www.thejsuflash.com
INSIDE
Vol. 80 / No. 9 OPINION
Voting Irregularities page 3
November 7, 2019 S P O RT S
VA R I E T Y
NEWS
JSU vs UAPB page 8
Power season finale page 7
JSU Student Watch Party page 5
Photo by: Gabrielle Scoggins Jackson State University students march to the poll location in the Student Center after the Election Hotspot. The march was led by Student Government Association President Jordan Jefferson ( Center, holding Jim Hood sign).
Republicans sweep majority of state offices in Mississippi’s election Kharynton Allen MC201/Staff In a nearly a yearlong campaign season, Mississippi remains a red state as all six key state offices were won by republican candidates. The GOP will now hold the following positions: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Auditor, Treasurer, Agriculture Commissioner, Insurance Commissioner, Public Commissioner and Transportation Commissioner. Here’s your breakdown on each key election:
Governor
Governor-elect Tate Reeves won 52 percent of votes, while Democrat Jim Hood fell slightly behind with 47 percent of votes. Two other candidates who ran low-budget campaigns obtained 1 percent or less votes. The gubernatorial race was an essential competition as Lt. Governor Tate Reeves and Attorney General Jim Hood faced-off against one another with debates and traveling city-to-city to campaign prior to election day. Reeves, who started serving as state treasurer at 29 years old and then lieutenant governor, will continue his political career as Mississippi’s next governor. During his term in office, Reeves proposed one of the state’s largest ever tax cuts known as the Taxpayer Pay Raise Act. Reeves also opposes Medicaid expansion in the state because he believes low-income residents who are on private health care insurance plans would move to government program. From suggesting teachers’
pay is not adequate enough to opposing the increase of gas tax to repair roads and bridges, Reeves is a conservative who sticks to traditional measures.
Lieutenant Governor
The Lieutenant Governor-elect is Republican Delbert Hosemann whose race was declared early by the Associated Press. Hosemann won by a landslide of 60 percent, which was a 20 percent lead over Democrat Jay Hughes. After serving three terms as secretary of state, he used his experience of overseeing the state senate as a means to rally up his supporters and lead the way into a successful victory. Hosemann is pledging to increase teacher pay annually, supports Medicaid expansion and would like to allow counties to raise fuel taxes in order to repair infrastructure.
Attorney General
Lynn Fitch won attorney general after serving two consecutive terms as state treasurer. Fitch has made history as being the first woman to win the office. Running against Democrat Jenifer Riley Collins, Fitch won by over 137,000 votes in the historical election. Hood occupied the seat for 16 years before running for Governor. As the new attorney general, Fitch says her primary goal is to fight the opioids outbreak and human trafficking to protect these growing issues in the state. Collins’ stance was based on ensuring law enforcement officers obtain law more in depth training and life-saving equipment. Her passion for improving the livelihood of officers derives from her service as an Army Colonel and
former director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi.
Secretary of State
Mississippi’s newest Secretary of State is Republican Michael Watson, who won his seat by a gap of 20 percent. GOP supporters across the state agreed with his policies and plan to implement while in position. Watson assured during his campaigning that he would take over the process of issuing driver’s licenses and making sure they are registered voters. His opponent, Johnny Dupree, was a Democrat and former mayor if Hattiesburg. He pursued the gubernatorial election in 2011 but fell short making Phil Bryant take the seat as governor. In the race to Secretary of State, Dupree advocated on enhancing the methods in which citizens can vote. He campaigned on creating online voter registration for new voters.
Treasurer
Republican David McRae is the Treasurer-elect. This was his second time running for the position; in 2015, he lost against incumbent Fitch. McRae won against Democrat Addie Lee Green who only grabbed 39 percent of votes. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence endorsed McRae at the Mississippi Victory 2019 Rally in Biloxi one day before Election Day. Trump and Pence announced their support for the Republican candidates in an effort to increase voter participation in the state. McRae used his family’s business, which was Mississippi’s department store chain, as a means to show his credibility when it comes to managing
money. He also loaned a total of $1.7 million of his own cash to his campaign.
State Auditor
State Auditor Shad White ran unopposed. He will continue to supervise and administer the state’s account and funding. Bryant appointed White in July 2016. Andy Gipson will also keep his seat as Mississippi’s agriculture commissioner after beating Democrat Rickey Cole by over 150,000 votes. Bryant appointed Gipson in 2018 while serving as state representative for a third term. He replaced Cindy Hyde-Smith who became a U.S. Senator. Throughout his campaign he pushed for consumers to have more accessibility to local grown food. He also said he wanted to advance the opportunities for producers in Mississippi to train potential farmers and agricultural workers.
Insurance Commissioner
Mickey Chaney won a fourth term as Insurance Commissioner against Democratic opponent Robert Amos. Chaney has experience as a state lawyer from Vicksburg and said he will continue to crack down on private insurance companies to make sure they implement more policies that cover severe weather damage.
