Is E.C.Nobles a Sellout?
Written by admin on June 27, 2009 – 11:07 pm -Editorial:
Selectman E.C. Nobles
Is he a sellout uncle tom?
Lonnie Ross Posted 06-11-09 Mississippi Tribune
E.C. Nobles.
Uncle Tom. Sellout. Traitor to his own people. Or, just plain stupid (the nicest word I could come up with)!
This is really hard for me to write. But, it must be written. Before Earnest C. Nobles became Selectman E.C. Nobles, he was a man that I had worked with, admired and has great respect for.
We worked with young Black men and boys in the same community that E.C. has betrayed and is betraying! Yes, E.C. and
I attend the same church. We’ve participated in some of the same ministry, working with our Black youth to encourage them,
especially our boys and young men to make the right choices in their lives.
We met with teenaged Black boys at our church and at the Martin Luther King Jr. Gym twice a month, along with other
concerned Black men (this was before the gym had to be closed because of disrepair, that was to be improved by a small portion of the the $9.5 million bond that Selectman E.C. Nobles led the charge to reverse and stop that money from reaching the Black community where it is needed the most). E.C. would share with the young men some of the wrong decisions he made as a young man and the price he had to pay. He pleaded with them not to turn to drugs and gangs. Some of the boys and young men had already turned to drugs and gangs. But, thanks to the leadership and involvement of Pastor Gregory Partman, Huge McGee, Deacon Austin Ross, Elder John Johnson, Geralye Green, E.C. Nobles and me, several of these young men turned away from drugs, gangs and fighting, and have improved in school and have graduated from High School.
E.C. has testified at church and pleaded with young men to choose the right path. He has shown, in the past, a love for
his community and his people. And, for that, I greatly admired him. But, not any more.
He has betrayed his community. He has soldout himself to the privileged. He is a puppet of the white man and he doesn’t even care. He is worst than a bigot. HE IS A HOUSE NEGRO! He is a House Slave, working overtime for his slave master. He is a joke. He must be exposed.
He won’t even allow himself to be interviewed by this newspaper.
On Tuesday, E.C. proved all of this once and for all.
At the McComb city board meeting, he challenged Mayor Zach Patterson, disrespected him, led the effort to strip him
of his mayoral powers and explained as best as he could why he was doing what has not been done before in history of Mc-
Comb.
E.C. presented five amendments to the city ordinances: 1. removing the mayor’s powers, 2. involving board meetings, 3. the handling of suspension, removal and vacancies of city officers, 4. hiring of a city administrator
and defining his duties, and 5. defining the city attorney’s duties. All five of the measures were approved by the
board at the same time by a 4-2 vote. Yes, all three of the white selectmen and one sellout uncle tom voted for the amendments and the two remaining Black selectmen voted against it.
We already know that Selectmen Danny Esch and Wade Lamb always vote together when voting against the Black community. And, the other white selectman, Bobby Maddox usually votes with his peers.
But, the majority Black city of McComb voted in a Black mayor for the first time in the city’s history. For the first time, people who have never had equal access, or any access to the political and economic power of the city, would now have real access. BY A 4-3 VOTE. Because, the Black mayor could break the tie when issues of interest and importance to the Black community came before the board.
In the past, the board would always vote against any measure that the majority (whites) did not want, or was something that only seemed to benefit the Black community, or they just didn’t care about. But, not anymore! We have a Black mayor who can break the tie, to ensure that all McComb citizens had equal access, Blacks and whites. Unfortunately, E.C. Nobles (seemingly a good man) got elected by a hand full of votes and turned into Selectman Nobles, a traitor and sellout.
I am sure he is making a few Black folk regret that they ever cast a vote in favor of him. If my four year old son ran against him for selectman right now, I am convinced that my son would win by a landslide.
With Selectman E.C. Nobles, with what he has done, and what he is doing at city hall, we all lose. All Black people lose. We are the ones who have never had access. Now, if we lose the mayor’s seat, because you want to ‘get the chair for the white man’…
He is a disgrace.
Urrrrrgggghhhhhh!!!!!!!
