Jackson Free Press

Amidst so much movement, I think I should be finding more things to write about. The truth is, most of my life in the last month has been spent on planes. I am restless, tired of security checks and complimentary beverages. I am slowly learning how to make more of these propellings: bending my small fingers over thread to make bracelets, reading entire issues of Newsweek and Time (not just the articles that are interesting to me), writing just for me and reading so many books.

"This is what it feels like to possess no weight," I think.

But what does this mean?

When I was younger, I went to Space Camp in Huntsville because I wanted to be an astronaut then (since about age 15 I have only wanted to be a journalist, nothing else, but back then, I liked the idea of being an astronaut because I wanted to eat the astronaut food).

I gave up my dreams at camp, though, because the Centrifuge made me feel weightless. Years later, I read Milan Kundera's "The Unbearable Lightness of Being," and it made so much sense to me. I wanted to be grounded, rooted in somewhere or something.

My parents moved us so often growing up that I never knew what to make of a home. But finally, at a distance, I have found it. When, after winning the New York Times trip to Africa, the Times editors asked me where they should list as my home on my blog, I didn't hesitate for a second.

"Jackson, Mississippi," I said.

My mother was a little mad. "You only went to college there!" she said. But really, the city was so much more to me (and I did stay after college).

Visiting last week, I felt it all over again. Walking around in the Millsaps Arts District around Seven*Studioz, I knew it. Jackson is home. Jackson is home because races are actually mixing, creating graffiti art and dancing together, drinking locally brewed beer together, slapping hands and talking plans of new art projects or hip-hop albums.

I felt it when I walked through Fondren, running into people. These are people I don't have to explain myself to, people who recognize me and take me as I am right there - no matter what changes may have occurred. And that's what home is, right?

Manuevering through the Belhaven Market, I found Wendy Eddleman. I am so proud to call a place home that produces that woman and her stunning, stunning artwork. Seriously, I have never seen anyone make anything like the blown glass pieces Wendy makes. When I bought a red necklace before going to grad. school last December, I was so proud. I couldn't wait to get to Missouri and show off my funky necklace.

The thing about Jackson is, of all the places I've been (and I've been a lot -- four different countries and six states just since September), it is the most hungry. People are constantly pushing to shape it and make it better. Artists are producing. Musicians are recording albums (and a lot of our Mississippians are getting national success -- Jonezetta, Colour Revolt, Cadillac Don and J Money, etc).

I could gush on, but the point is I am just so proud to call Jackson home. I finally feel like I have some weight, some gravity rooting me into a place.

Previous Comments

ID

108310

Comment

Welcome home, Casey. All, note that Casey has joined JackBlog (the JFP to the NYT back to the JFP!), and now has her own JFP blog, although she has some tweaks to make to it. I so know what you mean here, Casey: Jackson is home because races are actually mixing, creating graffiti art and dancing together, drinking locally brewed beer together, slapping hands and talking plans of new art projects or hip-hop albums. and here: The thing about Jackson is, of all the places I've been (and I've been a lot -- four different countries and six states just since September), it is the most hungry. People are constantly pushing to shape it and make it better. I'm going to a lot of cities right now too (if not countries/smile), and I'm seeing so many examples of cities and publications just ceding diversity in many ways—even as we're the state they want to dump it all on. It's bizarre: Even as younger people are becoming more integrated culturally, too many of our media and popular culture are allowing themselves to be segregated. I wonder if that makes sense to all of you? I think we have to fight this every way we can—and be the example for the country in our diversity and determination to sink or swim together. And Casey is right—we're seeing this "fight" (or "worthy scrap," as Dick Molpus calls it) being fought all around us here, especially among younger people who are tired of the attitudes that have kept this state on the bottom for so long. We are going to change this. This is non-negotiable.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-11-05T14:13:10-06:00

ID

108311

Comment

:) Welcome home. And I have one of those necklaces myself.

Author

emilyb

Date

2006-11-05T14:49:39-06:00

ID

108312

Comment

Diversity is such a funny thing because I think other places attempt it. Media try to include diverse subjects or interviewees. Colleges put minorities in their admissions info. But in Jackson, I actually see black and white people (I know these aren't the only races, but it's a start) planning things together. I mean, you see Kamikaze doing this stuff all the time, recognizing that Jackson State and Millsaps must be working together. But at that event near Seven*, it was just so so integrated without making a big show of being integrated. People weren't walking around saying, look we're integrated! They were just dancing and making and fellowshiping.

Author

casey

Date

2006-11-05T16:19:04-06:00

ID

108313

Comment

welcome back c to the p! :)

Author

William Patrick Butler

Date

2006-11-05T20:51:54-06:00

ID

108314

Comment

Casey, I found out about you through Lamar's Cenla blog, which I started reading for the local politics. I am so proud of you and have read everything I can get my hands on that you have written. I am thrilled about your travels.......something I always hoped you'd get to do. Your piece about "being a human being too" touched me deeply. I am proud, proud, proud to have been your teacher. You were (and are) a very special person. Rebecca T

Author

Becky

Date

2006-11-05T23:29:06-06:00

ID

108315

Comment

That is so strange, Mrs. Tisdale! I thought I saw you on the plane two nights ago. I am so serious. It wasn't you, but I had to do some serious journalistic snooping to find out it wasn't. I wanted to find you and apologize for the "shacking up" comment years ago because I really then didn't know "shacking up" implied something sexual. Anyway, hi! It is so good to hear (read) from you. What's your e-mail address?

Author

casey

Date

2006-11-06T15:11:57-06:00

ID

108316

Comment

Casey, you can write me at [email][email protected][/email] I still have the same address. I'd love to correspond. I have things to tell you too. (and please........you're a grown-up now, no more Mrs. Tisdale, okay.......call me Becky or whatever other name suits you.)

Author

Becky

Date

2006-11-06T17:12:58-06:00