Members of the Oktibbeha County NAACP gathered at the Starkville Sportsplex on Friday for the organization’s 49th annual Freedom Awards Banquet.
State Rep. Cheikh Taylor, a Starkville Democrat, served as the keynote speaker, focusing on issues facing the African-American community and speaking about his first legislative session in Jackson.
Taylor quoted Martin Luther King, Jr., saying “When America tells the negro to lift himself by his own bootstraps, they don’t look over the legacy of slavery and segregation, now I believe we should do all we can to lift ourselves up by our own bootstraps, but it’s a cruel jest to say to a bootless man that he ought to lift himself up by his own bootstraps.”
Taylor then said those last words were spoken by the civil rights pioneer 11 months before his assassination in 1967.
“And here, 50 years after his assasination, I pose this question to you,” Taylor said. “Is the mountaintop any closer?”
The theme of King’s words would carry Taylor through the rest of his speech, as he discussed thinly-veiled legislation he believes to be aimed at holding the African-American community down.
The question then became: “How do we legislate racism?”
Taylor mentioned one bill during his first session that he believes unfairly targeted African-American gangs, while omitting white supremacist organizations and other hate groups.
“Two or more dressed in similar apparel .. it could be Mississippi State apparel, if it’s two or more of us together committing a felony, we get a five-year enhancement,” Taylor said. “Why do you need a five-year enhancement? Well, as far as I know, you have loose evidence, you pile on the years to get a plea.”
Taylor then said of all the gangs mentioned in the bill, leadership did not include the Ku Klux Klan, Ayrian Nation or the other 12 hate groups in Mississippi.
“That’s how we legislate racism,” Taylor said.
While the subject matter of Taylor’s speech centered on what he is doing in Jackson to give the African-American community a voice amid trying times, the organization followed his discussion by presenting awards to various members for their service and dedication.
HONOREES INCLUDED:
• Gov. William K. Winter Award: Cheikh Taylor
• Fannie Lou Hamer Award: Delores Bradford and LeAnn Williamson.
• Medgar Wiley Evers Award: Orlando Trainer.
• Sports Character Builder Award: Michael and Yulanda Haddix.
• Douglas L. Conner Award: Eileen Carr-Tabb
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award: Rev. Dr. Willie Earl Thomas, Sr.
• Mother of the Year: Annie Dell Kennard (1st place), Dorothy Lainer (2nd place), Yulanda Haddix (3rd place).
• 25+ Years of Dedicated Service: Annie Dancer.
Following the awards ceremony, NAACP members also heard from several candidates who will appear on the ballot in November.
Candidates in attendance, along with the office they seek, included:
• Paula Drungole-Ellis and Roy A’. Perkins, both candidates for 14th Chancery Court Judge Sub-District 14-3.
• Rodney Faver, candidate for 14th Chancery Court Judge Sub-District 14-1.
• Michael Evans, Democratic candidate for Mississippi’s Third Congressional District.