public office, so I knew the odds. But the chance to work side-by-side with someone whom I had admired since my days at Jackson State University was too good to pass up.

It was during that time that I got the chance to know about the man behind the passion, and the reason for that passion. Many people will talk about his life story, his upbringing in Tupelo, his glory days of athletics in St. Louis and at North Carolina Central, his military experience that trained him in cartography, the skill he would employ for the benefit of his people.

They will talk about his triumphs and defeats in the political world. But many will miss what kind of man he was. He was in many ways an aberration in the world of politics. He was true to his word and modest about his achievements. He was a visionary and a philosophical thinker. Sen. Kirksey was his own man. He was, as Odysseus might have said, a giant amongst heroes.

If you were close to him, you knew about his kind heart, flirtatious nature and his cutting sense of humor. He was someone who would stand by your side when things were tough. He came across in the public eye as caustic and unforgiving, unyielding to compromise. In truth, he was understanding and a gentle spirit.

Sen. Kirksey was always the teacher, enjoying the moments he could share his wisdom with those of us who wanted to make things better for the people of this state. All he ever desired was that African Americans be respected for who they are: human beings and American citizens. That respect included, but was not limited to, the right to fully participate in the political process.

When Sen. Kirksey was in the Mississippi Senate, he often got frustrated with the process, but he never regretted being a part of it. He fought with every fiber of his being to make sure African Americans in Mississippi had that opportunity, at all levels of government. When I ran for the Mississippi House of Representatives, I only had two endorsements. Henry J. Kirksey was one of them. As fate would have it, I had the honor of being his representative until his last day on Earth.

It has always been my desire to be the man and public servant Sen. Kirksey was. Though I may fall short of that high mark, it is a goal worth seeking and one we all in Mississippi's political world should strive for.

Goodbye, my friend and thank you.

Sen. Kirksey died Dec. 9. He was 90.

Previous Comments

ID

71096

Comment

I was hoping something would be posted about Mr. Kirksey. I believe that he would have made an excellent mayor because he was passionate about Jackson. He was also an adjunct professor at Tougaloo about 11 or 12 years ago, and I loved to hear him speak. R.I.P.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2005-12-14T23:57:14-06:00

ID

71097

Comment

Indeed, Mr. Kirksey was a splendid man. He wasn't afraid or apparently hesitant to call it as he saw it. And he often saw it clearly and correctly despite the trickery and constant changes to complicate the process for blacks fighting for justice and change. A true soldier keeps fighting until the war is won, not until he given something personally appeasing to shut up and stop. I never questioned whether Mr. Kirksey was capable of being paid to shut up. I'm convinced he wasn't. I saw him a 2 or 3 weeks ago still driving his car to get the things he needed. I watched him very closely as he pulled away and drove back toward Tougaloo. I saw a man who was old but still quite functional and careful under the wheels of a car. I hope Heaven grants him personal rewards far greater than we ever did. For we never seem to truly note the giants among us until they're gone. Mr. Kirksey didn't know me and we never ever conversated. But fate provided me a last opportunity to thank him and to render a brief service to him that was asked of someone else who failed to timely respond. The person likely had every intention of complying but moved far too slow and Mr. Kirksey left without even getting angry. I would call this dignity in the face of struggle until the end.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2005-12-16T12:47:15-06:00

ID

71098

Comment

I think I mentioned this in another post, but I remembered one time when he spoke against the idea of "Metro Jackson". His theory was that since Jackson itself had a black majority, including the surrounding towns created a white majority. It may have been a little far-fetched since a lot of cities throughout the U.S. do this, but it was obvious that he was a deep thinker. I also remember when he ran for mayor of Jackson against Kane Ditto. When Harvey Johnson joined the race, I got angry because the black vote would be split, and sure enough it was because Ditton got another term. Little did I know that Johnson would return and become the first black mayor, so I'm not mad anymore. :-D

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2005-12-17T13:03:06-06:00