Jackson Free Press

Some of you may have heard about Tougaloo College being selected as the location for a new Civil Rights Museum in Mississippi. However, even though I am a Tougaloo graduate and love my alma mater, I believe that it would be better for the museum to be located in downtown Jackson.

Tougaloo and Jackson have both played major roles in the Civil Rights Movement, but after that historic time period, Jackson has suffered economically the past few decades thanks to white flight and de facto segregation. Our capital city needs the revenue through the tourism dollars it would bring, and putting the museum in downtown Jackson would be a big boost to the revitalization effort that is currently taking place.

Also, please consider the following: The civil rights museums in Tennessee and Alabama are in downtown Memphis and downtown Birmingham, respectively. The museum would be more accessible to tourists downtown, an area that will be booming in the next decade thanks to the construction of buildings like the Convention Center and the Pinnacle as well as the redevelopment of Farish Street. Jackson is a predominately black city that needs our support, and some of the ones who should definitely be giving support are the prestigious graduates of Tougaloo College. Just think: What if potential students are drawn to Tougaloo because of the success of downtown Jackson? They could enjoy what a prosperous urban area has to offer and still enjoy the quiet solitude of Tougaloo. The best of both worlds!

Please join us at the rally, which is being spearheaded by local rapper and activist Kamikaze, on Monday at 1:00 PM at Smith Robertson Museum. Your presence will be greatly appreciated.

Previous Comments

ID

117284

Comment

Hello, fellow Eagles! Uh, Tougaloo's mascot is the Bulldog.

Author

Dr. S

Date

2008-02-21T22:59:31-06:00

ID

117285

Comment

Uh, Tougaloo's mascot is the Bulldog. Tougaloo has two mascots. The athletic mascot is the bulldog, and the academic mascot is the eagle. Here's a portion of the school song: Tougaloo, Eagle Queen, we love thee, Mother Eagle, stir thy nest. Rout thine eaglets to the breezes, They enjoy the test. I chose the eagle instead of the bulldog in order to speak to the intellectual side of the alumni.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-02-22T06:59:35-06:00

ID

117286

Comment

Go "Toug" Dawgs..............!!!!!! put it downtown..............(with it's own generator please.... : ).....) go dawgs.....

Author

ATLExile

Date

2008-02-22T09:23:31-06:00

ID

117287

Comment

ATL, are you an alum or a very enthusiastic fan? :-P

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-02-22T11:19:13-06:00

ID

117288

Comment

Update from Kamikaze: The press conference has been changed to 1pm on Monday folks.. To better accomodate lawmakers schedules. We're calling in all the big guns we can.. SO PLEASE BE THERE 1PM(NOT 2PM) SMITH ROBERTSON MUSEUM ON MONDAY..WITH SIGNS A BLAZIN!!!!!

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-02-22T14:05:05-06:00