E.C. Nobles. You ought to resign today. Then you ought to apologize to the Burgland community and the entire Black community. And, to your church.
Do we have any political Black men in McComb besides Mayor Patterson who has the backbone to stand-up to the racist white establishment in McComb?
If E.C. is a cowardless Black man who will stand up against a Black man that is trying to help Black people, and will never stand up against racist white men who vote against Black causes all the time, then I must also say something about the two other Black selectmen on that board.
Melvin Joe Johnson and Robert Earl Smith. I am disappointed with you. I can’t tell you what to do. But, come on. SPEAK UP!!!! TELL E.C. TO SHUT-UP AND SIT HIS BUTT DOWN IN HIS CHAIR AND STOP MAKING A FOOL OUT OF HIS SELF BY DOING ALL THE WHITE MAN’S WORK.
Tell E.C., in public that he needs to start helping Black people, who also happen to be citizens of McComb. Esch and Lamb
represent white McComb and the interests of white McComb. They are taking care of home as they see it. Can you blame
them? It’s time for E.C. to take care of home. If he would vote to support a Mayor who is trying his best to make sure everyone has access to the political and economic benefits of the city government of McComb, especially Black people who
have always been denied this access, then we would see the whole city benefit. We would see Black people included
equally for the first time.
Pull that sellout aside and tell him that. And, if he want listen to you, then stand up in the meeting and tell him and those other selectmen that you are not going to stand for them openingly resist the change that will allow Black people to fully participate in McComb.
If you are not afraid, then speak up and challenge them. Represent your own community with strength and dignity.
Don’t be like E.C. Nobles. A sellout, traitor, uncle tom, and afraid.
Lonnie Ross
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The Saga Continues Part II
Written by admin on May 29, 2009 – 5:20 pm -The Saga Continues Part II
Nobles: Called on again
Anthony Witherspoon
Mississippi – Tribune posted 05-29-09
Selectmen E.C. Nobles and Wade Lamb’s latest proposal to change McComb’s city charter and strip the mayor of his “Duties, Power and Supervision†is actually proof that the charter empowers him with such. This point should not go unnoticed, especially since these two guys, Norman Gillis and others have been arguing a different point for the last two years.
It’s a shame that Mr. Nobles has no more respect for himself than to play puppet for Gillis and the rest of those who would like to dictate the way things run in the city. It’s also a shame if we, both black and white folks, in the community allow a hand full of folks to change the charter at this point in the city’s history.
Why now? How could the charter have worked for so long and now all of a sudden it’s no good? I’ll tell you why.
Due to white flight from the city limits, the city is now majority black. Norman Gillis and others fear that if black folks start working together the city may never see another white mayor; to even assume that we’d even vote as a block solely because of race, of course, is a racist mind set.
Guys like Gillis plan twenty years in advance. He and other Rotary Club members knew that this day of a black majority in the city was bound to come, and this is why the city developed the appointed position of city administrator. The second step would involve empowering this person with the “Duties, Power and Supervision†that the charter now gives to the mayor of the city. If successful, Gillis and his comrades can use their money and influence to buy board members and have appointed whoever they feel will work in their best interest, but not in the best interest of the people. Mr. Nobles, resist the devil and the devil will fl ee.
Mr. Nobles has accepted that job of carrying out the will of this coup, and he needs to be stopped. To put it quite bluntly, he is selling out his community. Someone has to speak up, who will stand with us against this assault on the black community. This is not about Mayor Patterson, this is about an attempt to disempower the office of mayor now that blacks are the most likely the win the position. Don’t be fooled by the junk you read in that other trashy, racist “Two Cent†valued newspaper.
We must hold Nobles, Gillis, Lamb, Jack Ryan and others accountable for this racist attempt.We must show them that the “Good Ole Days and Good Ole Boy System†has come to its end.
History tells us that a number of black elected officials, “so-called†black leaders and money hungry black ministers have worked for the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission, the FBI and COINTELPRO to spy on real leadership in the black community that sought to empower the people. We have work to do on both sides of the track. Let’s now allow history to repeat itself. Who will stand? If God is with us, who can be against us. Speak now or forever hold your peace.