Public Commissioner
Service
The Public Service Commissioner in the southern district is now occupied by another GOP candidate Dane Maxwell. He beat out Democrat Connie Moran. Maxwell, who is the mayor of Pascagoula, said he wants to expand Internet services in rural areas and help cities and counties win grants to improve accessibility.
YES, WE’RE SOCIAL!
Meanwhile in the central district Republican Brent Bailey won against Jackson Councilman De’Keither Stamps. As a second term public service commissioner he wants to allow people to sell selfgenerated solar energy materials. In the southern district, Republican Dane Maxwell beat Democrat Connie Moran for a seat on the utility regulatory body, while in the central district; Republican Brent Bailey was competing with Democrat De’Keither Stamps. Public Service Commissioner in the northern district, Brandon Presley ran unopposed as a Democrat.
Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n Commissioner
Republican John Caldwell will now hold the seat as Transportation Commissioner in the northern district. Caldwell, a former DeSoto County supervisor, wants to increase funding for infrastructure and increase fuel tax to help assist with road improvements. Caldwell dominated Democrat Joey T. Grist bringing in 63% of the total votes. In the central district Republican Butch Lee faced-off against Democrat Willie Simmons who is a long-standing state senator from Cleveland. Both Simmons and Lee supported the increase in fuel tax, however Lee would like a part of the tax on Internet sale to go toward state roads and bridges. The race between Simmons and Lee was a close call all night. Simmons prevailed winning 51% of votes while Lee followed with 49% of votes. *Election results were courtesy of the Associated Press and WJTV.
@JSU_StudentPub
Tiger Events
The Blue & White Flash
The Blue & White Flash Jackson State University P.O. Box 18449 Jackson, Mississippi 39217 Phone: 601.979.2082 E-Mail: theflash@jsums.edu
JSU’s 7-Day Weather Forecast
THURSDAY High 70o Low 41o Rain
FRIDAY High 52o Low 33o Cloudy
SATURDAY High 58o Low 35o Sunny
SUNDAY High 64o Low 44o Sunny
MONDAY High 58o Low 37o Cloudy
TUESDAY High 42o Low 29o Partly Cloudy
WEDNESDAY High 48o Low 35o Sunny
The Blue & White Flash Staff SHANNON D. TATUM Publications Manager CIANNA HOPE REEVES Editor- in-Chief DARRIUS BARRON Managing Editor
DEJA DAVIS Managing Editor
WAKIL ATIG Sports Editor
KALIN NORMAN Photography Editor
Chioma Ajuonuma Kharynton Allen Zahriah Balentine Jordon Canada Halle Coleman Ry’n Good Myha Harris Capri Howard Zipporah Jones
Jessica Knight Monica McGhee Ivory Lowe Luis Montgomery Kaylin Robinson Kelsei Scott Kayla Sims Treasure Thigpen
Letters To The Editor
Letters to the editor are welcome. Editors reserve the right to print or reject for publication any letters received. Letters must include the author’s name(s), address, and phone number; phone number will not be published. All letters are subject to editing for space and libel consideration. Materials must be submitted by Monday at 5 p.m. for publication on Thursday.
Editorial Staff
The Blue & White Flash is open to contributions from all Jackson State University students. We encourage all students, regardless of major and/or classification, to participate in the production of their newspaper. For information concerning your contribution to “The Official Student Newspaper of Jackson State University,” call 601-979-2082 or visit room 111 in the Rose E. McCoy Building.
Publication/Distribution Information
The Blue & White Flash is a weekly newspaper written and edited by the students with the counsel of the adviser. Editorials and letters to the editor represent the views of the writer(s). Views expressed within do not necessarily represent the opinions of the faculty/staff, the administration, the student body, or the Board of Trustees. The editors determine the time of the publication and the ethical qualities of all articles. Articles and other materials in The Flash cannot be republished without the expressed written permissions of the editor, adviser and the Student Publications Board at Jackson State University. The Flash is published during the fall and spring semesters, but not during university-recognized holidays, mid-semester and final examinations. The Flash is distributed at various locations around the Jackson State University campus, free of charge to students, staff and faculty. Additional copies may be obtained from the Office of Student Publications.
Awards & Honors The Blue & White Flash has received numerous awards and honors from the Mississippi Press Association, Black College Communications Association and the Southern Regional Press Institute. The Flash proudly hosted the 2003 and 2010 HBCU Newspaper Conference and Job Fair at Jackson State University.
Subscription Information
Subscription rates for The Blue & White Flash are 25 issues for $25 or the special alumni rate of 25 issues for $20. To subscribe to the Official Student Newspaper of Jackson State University, submit your name, address, city, state, and zip code. Make a check or money order payable to The Blue & White Flash and mail to address above.
