Jackson Free Press

First, my new job at the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance has been exciting to say the least. Working with good friends on a good cause makes the transition from public servant to activist relaxing and rewarding. The timing could not have been better as I have had a chance to help organize and participate fully in our second annual Black-Brown Unity Conference in Canton, MS. I have been given the opportunity to travel across the country, talking with other activists in the struggle. More importantly, I have seen the battle first hand with the new immigrants' quest to become a positive permanent fixture in this state and nation, especially during a political year. It has been an experience with mixed emotions.

Case in point, what in God's name is up with the Democrats? The two men at the top of the ticket have decided to revert back to an old Southern Strategy: Be progressive on social issues, populist on economic issues, but never forget your racist roots. It is appaling to me to see commercials attacking immigrants as the root of our problems when everyone knows that our foreign economic policies have created the atmosphere for jobs leaving the state and people in other nations seeking help here.

When Mr. Eaves says, if the Federal Government won't handle the problem of immigration, then he will, tell me what is the difference between him and a Bilbo, Barnett or Wallace? If you are running a "Christian" campaign, it is more than just looking out for the least of these. It is also suppose to be about tolerance. The Gospel was preached to the Jews and the Gentiles, if I remember correctly.

Racist rhetoric is the wrong strategy for Mississippi, no matter who the target audience is. Scapegoating will not move this state forward, instead it only reinforces the perception that the union field of our state flag implies to the rest of the nation. The one thing Gov. Barbour did say correctly in one of his many attack ads that is sticking in the minds of voters, especially in light of Eaves recent twist on "Segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever": Eaves has no vision.

Now a voter has to make a choice between a candidate with no vision and a candidate with a nightmarish vision of limited health care, cronism and no socio-economic improvement for its citizens. Can we say no reduction in the grocery tax and no increase in the state's minimum wage?

Sigh.

For the record, Barbour is not a friend of immigrants either. He did pander to them in 2003 by placing ads in the La Noticia Newspaper saying he was for access to driver's licenses, but then made sure his Department of Public Safety heads all lobbied the Legislature not to bring the bill out of committee for four years. I know, I was there.

November 6, 2007 could have been a watershed moment in Mississippi politics. Instead it will be a confirmation of the SSDD principle.

Moving on, the Civil Rights Museum is being proposed to be bulit on Lakeland Drive. ??? The consultant, out of Memphis I might add, seems to think that building a museum next to other museums is the way to go. In a city that was well planned like Chicago, maybe, but even they built the DuSable Black History Museum on the South Side, where the African-American population is predominent.

The ideal location would be where the old Sun-n-Sand Hotel is currently located. It is juxapositioned between Farish Street, the Smith Robertson Museum and the State Capitol. Now it is up to Reuben Anderson and Mike Espy, along with other members of the museum commission (insert Charles Pickering) to make the final decision, but this should be a no-brainer, even if they are in Barbour's hip pocket. Hopefully, the new leadership of Ben Allen at Downtown Jackson Partners will take up the cause, since our city leaders have dropped the ball in this planning process.

FYI, the last time the city of Jackson did drop the ball in trying to secure a museum of this magnitude, Sela Ward swept in and got the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Hall of Fame to be built in Meridian. Just a reminder.

Finally, didn't Veterans Memorial Stadium look good on ESPN Classic Saturday? It made a compelling argument for those JSU Alumni who want "The Home of the JSU Tigers" to be more than just a sign on the stadium facade. (By the way, the phrase on the stadium was part of the Ayers Settlement) In 1999, the Mississippi Legislature committed to completely renovate the stadium. Half of the renovations have been done since that time. It is time for the state to either honor that commitment and relinquish control of the stadium to JSU or build a brand new 50,000-seat stadium on the campus. Status quo is no longer an option.

Some prominent JSU alums have decided to support Barbour for one seat on the College Board, which needs a new commissioner, but that is a thought for another day. I am more concerned about his commitment to 50,000 to 60,000 seats, if you understand where I am coming from.

Whew! That is enough to chew on for now. Thanks Gov. Blanco on setting the stage for a Republican you beat to be the new leader for post-Katrina Louisiana. Well, at least he is the son of immigrants. God save New Orleans!

Take care.