There’s a scene in C.S. Lewis’ “The Chronicles of Narnia” series where Susan asks wise old Mr. Beaver if Aslan, Narnia’s lion Christ-figure, is a tame lion–whether he’s “safe.”
“‘Course he isn’t ‘safe,’” Mr. Beaver replied. “But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
I’ve been thinking of this scene often, over the past few years, when people ask if Jackson is a “safe” city to live in. Crime is a serious, chronic problem that every major city has to deal with. Obviously, Jackson is much more “safe” than it was in the early ’90s with respect to the homicide rate, and more “safe” than it was post-Katrina with respect to the carjacking rate, but I don’t think most white city residents who ask this question really want to look at crime statistics. They’re wondering if the city is still going to accept them now that the city has, for the most part, a black identity.
Six of the seven Jackson City Council wards are majority-black, and the 2010 census tells us that 19,000 white residents left even as 7,500 new black residents came in. The city’s so black that the Mississippi Legislature has been discriminating against it–spending extra money to put the Department of Revenue in majority-white Clinton instead of majority-black Jackson, attempting to remove downtown Jackson from city oversight and place it under state control, and attempting to place a state-run commission in charge of its infrastructure spending.
When Gov. Phil Bryant half-joked about wanting to wheel the Capitol building out to Rankin County, he was just expressing the same urge that tens of thousands of other white-flighters have felt over the past few decades. He hates the fact that he has to do his work in a city that’s under black leadership–a city that isn’t “safe.”
Those of us who love Jackson know something that the city’s critics don’t: Jackson isn’t “safe,” but it’s good. The good black leadership we have enjoyed under Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. has been infinitely better than the “safe” white leadership we experienced under the previous administrations of good-old-boy politicians. And now, with Chokwe Lumumba, we have the opportunity to elect a radical black intellectual who is completely committed to going a step further and building a self-sustaining city economy–not a “safe” economy that returns control of the city to suburban developers and their allies in the Legislature, but a good economy that trusts our supermajority-black community with control over its own money, property and culture.
The only catch is that if Chokwe Lumumba is elected, it will probably be with very little white support. That’s a huge step. Even Johnson, whose critics have inexplicably painted as a black nationalist for 20 years, worked hard to reconcile the old, “safe” power structure and the democratic wishes of the city. Lumumba, who repeats the word “self-determination” like a mantra, isn’t interested in that. And for those of us who grew up accustomed to the idea that white people hold 50 percent (or more) of Jackson’s power even if they only make up 20 percent of the population, this might seem a little scary.
But it’s the right thing to do. Jonathan Lee’s supporters have adopted “Love Jackson” as their motto; if we really love Jackson, we need to trust Jackson to make its own decisions. We need to give up on the idea of keeping it “safe,” and have faith in the fundamental goodness of the people of this city. We need to recognize that the old power structure made promises it couldn’t keep, and destroyed lives in the process. If you love a person but want to control them, that’s not a healthy love. If you love a person but don’t respect them, that’s not a healthy love. Loving Jackson–really loving Jackson–means trusting Jackson.
Trust Jackson. Vote for Lumumba May 21.
Todd Head is a local Jackson writer and an occasional columnist for the Jackson Free Press. His opinions are his own. The Jackson Free Press is not endorsing either Chokwe Lumumba or Jonathan Lee in the May 21 Democratic runoff.
Previous Comments
What a powerful commentary. The thing with this election, there is only one candidate in the mayor’s race who can prove he is for the people. I hope that the voters will look at each candidate, and use their critical thinking skills to pick the best candidate. If we do this, there is no doubt, we will pick the best candidate. That candidate is Chokwe Lumumba.
#2861 | Author: shbkyn | Date: May 16 2013
“”We need to give up on the idea of keeping it “safe,” ” What about the 127 people that have been carjacked over the past 2 months? They don’t matter! You’re a bit removed from reality, Tom, sadly enough. It’s our time. Lee for Jackson.
#2872 | Author: robbier | Date: May 16 2013
Victims of crime must be sympathized with and heard. Justice must be done in each and every case. Cars are really too expensive for most poor folk to own. You can have a lot more money in your pocket if you are NOT paying car notes, insurance, gas, maintenance, &c. For social development to occur people have to spend and live wisely. If you spend more than you make– you will be tempted to covet and steal. Wisdom is the necessary social catalyst for poor folk especially. Social examples are needed. Chokwe is wise. He is an elder in the African community.
#2886 | Author: aeroscout | Date: May 17 2013
Having perused Lumumba’s “Jackson Plan”, I see one glaring problem, and that is who is going to pay for it? Jackson’s already anemic tax base will become even smaller when individuals and businesses flee in droves. Also, has he ever addressed the fact that the organization he was so deeply involved in was responsible for the murder of two law enforcement officers?
#2891 | Author: bill_jackson | Date: May 17 2013
I see your point, Bill. But I think it about both of the candidates going into the runoff. I don’t think there’s a grasp on reality about how much their ideas will cost and how hard it’ll be to get people to agree to pay for it. So we’re in for THAT battle no matter what.
#2892 | Author: Donna Ladd | Date: May 17 2013
He was and still is an activist committed to fighting for injustice and a cause. If only he could have seen through the eyes that wisdom, experience and age should give us, perhaps his decisions and associations might have been different. But it is what it is. I’m certain that Chokwe looks at life through a different lens these days yet he stills sees the injustices we as Black & White, poor, working class, people face every day on our jobs and in our lives. And Unfortunately unless all of us including Chowke can figure out another way to do it, this city’s prosperity and future success is probably tied to a group of people who refuse to help unless they control the playing field. We are inseparable but separate. And because I’m not comfortable with that plantation mentality strategy, I’ll support Chokwe for mayor and pray for the success of this city that I love.
#2895 | Author: 833maple | Date: May 17 2013
“The good black leadership we have enjoyed under Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. has been infinitely better than the “safe” white leadership we experienced under the previous administrations of good-old-boy politicians. ” So what exactly are you basing this assumption on? Something factual I hope.
#2962 | Author: js1976 | Date: May 20 2013
I wish I could say something good about lumumba’s attendance at city council meetings, his ability to keep out of unnecessary trouble with the bar, his relationship with law enforcement, or his willingness to have even the Jackson free press kicked out of freelons when he was discussing his course of action when he was almost disbarred.
#2982 | Author: 1234 | Date: May 21 2013
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