Opinion
Page 3 - November 7, 2019
The Blue & White Flash
Cartoon by Jessica Knight
Voting irregularities questions if every vote counts COMMENTARY
Kalin Norman Photography Editor It’s election season once again, and all everyone for at least the next two weeks are, “Go out and vote”, “Every vote counts”, “People died so
you can have this right”, and other sayings along those lines. These sayings and people are not wrong at all, it is important to vote. However, when it comes to voting for me, it has become less about the act and more about the process. While we all know people will come out in droves (especially after the 2016 presidential election) to show support for their parties senators, congressman, and presidential candidate. However, when it comes down to the smaller more local positions, voters have more of an attitude of not caring. To quote Andre 3000, “Y’all telling me that I need to get out and vote, huh, why? Ain’t nobody black running but crac-kers, so, why. I got to register?” This is the first problem with voting, voter interest. According to U.S. News, Jackson State has roughly 5,331 students enrolled with a healthy amount, like myself,
that are from out-of-state, and one of the most frequented replies when asked about voting is; “I don’t live here, and I’m not planning to stay when I finish.” When it comes to short term voting, this a very dangerous way of thinking for that community that they attend. For obvious reasons, this is bad because it leads to lost votes, but it also shows that (unlike other areas) the community is broken and doesn’t want to work together to improve their current situation. Okay now let us say that everyone votes for every election. My next question for you is, when voting how do you know that the state is getting your vote right? Like the majority of the country you probably don’t know, and that brings me to my next problem of voting security. Voting security has been a big question since the 2016 presidential election with the
suspected Russian tampering/ medling. Even though that has been a question sitting on people’s mind for almost five years now, little to nothing has been done to improve the voting machines or the security of them. Mississippi uses paper to machine voting (fill out bubbles on paper then feed it to a machine that counts it), which isn’t a bad thing. It is probably the best move the state can make for voting for backup purposes, but if the state’s Internet is anything like Jackson State’s, then its residents are in trouble. Since it has been found that in many voting stations around the country being completely unattended machines that can be hacked and infected. Everything I’ve mentioned so far are preventable or fixable, but still the biggest and oldest elephant is still in the room when comes to voting. No matter how you feel we all must admit that the Electoral College is extremely
flawed. Due to this system of voting it turns everyone’s “votes” into suggestions, and gives the country an inaccurate reflection of its people. This system also opens the country up to influences such as private businesses, government’s personal interests, and wealthy friends that in no way helps the country’s people. Plus the Electoral College is massively disportionate, giving smaller populated states more power over the other states. Voting is important and should be taken seriously, because it is a cornerstone of the American experience. However, I do believe that voting, on every level, is an extremely flawed process and needs to be fixed.
The views expressed in the commentary are those of the writer(s) and in no way represent the views of The Blue & White Flash.
“Do you feel pressured to vote in the same political party as your peers?” Compiled by: Treasure Thigpen
Sean-Michael Dumas Senior Business Administration New Orleans, La. “I feel as though they have a major influence because they sort of shape our beliefs. And we also tend to lean towards our parents. But no, I don’t feel pressured to vote the same as them.”
Kedra Prophet Senior Criminal Justice Jackson, Miss. “No I do not because I have my own belief system, and what I believe may not be the same thing that they believe, and I respect that.”
Lee Mangum Sophomore Civil Engineering Jackson, Miss.
Trave’Klle Knotts Senior Computer Engineering Jackson, Miss.
Jiris Killingsworth Sophomore Computer Engineering Utica, Miss.
Tisithia Knotts Senior Elementary Education Jackson, Miss.
“I feel like when it comes to voting it’s really a personal thing. So therefore it shouldn’t matter what your peers are voting for, it’s what you want to vote for.”
“I don’t feel pressured, but I do wonder or question the thought if our ethnicity or racial background is a qualification for the political party we are in. ”
“No, I think you should vote for who you want. If you don’t feel like a candidate doesn’t match your values then you shouldn’t vote for them.”
“No. I was brought up on the principle of being yourself and thinking for yourself. So I tend to have a mind of my own, at all times, no matter what the situation is.”
Miesha Bure Senior Business Mgnt. Vicksburg, Miss.
Aurion Taylor-Burkes Sophomore Computer Engineering Utica, Miss.
Malcolm Butler Senior Business Administration Chicago, Ill.
Sonya Walton Senior Marketing Jackson, Miss.
Erik Bozeman Sophomore Computer Engineering Jackson, Miss.
Jasmine Cowen Senior Marketing Birmingham, Ala.
“Yes, because if they have a different view that is not the same as the majority, then they are often looked down upon or made to feel their view is least important.”
“No I don’t feel political pressure because you should always vote for who you believe in. And you can be peer pressured into making the wrong decision.”
“No, but I do feel pressured to vote for a candidate that will win versus a candidate that is best for our country.”