Min. Anthony Witherspoon
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Are We Making Progress? Part II
Written by admin on May 29, 2009 – 5:15 pm -Editorial – Lonnie Ross Mississippi-Tribune 05-29-09
What is progress without privilege?
I am a Black man living in Pike County Mississippi. And I have a good life for a Black man. Happily married, healthy and talented children, my mother and father still alive and able, a job that helps me to pay my bills, a home to go to and a vehicle to drive in. Is this the American dream being fulfilled?
It is true, I am living better than millions, no, billions of people around the world in terms of my possessions. But there is more to life than possessions. There is privilege.
White people in America are born with it. Blacks in American are not. It’s just that simple.
President Obama doesn’t have it. Mayor Patterson doesn’t have it. Neither does Mayors Robinson or Harris. The richest Black person in Pike County doesn’t have it either. Indeed, the richest, smartest, prettiest Black person in the United States doesn’t have it.
Privilege? In this country, if you are white, you are born with it. I don’t care how poor you are, how uneducated you are as a white person, you still have something that I do not have. Privilege.
It explains why whites continue to rule and control so much in this county, this state and in this country. White privilege. They ought to teach about that subject in our schools so that our children will be able to understand why things are the way that they are.
Why people prefer to place their money in white owned and controlled banks. Why people are so quick to support white owned businesses and slow to support Black owned businesses. Why nearly all the major football and basketball coaches at major schools and at the professional level are white. Why this year McComb High School hired its first lack football coach ever! And where is the Black head coach at South Pike? And, why there is a Parklane Academy.
White privilege is why whites in general have better jobs, better opportunities (real ones, that is, not the token stuff or the good interview for the job, but never get the job).
White privilege is such a strong force and reality, that we must have programs like Affirmative Action just to give Black people a fighting chance. It’s true, we would not have a Black mayor, Black president, Black CEO, or Black anything in white America, if it were not for forced government intervention.
White privilege says I can hire, work with, live with and associate with whoever I want to. And, let’s be honest, for a white person, the choice will normally be another white person.
White privilege can say no to Black people having a equal place. Especially here in Pike county.
Just look at what is happening with the Mayor of McComb, Zach Patterson. No Mayor in the history of McComb has been treated the way he has been treated. NEVER! And all of those previous Mayors were White. All of them.
Some of those mayors were mean to people. Some of them argued and battled publicly and privately with selectmen, administrators and members of the community. But, none of them have ever been treated like this mayor.
Don’t believe me? Well, just look at what happened this past Tuesday when an apparently racist white selectman and an apparently sellout/uncle tom Black selectman introduced an amendment to the City Charter to take away nearly all of the current powers currently exercised by the first Black mayor of McComb.
What was the biggest thing that this mayor did wrong that would lead to such action against him? Apparently, the trouble started when he stood up to white privilege. The same white privilege that these two selectman are fighting so hard to keep in place.
Are we making progress?
…to be continued…
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Youth wins skateboard sports camp scholarship
Written by admin on May 29, 2009 – 5:13 pm -
Posted: 05/27/09 – 01:38:21 pm CDT
When Kendrell McNeil walked into McComb Mayor Zach Patterson’s office a couple of years ago, he was hoping to find a place for youths to skateboard.
He wound up with a scholarship to a Pennsylvania sports camp and plans for a McComb city skate park.
Kendrell, 14, of McComb, will go June 14-20 to Woodward Camp in Woodward, Pa., which provides instruction in a variety of action sports.
He received a $400 scholarship toward the $950 tuition. Family and friends donated the rest, including $605 round-trip plane fare.
“How I got it is thanks to the mayor,†said Kendrell, who’s finishing the eighth grade at Denman Junior High School.
Kendrell learned about the camp on television. His mother, Belinda Knox, asked Patterson to write a letter of recommendation to accompany a scholarship application.
On Jan. 23 Patterson penned a glowing letter, recalling Kendrell’s first visit to his office.
