Jackson Free Press

You can feel it in the air. Jacksonians are starting to believe in the power of Mississippi's capital city to be great, to rise from the ashes that fiery politics and racism of old turned us into. The difference today from seven years ago when the Jackson Free Press launched is palpable: More people every day believe in our potential for greatness.

This isn't empty rhetoric. Here at the Jackson Free Press, we've worked hard to chronicle the city's comeback and the determined people who believe we can be the next Austin or Memphis or whatever we want to be. We've put a lot of faith into our city, and our people, because we saw her potential, even as other media downed the city, hyped crime statistics and acted like moving to the suburbs was, somehow, cool.

Ha! The joke's on them as the light fixtures in the newly renovated King Edward Hotel flickering over the construction workers turn the symbol of our demise into the symbol of our comeback. The joke's on them as their kids come up thinking it's a lot cooler to hang out and work in the city than out near a strip mall somewhere. The joke's on them as the city piles up accolade after accolade to go along with our newly paved streets and improving crime rate.

As we write this, the latest good news is in: Fortune Small Business and CNN Money have chosen Jackson the 11th best mid-sized metropolis in which to launch a business. This doesn't surprise us; we started a small business here seven years ago, and it has grown every year, even during bad times. Why? A big part of the reason is because we believe in our city and our people and don't down them every chance we get to make the city's bashers feel vindicated.

We believe. And part of believing in a city, or a person, or anything else, is knowing that tough love is part of growing. We don't treat this city, or its leaders, with kid gloves. Never have. Never will. We believe in high standards, and we know that our city will be strongest if we challenge each other to push past our comfort zones, to work hard and to be accountable to each other.

Yes, Jackson has problems. We have poverty. We have crime. But the JFP has long known what many others are just now figuring out, and some probably never will: Economic development cannot wait until a city's problems, such as crime, are "solved." Economic development, and the hard work and faith that it requires, helps solve a city's problems.

Every day, Jackson is proving the naysayers wrong—from all those Clarion-Ledger editorials that declared that we must solve crime before the city can rise again, to the anonymous haters from surrounding areas who barely hide their racist agendas on that paper's forums and on other local blogs.

Keep working and looking to the sky, Jackson. Our time is coming.

Previous Commentsshow

Keep on keeping on! I can't wait for the King Edward, Farish Street, Old Capitol Green, etc. to get going. I would like for the city to bring back the "Bold New City" moniker from back in the 80s.

golden eagle

Oct 19 2009

"No, NOW we're the Bold New City!" Uh... let's find something new. :)

Ironghost

Oct 19 2009

We've found it Ironghost. It is the belief by many that Jackson is on the move and it is only with positive thoughts about our possibilities that anything can be accomplished. Some years back, there were people ready to use a sledge hammer to tear down or even faster, dynamite the King Edwards. It didn't happen. There were others who believed that it could be done and we were right. My GM, deseased now for many years, always said, "If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don't. If you'd like to win, but think you can't, It's almost a cinch, you won't. Life's battles don't always go To the stronger or faster man; And sooner or later, the man who wins, Is the one who THINKS he can." I'm sure she meant "man" as both masculin and feminine application.

justjess

Oct 19 2009

I mean we need a new slogan, not that Jackson can't come back. I know Jackson can come back with some good leadership and people who actually care about the city. Not the type to sit back and fiddle while Rome burns.

Ironghost

Oct 19 2009

Ironghost, correct me if I'm wrong, but, I think that "The Bold New City" was our slogan during the Ditto Adm. Johnson's Adm. was "The Best of The New South." During the melton Adm., it was changed to "The City With Soul" or something similar. Do you have anything in mind that you think would fit?

justjess

Oct 19 2009

There's also "Crossroads of the New South", but I've forgotten when that one came into play. I'm rotten with slogans, to be honest. I'd come up with something like "Jackson: We're not as bad as they say we are", but that'd look bad on a sign.

Ironghost

Oct 19 2009

Any slogan works that connects. Even something like "Jackson, the Heartbeat of the South." Congratulations to all Jacksonians for keeping on keeping on. It will be cool to walk in the King Edward and stroll around.

J.T.

Oct 19 2009

I personally like he slogan: Jackson, once again the Capital City where you can party with Harvey as he gets us back on track; after Frank Stanked and the City Council Blanked!

Walt

Oct 19 2009

Actually, if I'm not mistaken, "Bold New City" may go all the way back to Danks. Personally, I think "The City of Grace & Benevolence" is so over- the- top in it's innaccuracy that they should keep it.

bill_jackson

Oct 20 2009

The City of Grace and Benevolence was a bit much. "Jackson! It's a state of mind you'd get committed for!" Nah.

Ironghost

Oct 20 2009

"Jackson- the Home of $400,000 Studies"

bill_jackson

Oct 20 2009

Actually, if I'm not mistaken, "Bold New City" may go all the way back to Danks. Yeah, you're right. I don't know if he was the brain child behind it though.

golden eagle

Oct 20 2009

I, too, believe in the City of Jackson and look forward to seeing it be the best that it can be. We are on the right track and I truly appreciate this article.

GratefulJTE

Oct 20 2009

Please show this article to posters at the C-L. But then again, don't. We don't need to turn this into a circus.

golden eagle

Oct 20 2009

Walt, you are a GENIUS!!!!!!!!!

justjess

Oct 21 2009