“No, I don’t feel pressured to vote for the same political party. If I agree with the views of a candidate, I am going to vote for them.”
“I feel that as though it should be your own decision but I can see why people may feel pressured but as for myself, I don’t feel pressured.”
“No, I feel like when it comes to voting, a person has to not only consider preference but also what the community and people need the most.”
News
Page 4 - November 7, 2019
The Blue & White Flash
Election results leave many JSU students disappointed Deja Davis Managing Editor Emotions and anticipation filled the room as students gathered in the Student Center Ballrooms on Nov. 5 to witness the election results at the 2019 Election Day Watch Party. Music, games, and food welcomed students as they walked into the watch party. All executive offices in the state were up for grabs, but students were anxious to see who would get chosen for Governor of Mississippi. Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and Democratic State Attorney General Jim Hood were both vying to take Mississippi’s top office. According to politico. com, Hood has been elected statewide four times, which makes him the most intimidating Democrat to run for governor in years. Mississippi is still a deeply Republican state, and Reeves has been running strong coming from a contested republican party primary. “I am very nervous on the outcome of this election, but I am really hoping that the candidates that I chose will take the win,” said Mark Carter, a therapeutic recreation major from Clarksdale Miss. The host of the event, Jessica Trotter, a senior social work major from Chicago, Ill., was busy putting up decorations and informing students on why she was so excited about the election. “I was uncertain on how
Photo by Kalin Norman
many people would come out to support, but it was a great turn out. I chose to do an event like this to inform students about the importance of voting and just to keep them encouraged to vote because their vote matters with this election specifically,” she said. Trotter continued, “Many of Jackson State’s student body are out of state residents, however they still have to make it their duty to go out and register to vote.” Students were engaged in political conversations that could be heard at the tables, while other students completed homework and were on social
media promoting the event. Cadaris Waits, a senior industrial technology major from Jackson, Miss. said, “This election is one of the most important elections for the state of Miss. This is the year where a great amount of the state government is being elected from the governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State and more,” said Waits. “This is our future we are voting for. The people who are elected today could very well change the entire dynamic of our state so why not vote.” As students’ eyes were glued to the projector screen for the final count of votes, the
announcement came hat Tate Reeves was elected to the top office in Mississippi. Many students were disappointed but were also not surprised about the ending results for the election night. Lakayla Johnson, a junior communicative disorders major from Clarksdale Miss., was one of those students. “This does not shock me at all. It was our job to go out and vote but the numbers just did not add up. It is just very sad that so many people have paved the way for us to vote and we as a people are still not taking responsibility for doing that,” Johnson stated.
Makaylah Lewis was another disappointed student in the crowd. “After seeing these results, I am very disappointed. I am from here so it means a lot to me to vote. This election was big, not only for black people, but the state of Miss as a whole. Everyone came out and gave the feedback that people needed to hear and see to make a change,” said Lewis, a senior biology major from Jackson, Miss. For a complete list of Mississippi election results, visit https://www.sos.ms.gov/ Elections-Voting/Pages/2019Elections-Results
Riley-Collins loses in historic bid for Mississippi Attorney General
Google Image Jennifer Riley-Collins, 2019 candidate for Mississippi Attorney Geneeral.
Kayla Sims Staff Writer It was a historical race for both candidates vying to serve as Mississippi’s next Attorney General. For the first time in Mississippi history, two women would vye for attorney general, meaning the
seat would be held by a woman... for the first time. Democratic candidate Jennifer Riley Collins and Republican candidate Lynn Fitch battled head-to-head in the race to fill the seat as the first woman elect. Fitch who previously served as state treasurer won the primary
election with 58 percent of the votes. Collins received 42 percent of the votes. Democrat Jim Hood held the seat as attorney general for 16 years. In Collins’ speech, she credited her supporters for their consistent encouragement throughout a campaign that was a trying experience.
“I am thankful for each of you that has prayed for me first and foremost. This has been a journey, but I know that God has watched over me and kept me because you have kept me before him... this work in Mississippi is not easy because I don’t get to openly share my frustrations with some of the issues I had to deal with out in public,” Riley Collins stated. Growing up, Riley-Collins noticed a discrepancy in the lives of Mississippians, which prompted her to make a change. In order to make a difference, she made the decision to run for attorney general to be the voice of the voiceless. Alexis Henderson, a senior political science major from Jackson Miss., is passionate about the importance of voting. “Everybody should vote because these are the elections that affect us directly, especially with us being college students in Mississippi. We need people in office that understand us and where we come from and our struggle,” Henderson stated. Riley-Collins served in the military for 32 years before retiring. Her goals for Mississippi included serving and protecting, fighting for justice, safeguarding civil rights, and combating the opioid addiction crisis to name a few. LaDeja Strong is a first-
year law school student from Clarksdale, Miss., she talked about the impact Collins had on her life. “Jennifer Riley-Collins inspires me so much. She defied all of the odds, being a black single mother who is running for Attorney General, who would’ve thought? Collins is really our ancestor’s wildest dreams,” Strong said excitedly. Riley-Collins has relied heavily on her faith throughout this election. She stated that she feels as if she has no support from Democrat Jim Hood. In an interview with Newsweek, Riley Collins said she is quickly discovering how difficult running in an election can be when you are not a ‘career politician’. Even though Riley-Collins did not win the election, she still remains hopeful and optimistic about the future. She also has touched many lives while running the race. “She came from a historical black college and she is part of the divine nine. She has already made history just by running for attorney general. She’s living out my goals and who knows? She might inspire the next black girl like me to be great,” said Strong.
