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photo by Hannah Reel
Willie Mae Robinson, center, is presented with the Courage and Dedication to Equal Justice plaque from Legacy Tribute chair Phillip West and her niece Katie West during the Legacy Tribute Banquet.
Local heroes honored
Published Sunday, February 21, 2010
NATCHEZ — The community honored and celebrated local heroes during the inaugural Legacy Tribute Banquet Saturday night.
The Legacy Tribute Committee recognized the hard work and efforts of Thomas “Boo” Campbell, Katye M. Dukes, Robert Johnson Sr., Mamie L. Mazique and Mary L. Toles to bring racial equality to Natchez and the state of Mississippi.
Chairman of the Legacy Committee, and former Natchez mayor, Phillip West said the event was a long overdue tribute to people who made it possible for him and others to be elected to government offices.
“Tonight is a night for celebration by lifting up some among us who have helped to lift up others,” West said.
Campbell was honored for his more than 40 years of public service as a police officer for the Natchez Police Department and as the Adams County Supervisor. Campbell was arrested during a Civil Rights march in Natchez and taken to the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman where he and others were subjected to inhumane treatment.
Dukes, an Adams County Election Commissioner, became involved in the local Civil Rights movement in the 1960s shortly after her return to Natchez in 1957. She witnessed first-hand the struggles of blacks in the 1960s when she attempted to register to vote and was asked to write portions of the Mississippi constitution in order to register.
Johnson was honored for his business career that employed many in the black community. Johnson opened the doors for many other black business owners.
Mazique was honored for her role as an active organizer during the Civil Rights era in Natchez. She was also honored for her contributions to the education of children in Natchez.
Toles was an active member of the NAACP during the Civil Rights era. She was the moderator at the mass meeting of the NAACP and was responsible for securing meeting places during the most turbulent times. She served as a justice court judge for Adams County for more than 20 years.
West also recognized the efforts of his aunt Willie Mae Robinson who marched in the 1965 Civil Rights march with her two daughters. All three were taken to the state penitentiary.
“She had this experience along with others from Natchez, and her daughters marched with her,” he said. “She wanted to better their lives. She needs to be recognized for her sacrifices.”
State Rep. Percy Watson told the crowd that citizens such as the ones honored should be remembered for their work. Watson was the keynote speaker for the event.
“Somebody paved the way for you to get where we are now,” Watson said. “These individuals were the ones intimately involved in the struggle. They are the ones that made it happen.
“They are individuals who don’t want you to give them anything but a chance.”
Comments
Posted by ntznavyman (anonymous) on February 21, 2010 at 12:10 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by sideline (anonymous) on February 21, 2010 at 1:38 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by rietta110722 (anonymous) on February 21, 2010 at 7:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Continue to recognize our history makers.
Posted by been_there (anonymous) on February 21, 2010 at 8:58 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by sandra (anonymous) on February 21, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i recognize my old high school classmate, phillip. phillip what happened to your silky head of hair? other than that you look like i remember you. when i saw yesterday's paper with the ms. alice felix award, i could not help but remember ms. mary johnson. do you remember hearing aunt may tell about me sneaking in the bedroom on one of her nights to stay over to keep us contained and sticking her in the b with a hat pen? phillip, she was on her knees praying. of course she told mom and dad all about it and i was grounded for a long while. i was so mischievous. dad always said i had the devil in me and he was going to beat the devil out of me. sometimes he seemed quite serious. those were some whipping days. i remember you being kinda shy and staying out of trouble. but NOT ME.
my mom and her two sisters visited ms. may at the nursing home and sang for her years before they all passed away.
keep the good legacies alive. the only way to combat evil is with respect for ourselves and one another.
