(JACKSON, Miss.) – In recognition of Black History Month, the Jackson State University College of Liberal Arts departments of History/Philosophy and Political Science celebrated the important and historic contributions of African Americans in the Mississippi Legislature during a program Feb. 29 on JSU’s Gibbs-Green Pedestrian Walkway. Close to two dozen lawmakers joined JSU faculty, staff, students and administrators for the program.
“We know that you make history every day,” JSU President Carolyn W. Meyers told the assembled lawmakers. “We thank you for everything you have done to make sure the quality of life in Mississippi is as good as it is.”
The program included the unveiling of bricks engraved with the names of all current and past African-American legislators in Mississippi. The bricks span the width of the Gibbs-Green Walkway between the H.P. Jacobs Administration Tower and the Student Center.
During the celebration, JSU Department of Political Science chair D’Andra Orey spoke about the impact the state’s African-American legislators have had on Mississippi. To help document what he called “the ascendency of black power” in Mississippi’s government, Orey and the Department of Political Science have started to collect oral histories from the state’s African-American lawmakers.
Near the close of the program, state Rep. Omeria Scott challenged the crowd to join the Legislative Black Caucus’ persistent effort to advocate for Jackson State University and Mississippi’s other historically black public universities.
“When we’re over at that Capitol fighting, you need to be engaged,” she said.
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Jean Gordon Cook
601-979-1571