High School Day gives students a glimpse into the life of a JSU Tiger Kharynton Allen MC201/Staff Writer Hundreds of high school students found out what it would be like to be a Jackson State University Tiger at the bi-annual High School Day festivities held on Nov. 2. High schoolers were given tours, chances to learn various chants and line dances from students, and an introduction to over 20 campus organizations. Mikayla Davis, a sophomore psychology major from Birmingham, Ala., is a Blue Ambassador and expressed her joy about the day as a whole. “This was my first High School Day as a Blue Ambassador and I really enjoyed myself. Being able to feed off the energy of everyone and just show the students why I love my school was a great experience and I look forward to it next year,” said Davis. High schoolers also received the opportunity to see performances from The Sonic Boom of the South, the JSU Cheerleaders, and Dance
Ensemble. Food Trucks were also available the AAC for everyone to take advantage of. Students were given the chance to visit tables of various organizations on campus such as Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, W.E.B. DuBois-Harvey Honors College, Greek organizations, and so much more. Ayanna Preyor, a sophomore biology major from St. Louis, Mo., is a member of many organizations around campus and volunteered at various tables to provide students with valuable information. Preyor said it is very important for students to know how important it is to get involved. “When I first started at JSU I was lost. I had no clue about the Summer Bridge Program and felt bad that I wasn’t apart of it. I want incoming students to be differently than I and know about organizations on campus before hand, so that they can get involved and network.” David Bernard, a sophomore political science major and President
Photo by Monica McGhee Students listen intently as tour guides give information on Jackson State.
of JSU’s Chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta, also said it is essential. “The campus organizations that are present on college campuses open the door to a realm of new networking opportunities that could potentially yield lasting benefits, not to mention it looks great on your resume. In addition, joining new organizations allows students develop long lasting friendships and
it ultimately gives students a sense of belonging and purpose on a college campus,” he expressed. There were so many high school students that came out to Jackson State’s High School Day. Parking lots were filled with cars and buses from different local schools and schools from different states, such as Alabama, Louisiana, and Tennessee. Jamareon Reed, a Forest Hill
high school student, said that he enjoyed getting to interact with new people. “My favorite part about High School Day was probably the diversity. There were different people from different regions and not just everybody from Jackson. You were given the opportunity to just mix and mingle with people who you may not know.”
The Blue & White Flash
Page 5 - November 7, 2019
JSU At A Glance
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. 7.
8.
9.
Photos 1-3 and 6-9 by Kalin Norman Photos 4-5 by Monica McGhee
1-3) Students show support during Election Hotspot. 4-5) JSU students help recruitment efforts during High School Day celebration. 6-9) JSU band and fans show support during JSU vs UAPB game.