“I met Kendrell almost two years ago when he walked boldly into my office,†Patterson’s letter said. “From this first of many follow-up office visits with Kendrell, I knew he was a special young man. He had a mission and he was determined and would not be deterred. He was passionate and driven on the idea of building a skate park in his city.â€
Kendrell’s visit led to a petition asking the city to build a skate park.
“Through Kendrell’s hard work, determination and diplomatic skills, he convinced the City Council to build a skate park in McComb, Miss.,†Patterson’s letter said, describing the proposed park as Kendrell’s “brainchild.â€
“We hope to fund and complete this project in the next fiscal year and complete the skate park no later than the end of the summer of 2010,†Patterson wrote.
Patterson noted that Kendrell is “active in his school and is a stellar student, and he is employed by me occasionally to earn extra money for food, school supplies and his passion — skateboarding.â€
Kendrell’s mom was glad to hear about the skate park plans.
“They’re getting thrown out everywhere they go,†Knox said of Kendrell and his friends.
“To him and his friends it’s more than a sport. It’s what they do.â€
She said she gets tired of driving to skate parks in Hammond, La., and Jackson when one could be built in McComb, bringing economic benefits to the area. “What they don’t realize is the ones we go to is where we spend our money,†Knox said.
She credited “the grace of God,†Kendrell’s grandmother Freddie Knox and friend Sharon Shivers, both of Liberty, with providing financial support for the skate camp trip. She said Kendrell will start a savings account for next year.
Kendrell said skateboards cost around $120 each, though he can buy them piecemeal cheaper. Skateboarders also need elbow and knee pads and helmets.
“If I had the money for the skateboards I’ve done bought, I’d be rich,†Knox said, estimating Kendrell has owned more than 20.
However, it’s worth it, she said.
“It keeps them off the streets, keeps them out of trouble, off of drugs, fighting. (It’s) something different. Keeps them motivated,
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Wyatt Emmerich Hates to Talk Race, But If He Has To …
Written by admin on May 29, 2009 – 9:20 am -
Lots of folks are talking about Wyatt Emmerich’s endorsement of Crisler in the Northside Sun this week in which he says he hates to talk about race. BUT:
As far as I can tell, Johnson created resentment for two main reasons: First, many perceived Johnson as being a man of inaction. He would form a study committee and nothing would get done. Second, there is some sense that Johnson would play the race card. One thing in Crisler’s favor is that he attended an integrated school. Being younger, he is not as burdened with many of the old racial stereotypes from the older generation.
One of the great tragedies of Jackson and the Delta is that integration has failed. Whites go to private schools and blacks go to public schools. Sadly, this was partially caused by an ideological federal justice department that shut down successfully integrated neighborhood schools.
Now that Jackson is no longer under the thumb of the justice department, the Jackson school board should try to bring whites back into the public system.
The way to do that is guarantee whites a racially balanced path all the way through to high school graduation. Pick an elementary, a middle school and a high school. Guarantee that the white-black ratio will never get below 50-50. Do this and whites will return. […]]The problem is the JPS board doesn’t see recruiting whites as a high priority. “Who cares about a bunch of white racists?†is the attitude and I can’t really blame them.
That attitude ends up hurting the Jackson public school students. We live in an integrated economy. Most businesses are owned and run by whites. Blacks need to learn how to work and interact fluidly with whites. Otherwise, they will be disadvantaged.
As I write this, I am cringing, for I hate to think or write in racial terms. But as long as we have this huge white elephant of school segregation sitting in the room, it’s hard to simply ignore it. The Jackson private schools are doing a better and better job of integrating, but our Jackson public schools are way behind.
I am reminded of a study I read several years ago. The study found that both whites and blacks would prefer to live in integrated neighborhoods and attend integrated schools – as long as they were in the majority. That, of course, is impossible.
This is probably the money quote:
We have begun to accept the reality that segregation is not the same as racism. We can prefer to live among our kind and still treat each other with respect. That’s sort of where we are in Jackson right now.
posted by ladd on 05/15/09 at 04:13 PM.
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