The Cost of Crossing the Color Barrier

Although Humphrey had lived in Bemis the majority of her life; less than a mile from South Side High School, she had to ride a bus 13 miles in the opposite direction to attend East High School. More than a decade after the United States Supreme Court had ruled racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, Madison County still operated totally separate high schools for whites and African-American students at that time. The 1965-1966 school year was the first time African-American students in Bemis were allowed to attend the high school in their neighborhood.

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Contributor Spotlight: Asanta M. Brooks

Asanta Brooks is an author and freelance writer. Her passion for writing stemmed from creating and illustrating comic strips as a child, which lead to her becoming involved with the high school paper and excelling as a feature writer for her college paper. She resides in Jackson with her adorably energetic four-year-old son, Alex, and today we’re excited to share a little more about her and why she’s a part of Our Jackson Home.

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Raising the Bar

Raised in Leland, Mississippi, by her enlightened and encouraging grandmother, Rochell Staten knew from a young age that she could do and become anything she wanted. “My grandmother wanted nothing but the best for me, and she made sure that education was a priority,” Rochell says. “Her believing in me […] made me believe in myself even more.” As a senior in high school, earning good grades and with only one year of track and field under her belt, Rochell landed a full four-year athletic scholarship to Mississippi Valley State University.

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Gift Guide: Last Minute Local Love

I love Valentines Day. Regardless of your relationship status, I think it’s always a good idea to celebrate the ones you love. Even so, it’s easy to put off getting something for the important folks in your life. You’ve got a day or so left to shop, so we’ve put together a few ideas so you can show some love to your local businesses, too.

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Courtney Searcy
Working on a Building

At the fringes of Natchez Trace State Park, passersby wouldn’t have an inkling of thought to wonder what is being built just down the dirt drive leading into the woods. It’s completely unassuming, and for at least three bumps in the road, I’m not not sure if I’ve arrived in the right place—until a bouncy Rhodesian Ridgeback pup comes galloping up the road, barking to signal my approach. Ranger gives a couple sniffs to the air and a cautionary bark to make sure I’m not an intruder, then happily licks me head to toe.

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