Jackson Free Press

Canton is known for its impact on the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi. Lives were changed there. Lives were lost there. It was in Canton that Stokley Carmichael first shouted to a crowd, "Black Power," a call that would spark the Black Power Movement. Despite Canton's importance, many of the trailblazers who still walk the predominately black town have never been recognized.

"There's a lack of knowledge after the Civil Rights Movement," says Thabi Moyo, one of the coordinators of the Journey Awards, a distinctive mix of awards show and black history program. "Education is important, and teachers teach what they're supposed to in school, but there's so much more to learn."

Moyo, a native Mississippian, said she learned more about her Mississippi roots while she was away at college than she did here, at home. To ensure that others learn of the sacrifices made by those in the Civil Rights Movement, Canton's Black Heritage Committee established the Journey Awards in 2005. These awards are given to members of the Canton community who've contributed to the progression of human and civil rights—some of whom have never been recognized. The four individuals identified this year have one thing in common: They aren't noted in any curriculum or textbooks, but they all took the fight for their freedom seriously and looked to pass those freedoms on to future generations.

Award recipients this year are Amaziah Matthew Rogers (posthumously), Rev. Bennie Luckett Jr., Rev. James F. McRee and Mary Catherine Smith-Blackmon. Rogers became the principal of Cameron Street School in Canton, where under his leadership, the student population grew from 500 to 1,200 in only 10 years. The school graduated its first class in 1936, but until Rogers came, a student could only complete the tenth grade at the school.

Luckett was an entrepreneur in the '60s and '70s who provided many jobs for people of color in his home town of Canton.

McRee was a prominent figure in organizing the Madison County Civil Rights Movement—which he later chaired—as he worked closely with other civil rights groups.

Smith-Blackmon, the only woman among this year's honorees, was the first African American to graduate from Canton High School in 1966.

Held at Canton High School, a hub of racial and societal advancement, the Journey Awards is more than a gathering of historical notables receiving awards. The student-produced program, "From Africa to America … They Paved the Way" features Tommie Winley, Bianca Van, Joelynn Hamilton and Lamarcus Ratliff performing excerpts of Velma Maia Thomas' "Lest We Forget," as monologues narrated by spoken word artist Gerard Avant.

A group of female students came together and choreographed an African dance, and the by Java Chapman, aka DJ Hova mixed a soundtrack for the program. It lays the poignant words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. over hip-hop tracks; the announcement of Dr. King's assassination on the NBC news as the opening of Donnie Hatthaway's classic "Young Gifted and Black"; and a unique blend of Malcolm X, James Brown, Martin Luther King and contemporary artist Common that only a socially and historically conscious individual could compile. Hip-hop artist Skipp Coon will perform as well as two Canton High School students, Tommie and Terrance Winley, who are emcees in the making. One of the songs the Winley brothers perform is an untitled track inspired by a forwarded e-mail full of stereotypes about black people. The untitled track's hook explains "I love my people … they've been good to me … so I'm a do it big for this month of black history … I gotta do it well 'cause this month don't' last long … I love the month of February and I'm a miss it when it's gone."

Terrance, the younger Winley brother says: "We're free. We have a chance to do something … to make a difference, so we should do it." Immediately before Journey Award recipients are honored, to honor others who waged war on an oppressive society, audio of freedom fighters' songs obtained from the Smithsonian will be played.

Martin Luther King made a statement to a gathering of individuals in Birmingham, Ala.: "There are those who write history, there are those who make history, there are those who write history, there are those who experience history." The students at Canton High School honor those who made history, as they themselves make history.

The Journey Awards will be held Mon., Feb. 19 at Canton High School (634 Finney Rd., Canton, Miss. ), 9 a.m.-11 a.m.

Previous Comments

ID

84869

Comment

I just saw this. How was the program? Did it go well?

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-02-21T15:58:15-06:00

ID

84870

Comment

The program was wonderful. Absolutely. Wonderful. The students' interest in what they were doing was obvious ... how hard they'd worked was even more obvious. Jerriod Avant's poetry punctuated each monologue magnificently, and the entire program began and ended with solid hip-hop performances. The first by Skipp Coon and the latter by two students who wrote a song specifically celebrating Black History Month. Thabi did such a wonderful job working with the program, and should be commended for it.

Author

nacollier

Date

2007-02-21T17:40:46-06:00