Posted by thinkforyourself (anonymous) on February 21, 2010 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
your task has just begun, now educate the young black citizens of your community about the importance of a good education, and pride in their communities. History has its place and now you must build for the future. It is the 21st century, its time to put everthing you have earned and learned on the line, and put history in its rightful place. What do you and those great citizens have in store for the future of your community? I am sure there are some younger generations that too have help build your community. Put it out there so they too, will know this is a continuing struggle. Don't rely on others to do for you what you can do for yourself. If the young people want come to you then take it to them, thats what happen in the movement of the 60's. You took the movement to the entire nation. Become visible in your schools. Let them know it is not the civil rights movement, but the education movement. Now is the time for you to take charge and educate your people about what it means to be a proud African American and what better place to start than in your public schools. "All of them" If you educate your people then all will know and come to understand what the movement did in the 60's,and what education can do it in the 21st century. Let your young people know, dropping out of school, teen pregnancy, crime is not the wave of the future. Find a way to let them know education is the wave of the future. You demanded the entire nation listen and adhere to the needs of African Americans, now find a way to make young people listen. Today, I issue you a challenge to go to your schools and make a difference. When we lived in Natchez, I remember my daughter coming home from school, talking about a history lesson in Ms. J. Davis class, she was so impressed, it made her want to know more. All she kept saying, Ms. Davis was so serious, and if you laughed she got real upset. Ma, everybody listen. Listening to my child let me know there was something I needed to do. I needed to get more involved in teaching her about education and history. She open my eyes and as a community you can too can open young people eyes.
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on February 21, 2010 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Too bad this legacy is not being carried on.
Posted by Big_Red16 (anonymous) on February 21, 2010 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is something that the young people need to be aware of the struggles that our people have endured should not be taken for granted. This town/country has been built on the backs of our people.I wish that our young people would take more pride in the great heritage that we have as a people. It is our responsibility not to let them forget and teach them. Yes,we have come a long way,but there is still a lot to be done. Congratulations to all that were honored. I know that there are many more, so I say THANK YOU to all (living and deceased) that struggled and sacrificed so much!!!! Natchez is better for it. Let's keep moving foward together.
Posted by ijohnson (anonymous) on February 21, 2010 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've found to children of today to have a totally different mindset from almost any generation of Black folks I've come to know.
Education is the key . . . and not just education about Black History Month. We need our parents more involved in educating our children and holding them AND their teachers accountable.
Putting some rules in place and enforcing them is of utmost importance. They must know that there are consequences for their actions. If you don't teach them that at home. They will come to realize that when they commit a crime and find themselves in front of a judge and jury.
We must continue to excel as people and encourage our younger generation to do the same. Some of these young men hanging out on the corner should have been cleaned up and brought into this banquet to work and observe.
Sometimes being exposed to something different is enough to trigger the right mindset in a child. Keep exposing them to the good things and motivational things that brings out the goodness in them and their creativity -- you will gradually see a change in their mindset (for the better).
Time has brought about changes. There are lots of work yet to be done. It will not be easy. It will not be fun. However, it must be done . . . one child at a time.
Parents, do you know where your children are?!?!?!?!?
Posted by ijohnson (anonymous) on February 21, 2010 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm happy to CONGRATULATE Thomas “Boo” Campbell, Katye M. Dukes, Robert Johnson Sr., Mamie L. Mazique and Mary L. Toles for bringing racial equality to Natchez and the state of Mississippi.
We appreciate all you have done to bring about positive change.
Posted by sandra (anonymous) on February 21, 2010 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
we waste so much positive energy on applause, programs, meetings etc. we need to zero in on the targets. our children are out of control. they come from single parent homes with no upward motivational devices or discipline in place. the streets are their source of upbringing. this will NEVER work. they must feel loved and taught that someone cares. the system has failed the minority and they are in a state of rebellion. rebellion is a demonic spirit compared to hatred. and envy. we must BREAK that vicious cycle. we have been greatly DECEIVED. TRAIN your children up in the way they should go, forget about the injustices and have them practice forgiveness.
forgive us our debts as we forgive those who have trespassed against us. that is the bottom line.
Posted by cchat123 (anonymous) on February 21, 2010 at 7:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My mother too was arrested and sat in Parchman jail for
marching downtown Natchez during the most tumultuous
times of the civil rights era. She came home cold, wet and tired and ready to do it all over again.
I remember the incident like it was yesterday....all she wanted was a hot bowl of "grits."
She was back in the march line the next day.
Posted by sideline (anonymous) on February 22, 2010 at 2:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Continue to carry on.Uncle Phillip,aunt kate,and aunt willie mae.
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