Variety
Page 6 - November 7, 2019
The Blue & White Flash
Season finale of Power leaves fans clueless and wanting more Jordon Canada Staff Writer “Previously on Power.” Many fans of the hit crime drama series “Power” came into the weekend believing it may be the last time they would hear those words. What was thought to be the series finale of “Power” actually turned out to be the mid-season finale, which officially aired Sunday, November 3. For six seasons the Starz series followed the life of James “Ghost” St. Patrick, a wealthy New York night club owner who lived a double life as a drug kingpin. After 57 episodes filled with lust, money, murder, deceit, and betrayal, episode 58 picks up with Ghost on the cusp of the legit life that he had been so desperately striving towards since his reconnection with his nowdeceased childhood sweetheart, Angela Valdez. Although many viewers, were hopeful that Ghost would be able to cross over into a legitimate life, deep down, most fans knew it was impossible. Ghost killed too many people, crossed too many friends, and gained too many enemies. Throughout the episode, Ghost was visited by three people who had been killed in the previous seasons. The first was the love of his life; Angela Valdez, who
Google Image
assured him that he had become the man she knew he could be. The second was his daughter Raina St. Patrick who showed him he wasn’t perfect, and that he needed to admit and stand up for the wrong he had done. Lastly, Ghost was visited by Kanan Stark who told him that he was a criminal and a bad guy, and that he deserved handcuffs, and the needle. With each visit, it seemed as if Ghost was inching closer and closer to death. Moments later as Ghost stood on his balcony thinking about his future, a montage was played as each of Ghost’s enemies who seemed as if they were closing in on Ghost. Except for detective Blanca Rodriguez, each was armed,
angry and ready for vengeance. As detective Rodriguez arrived at Truth to arrest Ghost, she heard a gunshot and the director’s cut to Ghost as he fell in slow motion from the balcony with blood leaking from the gunshot he had just taken to chest. The show ended and the directors never showed who pulled the trigger. In the after show, Courtney A. Kemp, the creator of the show, assured viewers that it was one of the characters who looked as if they were heading toward the club who pulled the took the shot. So now comes the question who shot Ghost? After just being told he was going to jail for getting several witnesses killed, it was unclear if
the drunken FBI agent Cooper Saxe, who had been duped and evaded by Ghost, since season one, was going to kill himself, kill ghost, or both. Paz Valdez, the sister of Ghost’s deceased lover, Angela Valdez, had enough of Ghost after he wouldn’t tell her who killed her sister. Paz not only resented Ghost because she felt as if he was the sole reason for Angela’s murder, but also because he ruined her career and sense of morals. Aubri Cook, a sophomore entrepreneurship major from Jackson, Miss. said, “I believe it was Angela’s sister Paz because she seemed the most determined. I also think that out of everyone else Paz feels like Ghost took the most from her by letting her sister get killed while protecting him.” Rashad Tate, who had chosen Ghost as his running mate in his race for Governor, never saw eye to eye with him. After the two parted ways and it was clear that Tate would lose the election and Ghost’s boastful rant to Tate gave him the rage he needed for murder. Andre Coleman, who had just been framed by Ghost for a murder that Ghost himself committed, looked as if he was headed to take justice into his own hands instead of testifying against Ghost. Tommy Egan, who was once
Ghost’s closest friend, had just as many motives as anyone to kill Ghost. Throughout the series, Egan had been manipulated by Ghost, which caused him to lose two lovers and his father. Ghost’s wife, Tasha St. Patrick, did not look as upset as the rest of the suspects but shared the same emotional vendettas as the other characters. In this episode, Ghost released her from being his wife, after a full series of lying, cheating, and blackmailing; with their emotional roller-coaster, she could have very well been the shooter. Ghost’s son, Tariq, has not had a good relationship with Ghost since, well, maybe never. Tariq constantly saw his father as a selfish liar, but the final straw was when Ghost broke the promise that he would take the fall for killing Ray-Ray (Raina’s murderer) if it came to it; Tariq, the murderer of Ray-Ray and now accused, had more than enough reason to kill his father. Lajada James, a junior English education major from Belzoni, Miss. said, “It was most likely that Tariq shot Ghost not only because he was the closest to the club that night, but as ghost fell from the balcony his face was very emotional as if he knew and loved the person who did it.”
K a n y e We s t g o e s b a c k t o C h r i s t i a n r o o t s o n n e w a l b u m Darrius Barron Managing Editor Kanye West has had a noticeably eventful career to say the very least, and I put an emphasis on “least.” The Chicago native found his way into the hiphop scene by producing music for hip-hop juggernauts of the time. After years of being known as one of the extremely talented producers behind Jay Z’s “Blueprint” and “Dynasty” albums, West was finally granted permission to release his very first rap album: “College Dropout.” During the “College Dropout” album, West did something that was extremely rare in the world of secular music, much less the rap genre; he made a gospel song by the name of “Jesus Walks”, and featured it on a secular album. Although “Jesus Walks” was the only gospel song on the album, West would channel his inner gospel and use a choir for other songs. “College Dropout” released in 2004. Today, in 2019, West has given us “Jesus Is King”; an album that is entirely gospel music. I am a person who has been known to defend West till the end, but as a native of West’s hometown would say about a subpar product, “this ain’t it, Chief.” I do not think that the album is a total flop, but it failed to give me that excellent production that
fans have known West to provide. “Jesus Is King” opens with the abrupt sound of soprano vocalists singing which is no problem whatsoever, but the extremely loud level of the recording was an instant turn off for me. The lyrics West recited on the album were not of the same quality that “Yeezy” fans have witnessed throughout the years, especially when it comes to songs with meaning. The guest features on the album to my surprise were not predominantly gospel artists. With Fred Hammond, and the West’s very own Sunday Service Choir being the only gospel vocalists featured, other artists were that of rap duo Clipse, beloved R&B cheat code Ty Dolla $ign, Ant Clemons, and saxophonist Kenny G. “Jesus Is King” may not be the best Kanye West album, but some songs still show that West’s creativity is still there, even if it does not shine as bright as it once did. On the second track, “Selah”, there is a moment of chillinvoking vocals as the choir sings “hallelujah” a cappella; taking fans back to the album “Watch the Throne” when the vocalist on the song “HAM” sang a beautiful opera, creating a great peace in consumers’ ears. Overall, “Jesus Is King” is an album that someone would have to listen to more than once so
Google Image
that it can grow on them. I found myself turning the album off several times to listen to the old Kanye. Fans may listen to this album once and immediately think back to 2016 when “The Life of Pablo” was released and the song “I Love Kanye” had everyone chanting “I miss the old Kanye.” As much as I love Kanye, I do not think there should be another gospel album. Now that this is the discography, it is time for him to hang up his Jesus jersey and get back to the secular music.
