Jackson Free Press

I hate the fact that for so many years I believed the propaganda. It is printed, reported, over-reported and regurgitated across all media about the city of Jackson: "Don't go downtown." "Don't walk the streets at night." "Be gone before the sun sets. Crime is up."

I was in the crowd that believed that after dusk, downtown streets mirror those on a violent Playstation video game. I didn't dare think about being anywhere near downtown. Nor did any of my friends. How could we as we read, "Homicide is up, property crime is increasing, and all categories of violent crime are on the rise."

We chose to stay in our comfort zone of the suburbs, patronizing Wal-Mart, McDonald's, Home Depot and all the big boxes that the 'burbs offer. We drove everywhere.

Sure, I had heard about all the development, renovation and investment dollars pouring into downtown, but to me, it was a pipe dream—just press-conference material that the leaders of the "Bold New City" were using to obscure reality. "Hogwash!" I thought. These investors had to be reading, seeing and hearing the same reports about the "Cold New City," the rewritten tag line my friends and I liked to represent. Why in the world would a person want to invest millions in a city with such travesty happening on a daily basis?

I could "see" this happening through the media. Why in the world could multi-millionaires not?

Had they taken a look down Farish Street where the prostitutes and pimps used it like it was a block party every weekend? How could they not notice the eyesore that was once the majestic King Edward? Where are the people coming from to patronize their establishments? Get a clue, people! Stop the insanity!

Thank goodness the insanity has stopped. No, I do not mean that the anti-Jackson propaganda has ceased. In fact, on Sept. 15, The Clarion-Ledger wowed its dwindling subscribers and advertisers by running a bold headline: "FBI: Violent crime up 9.3 Percent in Jackson."

But the same day, Assistant Police Chief Lee Vance told the Jackson Free Press the rest of the story: "The numbers are a comparison of 2007-2008, and this is Sept. 15 of 2009, which represents three-quarters of this year.

So, in my opinion, the numbers have little value unless you only want to do a negative crime story."

In fact, crime is on a downward trend this year. But for some reason that good news is not mainstream news.

And no, multi-millionaire investors have not walked away from their plans like scorned puppies. They are not driving off and looking in their rearview mirror thinking, "Man, we almost did it, we almost turned the city around." Instead they are investing more and more into the city: new condos here, a strip center there. Restaurants and specialty stores are not just dotting the city, but covering it like fire ants attacking your foot.

The mighty King Edward is close to being a reality and the Electric 308 Building, the Plaza Building and others are already open for businesses and residents.

Bump into Ben Allen, president of Downtown Jackson Partners, and you will hear in matter of seconds: "It's happening people. I have been telling you it was going to happen, and now it is."

The insanity that has ceased is what I held in my head for so long. I am no longer believing the propaganda. I have started to embrace Lent as a lifestyle. I am giving up on what my friends and family believe downtown is like. Giving up on listening to "them." You know, "them"—people who believe differently than I. I am trading in my ways as much as I can to believe in and love the City With Soul. I have given up The Clarion-Ledger for the Jackson Free Press; given up being afraid of downtown; and now I take drives and even walks to explore and discover it.

As a 34-year resident of the Jackson metropolitan area, I am finally experiencing Jackson like it needs, and deserves. The rich architecture and local mom-and-pops businesses here rival, if not overshadow, many other southern capital cities.

It is a slow process: I still sometimes find myself at McDonald's, Subway, Logan's and the like, instead of Room Service, CS's, Hal & Mal's and the great local establishments we have.

However, for a white, conservative, Baptist, suburban-reared, SUV-drivin' Mississippian, I am making strides. I am bringing people on this Lent-for-lifestyle with me as well. We will stop the insanity and fall in love with Jackson, a relationship that is long overdue.

Langston Moore is a lifelong Mississippian who resides in Flowood. He enjoys exploring historic downtowns, flea marketing and photography. He has one son and is employed by a local advertising agency in Jackson.

Previous Comments

ID

152488

Comment

I'm glad that you now see Jackson in a whole new view. While we are definitely not free from our problems, it's not the hellhole many outsiders like to paint Jackson as. Even when something positive happens here, they want to find ways to shoot it down. Langston, since you are among the suburbanites (and I'm not against suburbanites), why do you think they bash Jackson at all costs and don't want to see it improve for the better?

Author

golden eagle

Date

2009-10-07T15:57:03-06:00

ID

152510

Comment

Golden Eagle: I believe it is a culture created by the generation of my parents. They saw things go from really really "good" to really really bad in their eyes. The Civil Rights movement, I hate to say, may have had a big influence on the feeling of the burbs and their hatred for the cities. With the African American population staying in the inner city, mainly b/c of affordability issues, the fallen supporters of segregation began to move into the burbs. Although as we know segregation continued and still does, the fallen wanted no part of desegregation. Their children were taught that the cities are bad places b/c of the African American community. However, I believe that not all were blatantly stating it that way, rather they were using other excuses like crime, murder, rape, etc. But the implied message was that it was b/c of the African American community. My generation and the generation following me have opened our eyes are are making a difference in race relations (which I think are good), inner city redevelopment and an arts renaissance. I am not implying that my parents generation is the downfall, but I believe that it is a big part of why the burbs blow off the inner cities...

Author

Langston Moore

Date

2009-10-08T15:02:46-06:00

ID

152652

Comment

Go Langston!

Author

PyInfamous

Date

2009-10-13T18:59:28-06:00

ID

152655

Comment

Wow, Langston, thanks for putting it so bluntly! So when it all comes down to it, it really is about race. And some people wonder why things are the way they are in Jackson: because the ones who complain about the problems are the ones who ran away and help create the problem. Just like with the school system. I never heard anyone say that JPS was a bad school district before desegregation. Afterwards, when white flight began to happen, suddenly, JPS was bad. I could go on and on, but I'll fight that battle another day.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2009-10-13T21:51:16-06:00