VOTE TUESDAY, DEC. 2 Cast your ballot for Letitia Johnson

By Alice Thomas-Tisdale

JA Publisher Emerita 

Kamesha Mumford and Letitia Johnson both unquestionably are able, willing, and ready to represent well the residents of Mississippi Senate District 26.  In my opinion, the December 2 runoff election is of national importance and larger than both candidates. 

Nearly 30 years ago, the “Black Convention” was taking root in Jackson. Its organizers represented all the major civil rights and social justice associations in the Jackson metro area. Among those organizing a Black state agenda were state Senator Henry Kirksey, state Representative Jim Evans, Jackson Councilman Kenneth I. Stokes, Jackson Advocate Publisher Charles W. Tisdale, educator Dr. Ivory Phillips, Mississippi SCLC Executive Director Stephanie Parker Weaver, attorneys Ali Shamsiddeen and John Walker, NAACPers Ineva May Pittman and Rollins Branch, grassroots organizer Hollis Watkins,  Rev. Edward Hightower, and Nation of Islam Mississippi representative Frank Muhammad. 

The Black Convention carefully designed a comprehensive political strategy to elect a slate of candidates, particularly Henry Kirksey for Jackson mayor, committed to pursuing an agenda to uplift and improve the quality of life of Black Mississippians. However, the agenda was disrupted when a few naysayers refused to follow the agreed upon Black Convention plan, choosing instead to support a different candidate slate.

I mention this because it’s imperative we understand the importance of having a carefully crafted plan for self-determination and following a leader with the vision, knowledge, and skill set to help us realize our goals. Congressman Bennie G. Thompson is that visionary leader. His vantage point – being able to see and comprehend the nuances from a national level – makes his recommendation for state senatorial leadership one we should follow. 

In my view, we should rally with “our” leader Congressman Thompson and vote Letitia Johnson for Senate District 26.