Following suit with last year’s work, West decided to keep the album well under the traditional run time of one hour. “Jesus Is King” has a total run time of 27 minutes with just 11 tracks. West has accomplished two things with this album. The first being the fact that he was able to get me to sit through a gospel album not only once, but several times. The second feat West accomplished should go down in history as one of the greatest in hip-hop history; he was able to
feature Pusha T on a song with the “Good Music Golden Child” only making one single drug reference. According to Billboard, “Jesus Is King” debuted at number one on Billboard’s 200 charts. This makes West’s ninth album to debut number one. I would recommend that everyone give this album a try; as previously stated, it is only 27 minutes. If you cannot give 27 minutes of your time to God, you are probably a radical atheist, or a Christian with an extremely short attention span.
C a l l o f D u t y s e a s o n o p e n s w i t h a n e w M o d e r n Wa r f a r e Darrius Barron Managing Editor The fall season is arguably the best season for gamers. Cooler temperatures offer gamers a legitimate reason to stay in the house and play all of the new releases. During late Oct., gamers across all platforms were able to download Activision and Infinity Ward’s once dominant game; “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare”. Unlike most titles in the gaming community, this is no remaster. 2019’s “Modern Warfare” is a complete remake, and even features a new theatrical story. Although the “Call of Duty” franchise has several different extremely successful titles, it is important to remember that different studios are in charge of making different titles. That being said, “Modern Warfare” is nothing like 2018’s “Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.” The “Black Ops” franchise is mostly known for the popular “Zombies” game mode. “Black Ops 4’s” developer, Treyarch, chose to follow suit with gaming juggernauts “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds”, and “Fortnite”
by adding a battle royale mode which fans of the Call of Duty franchise received exceedingly well. During the early stages of the game, Infinity Ward issued a statement informing excited gamers that “Modern Warfare” would not feature the esteemed battle royale mode. Instead of borrowing ideas from Treyarch, Infinity Ward decided to keep “Modern Warfare” traditional by bringing back old game modes from the original trilogy. “Modern Warfare” features the once beloved “Spec Ops” which features online co-op play to complete a variety of challenging missions aside from the main theatrical campaign. Survival has also made its return to the “Call of Duty” franchise; challenging players to survive round after round of increasingly tough opponents. A beautiful thing about these two game modes is that not only are they native to the “Modern Warfare” series, Infinity Ward decided to bring back the most challenging enemy in both modes; the Juggernaut. Everything about “Modern Warfare” is not just about the nostalgia of the legacy players. Infinity Ward has also included
Google Image
new game modes like “Ground War”. “Ground War” is not exactly battle royale, but some may consider it a derivative of the extremely competitive mode. Instead of one person versus 100 others, “Ground War” features two teams of 32 in an all-out war featuring vehicles, and different objectives. The feel for “Modern Warfare” is even different from last years’ “Black Ops 4”. Despite the fact that console games have
pretty much reached the limit for upgrading graphics, the new “Call of Duty” title has a different texture than that of “Black Ops 4”. While playing, gamers may notice that the physics are even different from the 2018 title. As expected, “Modern Warfare” has introduced a diverse list of weaponry from that of “Black Ops 4”, and killstreak rewards. As gamers are one holiday season away from the next
generation consoles, “Modern Warfare” takes a step in the direction of ending the console beef by allowing crossplay. Crossplay is the ability for gamers on one console’s network to play against gamers from another console’s network. Xbox Live users are now able to play PlayStation Network users now. “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” is now available for all platforms.
Page 7 - November 7, 2019
The Blue & White Flash
MCAN/MDAN Where’s My Paperrrrr?
