Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 32 comments Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
NAACP honors locals leaders
Published Saturday, November 14, 2009
NATCHEZ — Three locals were honored Saturday for their work with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
The 64th annual Mississippi State Conference NAACP convention was in Natchez this week, and the convention ended with an awards ceremony at the Natchez Convention Center.
Former Natchez Mayor Phillip West was awarded the Goodman-Chaney-Schwerner Award, which is given to an individual, institution or organization contributing most to the improvement of political power for all people.
West served as mayor, an Adams County Supervisor and a Mississippi state legislator.
“Mayor Phillip West broke the color barrier by becoming the first black mayor of Natchez,” Mississippi State Conference President Derrick Johnson said.
“There was no way the NAACP could come to Natchez without honoring Phillip West.”
West said he was surprised and honored to receive the award.
“I accept this recognition on behalf of all those who came before me,” he said.
While many political gains have been made, the fight is not over, West said.
“We must stay on the battlefield until all us children can judge a person on the content of their character rather than the color of their skin,” he said.
The Fannie Lou Hamer Award was presented to Mamie Lee Mazique. The award is presented to those demonstrating a genuine care for those in need.
During more politically turbulent times, Mazique used her sister’s café to organize NAACP meetings. She also worked for many years as the director of the Head Start program.
Mazique’s fearlessness worked to help many Natchezians to vote, Johnson said.
“She is definitely a lady to be admired and loved,” he said.
Mazique said she was surprised to receive the award.
“I thank all of you for thinking of me,” she said.
The Volunteer of the Year award was given to Alfred Hunter.
“I have never seen anybody as committed to the state cause (as Hunter),” Johnson said. “At one point, the Natchez branch dropped below 50 members, but he said, ‘That will never happen while I am here.’”
Hunter has worked tirelessly for the NAACP’s causes through the years, and was the one who volunteered Natchez to host the convention, Johnson said.
When Hunter accepted the award, he did so with self-effacing humility.
“I didn’t do this alone,” he said. “The NAACP committee worked hard and said, ‘She won’t fail.’”
Other award recipients included:
4Master Maurice Lucas, who was given the Edgar Bridges Sr. Lifetime Membership Award.
4David Johnson, who was given the Jerry Mauldin Corporate Award.
4Alma Warren, who was given the Vernon Dahmer Award.
4Carlton Reeves and Patricia McDonald, who were given the NAACP Legal Award.
4Janette Self, who was given the Sam Bailey-Long Distance Runner Award.
4Janice Hopkins, who was given the Medgar Evers Award.
4George Roberts, who was given the Dr. Aaron Henry Lifetime Service Award.
Comments
Posted by stateofnatchez (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 2:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Come on now !! That would be racist !!
Posted by Barrister (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 4:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Every time a stupid comment like this is made, I will take it upon myself to remind WHITE people who choose to make IGNORANT statements which defy LOGIC and HISTORY why an association such as the NAACP even has to exist. It is because this country enslaved BLACKS and, particularly in the SOUTH, WHITE people fought against first our FREEDOM and then our RIGHTS.
Right now, you MrBoBo, even though you show every sign of being of low-average intelligence and, at best, you are what is called an E-BULLY, I would venture to say that you have achieved a measure of success in your life. You had a leg up on your BLACK counterparts because you are WHITE. I really don't care what you say to deny it - it is true. And, you want to make sure that you keep that advantage. If I were WHITE, I would be scared, too.
You already have what you seek - rich whites just won't let you in. By the way, the NAACP has LOTS of white members!!!!
Are you sure you want the Democrat to cover the type of associations that would cater and appeal to someone of your ilk?
I am also fairly confident that everyone who knows you thinks that you are DUMB. Punk.
Posted by imnms017 (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 7:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
MrBoBo -- I agree with you.
Barrister--if you want a lesson in logic, you really should examine your thoughts. If you want to be able to hurl insults at people because of their thoughts, you probably shouldn't be championing an organization whose purpose is to combat just that.
I get your implication, Barrister, and it is downright insulting. I find the NAACP an overtly racist organization (I can name at least a dozen legal battles that demonstrate that) and I have no associations that would cauze a buzz or reason for embarrassment in the newspaper. One doesn't have to be a member of another racist organization to have a problem with the NAACP.
Are you allowed to spew racism because you're a member of the NAACP, a group that claims to fight against racism while blatantly promoting it? There is a massive double standard.
Posted by consider_reason (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 7:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Interesting question imnms017 - well phrased.
Your answer from the opposition will most likely ALWAYS be the same; it's the white man's fault that racism exists. No responsibility will ever be taken for continuing the poisonous trends by the naacp.
It's like the Klan blaming everyone who isn't caucasian and christian for the southern white being poor and without opportunity.
There is no coloration to ignorance and racism - it's just the easiest conduit to blame for the weak and stupid among us, no matter which side of an issue it comes from.
