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Jackson State University student Javon Blair plans to enact change in the world as the recipient of a Black Lives Matter Mississippi (BLMMS) internship.
Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and raised in Houston, Blair is a junior accounting major. He shared that his passion is to serve his community. After watching the 2016 presidential election, he became inspired to invest more in social issues. He found himself at JSU, which he considers his second home, organizing various events from the Keep Your Hands Off My Body March to the Men’s Empowerment Luncheon.
BLMMS reached out to Blair after the success of the luncheon. The event was a safe space for the Black men on JSU’s campus to speak about mental health and receive assistance to achieve their goals. The first BLMMS event Blair took part in was the MLK Day of Action & Remembrance. The panel was held on various social media platforms and focused on voting rights.
“The panel was designed for the radical king, (like) Martin Luther King Jr. He sacrificed his life on so many fronts,” said Blair. “I had to speak on the instances of fighting beside the radical kings of my generation, whether it is protecting voting rights, ending mass incarceration, or lifting impoverished people out of poverty.”
As of now, Blair’s focus is preparing for the upcoming midterm elections and encouraging everyone to vote with his motto, “Can’t stop. Won’t stop.”
“What’s next for me is making sure that we prepare for the 2022 Midterm Elections. I’m going to make sure again, though, that we include my people. I’m doing voter registration drives, but not just me. I’m going to make sure I have people working with me like Black Lives Matter to make sure that we keep voters informed,” said Blair.