Posted by 4jandme (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 8:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
why is it that everyone have to get on here and spew such hate via the internet? thjs is rediculous! White People gets awards and nothing is said, but as soon as a Black person gets an award everyone has someting to say! CRAZY! just because we are in the south don't mean we have to uphold the stupid a&& ways of back in the day! Children, Let go of the hatred and love one another for who he or she is not for the color of their skin! Today is Sunday and I bet yall will be busting the Church doors down and still hating one another!
Posted by flowerpower (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Please let me be the first to remind you that whites in this country were far from being the first to enslave anyone. Blacks in Africa were enslaving each other long before the North American continent was discovered to exist. And as far as slavery goes today, blacks in Africa are still enslaving each other, and killing each other, much as they do here.
Posted by DeanWormer (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I've had enough, I'm calling my Senator who is a member of the white caucas group. Then I'm sending a check to the White college fund. If I have time , I been asked to be a judge at the White Miss America pageant. Then I'm going home to watch WET (White Entertainment Television) and have a Johnnie Walker White and water.
Posted by dave07deuce07 (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
AWARDS ARE SOMETHING THAT IS EARNED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS : HARD WORK , TREATING EVERYONE EQUAL , ADDS UP TO : DOING THE RIGHT THINGS . I KNOW WE DO THINGS THAT WE THINK IS RIGHT ; BUT WE DON'T GET AN AWARD FOR IT ; WE NEED TO RETHINK IT ; MAYBE IT'S NOT AS RIGHT AS WE THINK IT IS .
I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL WHO RECEIVED AN AWARD ; KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK , AND PASS IT ON DOWN THROUGH THE GENERATION .
Posted by aesa (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 10:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ms. Mazique was more instrumental in the
civil rights movement in our town than most
folks realize...the Iron Horse of Woodlawn.
We should all read the MS Sovergein acrchives.
Ms. Mazique should be interviewed and her
viewpoint from the 60's documented.
There is so much Black History in Nat from
the 60's....it should be captured before
they are all gone.
Thank you Ms. Mazique....
Posted by Pluto (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good for the NAACP & all awarded, but can't the Democrat do any fact-checking? WEST WAS NOT THE FIRST BLACK MAYOR. It was reported in their own paper that Natchez had a black mayor during Reconstruction just after the Civil War. The State Conference President is probably an out-of-towner who didn't know, but someone should have caught that.
Shortcut to: http://natchezdemocrat.com/news/2004/may...
Posted by Pluto (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 10:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In 1871, during the Reconstruction era, Natchez elected Robert H. Wood as mayor. Natchez was the only city in Mississippi to elect an African-American to the mayor's office during that period.
Posted by wrck4ever (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Some people are so fake! How could anyone truthfully believe the NAACP is not racist. Hello! Its spelled out in the name of the organization. Are we to believe if there were a National Association for the Advancement of White People or a National Association to Hold Back Colored People, that they would not be labeled racist? All the awards were given to black people? Could they not find one person of another race who helped advance black people- maybe a teacher or owner of a McDonalds or Popeyes ? Maybe there was a time when the NAAPC was needed but with the election of a black president, isn't that time passed.
Posted by been_there (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 11:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
People are judged by their accomplishments. My views are formulated by what I have seen all my life, as are everyone else. Don't come on like you can embarrass me or anyone else who likes or dislikes someone so that it can make your SOCIAL PROGRAMS look like they are working!!
Posted by DeanWormer (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations Mr. Bobo, You have won a laptop for having the most posts disabled by the Democrat. This is a highly coveted award and I'm sure you are proud and will carry this honor with distinction. You can pick up your new laptop at the Democrats future home on Franklin Street.(The old A&P)
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
wonderful
Posted by Bobaloo (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is a NAAWP............ used to be run by David Duke...... there's a hero.
Google it if you would like to join, I'm sure they have a robe for you if you survive initiation.
Posted by stateofnatchez (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 1:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The NAACP is discriminating by definition alone. There's no need to cite examples, their mission statement or past history.
Someone please post any past award(s) given by this organization to persons not of the "african american" race or equally explain the reasons for this exclusion.
Posted by Continental_Line (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 2:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tolerate the 2 minute instrumental music and watch this award winning segment on the state of Natchez Mississippi :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRzyDmXj1...
Posted by DeanWormer (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 3:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why don't the NAACP help out the poor folks in certain parts of Africa. I mean this is way out of hand. When you read or see whole communitys of mostly women and children, being hacked to death with machetes in front of the survivng family members, I would think would get my attention. Can someone PLEASE explain to me why black people in America could care less about there brothers in Africa. If I were black and saw innocent women and children actually being butchered, it would piss me off to no end. Where is the outrage NAACP. I would think that the first order of business would be to do SOMETHING about the genocide in Africa and help out these people who desperately need someone to stand up and stop these crazy people from killing each other. NAACP get in the real world, step up to the plate and do something about how your people are being mistreated in Africa.
Posted by Continental_Line (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 3:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great point !
Posted by Kaintuck (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Some of these comments are something else: Does anyone really believe that the NAACP is a threat to white folks? Come on now... Everybody on here complains about the paucity of jobs in Adams County. After reading comments like these, who but a company that makes white sheets or robes would be interested in setting-up shop here? Black folks are God's children too...
Posted by commentremovedbystaff (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 8:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There happens to be an organization for the advancement of white people already in existence. Its called the republican party.
Posted by kubiak (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 8:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
RACIST=KKK
Posted by Kaintuck (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 8:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
commentremovedbystaff - Though I am a registered Republican, your post made me laugh out loud! You win the prize (hands-down) for the funniest comment on this thread. I look forward to more of these jewels from you...
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 9:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
commentremovedbystaff, sorry but I don't think your racist uneducated comment is funny at all. The mentality reflected in your post is sad. Why don't you try to keep with the NAACP argument and keep political parties out of it.
Posted by Kaintuck (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 9:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OldGrandDad - How old are you, Pop? Are you the good "Bonded" stuff - 100 Proof? This is a tense community racially, and it helps if we can find humor in some of the silly things we do and say. It also helps if we can poke fun at ourselves, when we are inevitably subject to personal or party failings...
Sadly, there are a lot of awful comments made here about black folks, that are way more disrespectful than any imagined barb or slight you perceived from our new poster "commentremovedbystaff".
Sometimes these different points of view may sting a little, but in my experience, folks get a whole lot more riled-up over something that has a seed of truth in it, than just bogus talk. Blacks have been here in Adams County as long as us white folks, and they belong here, and are every bit as American as we are. Their blood and sweat built this nation too; oh yeah.
It seems like every time a person of color posts on here, they get lambasted by white trash. Well, I've always been partial to underdogs; call it a personal failing. I'm in and out of the country a lot, so try to get my money's worth when reading and posting here. Anyway, my two-cents. All the best to you my friend...
Posted by commentremovedbystaff (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 10:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I apologize for my uneducated, unfunny, racist comment. Never in my life as a white person did I think that I would commit racism against one of my own. I should have realized race and politics are mutually exclusive. As for the “argument” I don’t even see the need for one. We should be thankful Natchez hosted something, after all we are always trying to attract the business of out of towners. I think it also looks good for the city unlike some of these uneducated, unfunny, racist comments.
Posted by sideline (anonymous) on November 15, 2009 at 10:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And to think, all this conversation for nothing when the NAACP was created by white people. Make you wanna study history a little bit closer now doesn't it.
Posted by wrck4ever (anonymous) on November 16, 2009 at 12:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations to all posters! 24hrs without having Comments Disabled. Yes We Can!
The original debate here was- if an organization promotes a group of people based solely on race, does that make it a racist organization. For the answer to that, some of us will just have to agree to disagree. That being said, having Googled each of the awards recipients, they all have impressive histories of leadership and personal accomplishments - which in no way would be diminished by omitting the word "black" from their resumes. I, personally,would be offended if someone said, you did a good job for a black mayor, performed well for a black CEO, fought bravely for a black soldier, or scored well for a black student... Maybe that was the reason for the decline in membership in the NAACP. Perhaps it is time for this organization to quit intimidating and separating its people from the rest of society and take its place in the history books, just like the robed riders of yesteryear.
Posted by 000117 (anonymous) on November 16, 2009 at 12:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
National Association for the Advancement of COLORED PEOPLE. Now to the BLACKS and the WHITES. The last time I looked these are COLORS.
The ones that have voiced there opinions here, are the same ones that do not know that there is only one race on this Earth....HUMAN. When a form ask what race are you. I can see you now writing White or Black. Now that should make you say--- What? So people get off of the Color issue. If you think you are going to HEAVEN, I have a surprise for you. There is only one, and it's NOT BLACK OR WHITE.
What happened at FORT HOOD Should have been a wake up call for all of you. The ( AMERICANS ) that was wounded or killed were OF ALL COLORS, I think they all have the same COLOR BLOOD.
Posted by wrck4ever (anonymous) on November 16, 2009 at 1:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you 117. The forms we are required to fill out. I once took the US Postal exam. My friend with photographic memory took the test at the same time. He aced the test but i couldn't match the streets up with the right routes to save my life. However, for some reason, i had decided to mark black for my race at the beginning of the test. Rebellion against i guess. Well, who do you think got called for an interview first? (for those of you who don't know, minorities and service men get points added to their grade) But I was scared to show up for fear of having lied on a federal form. Oh if i were only black, I'd be a postman today...
Posted by marinefrmntz (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 2:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good Ole Mississippi never lets me down.
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)