Employment
For Sale
Services- General
L. E. TUCKER & SON, INC. - CDL DRIVERS needed to run from S.E. to West Coast. Experienced singles and teams. Check out our new pay package. Singles, 41 cents per mile for 60 day probationary period. 46 cents per mile thereafter. Teams, 50 cents per mile for 60 day probationary period. 55 cents per mile thereafter. Late model conventional tractors. Home weekly. Benefits package. Pearl, MS. 601-939-8088. www.tuckerandson.com
SEND FAIRYTALE BROWNIES - Over 25% off for the holidays! Christmas Brownie Bliss - 36 pc. Bite-size. Belgian chocolate. Six flavors. Only $39.95 + FREE shipping. Order now, ship later! Call 1-844-828-1503 and ask for item CR436L or visit www.brownies.com/m97185
Get NFL SUNDAY TICKET FREE w/ DIRECTV Choice All-Included Package. $59.99/month for 12 months. 185 Channels PLUS Thousands of Shows/Movies On Demand. FREE Genie HD DVR Upgrade. Call 1-855-978-3110 or satellitedealnow.com/MSPS
Classes / Training
Insurance
Services-Financial
OVER $10K IN DEBT? Be debt free in ATTENTION SMALL BUSINESS OWN- 24 to 48 months. No upfront fees to ERS! Are you protected in case of prop- enroll. A+ BBB rated. Call National Debt erty damage or if you have an interrup- Relief 844-719-8928. tion in service due to a property event? Services-Legal Business Owner Property insurance IS AFFORDABLE and WILL PROTECT YOU when the unexpected happens! For free DENIED SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILIquote, call 855-287-6045 (M-F 7:30am- TY? Appeal! If you're 50+, filed for SSD and denied, our attorneys can help get 9:30pm ET) DENTAL INSURANCE. Call Physicians you approved! No money out of pocket! Mutual Insurance Company for details. Call 601-203-3826 NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage Services-Medical for 350 procedures. 855-397-7045 or http://www.dental50plus.com/mspress. A PLACE FOR MOM has helped over a million families find senior living. Our Ad# 6118 GET A-RATED DENTAL INSURANCE trusted, local advisors help find solutions starting at around $1 per day!. Save 25% to your unique needs at no cost to you. on Enrollment Now! No Waiting Periods. Call 1-601-812-5678. 200k+ Providers Nationwide. Everyone is Travel Accepted! Call 662-584-6541 (M-F 9-5 ET) ORLANDO + DAYTONA BEACH
AIRLINES ARE HIRING - Get FAA approved hands on Aviation training. Financial aid for qualified students. Career placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance, 1-866367-2510. COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train at home to become a Computer and Help Desk Professional now! Call CTI for details! 833-9920228 (M-F 8am-6pm ET) MEDICAL BILLING and CODING TRAINING. New Students Only. Call and Press 1. 100% online courses. Financial Aid Available for those who qualify. Call 1-844-664-5478 PHARMACY TECHNICIAN - ONLINE TRAINING AVAILABLE! Take the first Insurance step into a new career! Call now: 1-866664-4140 ATTENTION MEDICARE RECIPIENTS! Open enrollment is upon us! We want to For Sale save you money on your medicare supENJOY 100% GUARANTEED, deliv- plement plan. FREE QUOTES from top ered to-the-door OMAHA STEAKS providers. Excellent coverage. Call for a SAVE 68% PLUS get 4 FREE Burgers. no obligation quote to see how much you Order The Favorite Gift - ONLY $69.99. can save! Toll free: 1-855-400-8352 1-855-398-5977 mention code:59104VZN or visit www.oma- Medical Supplies hasteaks.com/cook51 VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Pills GIVE THE GIFT of delicious SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% ORANGES fresh from the grove! guaranteed. CALL NOW! 844-821-3242 Four unique varieties. Twenty delicious Miscellaneous oranges. LIMITED TIME OFFER. Only $19.99 ( $5.99 s/h per box). Call Hale DONATE YOUR CAR TO CHARITY. Groves 1-855-813-2131. Mention item Receive maximum value of write off for #487 and code HMVH-N200 or visit your taxes. Running or not! All condiwww.halegroves.com/A12202 tions accepted. Free pickup. Call for SEND A BOX FULL of winter sun- details. 855-400-8263 shine this holiday season! Handpicked. Mixed fruit medley. Services- General Satisfaction guaranteed. SAVE 20%! Only $19.99. Free Shipping. Call Pittman & DISH Network $59.99 For 190 Davis 1-877-372-5608 and mention item Channels! Add High Speed Internet for #MXFM and code PMVH-N187 or visit ONLY $14.95/month. Best Technology. www.www.pittmandavis.com/M10124 Best Value. Smart HD DVR Included. FREE Installation. Some restrictions apply. Call 1-877-628-3143
Florida Vacation! Enjoy 7 Days and 6 Nights with Hertz, Enterprise or Alamo Car Rental Included - Only $298.00. 12 months to use. Call Now! 877-2415382. (24/7)
Week of November 03, 2019
We hear that question a lot when the mail runs late or a paper gets lost! Surveys show that 8 out of 10 Mississippians read a newspaper weekly.(Pulse Research, June 2016.) And they expect it and look forward to it for trusted news and shopping information!
Shouldn’t your business advertising be where Mississippians want to see it?
Mississippi Press Services To order your advertising call Sue at 601-981-3060 or email shicks@mspress.org
3.792 x 6
Sports
Page 8 - November 7, 2019
The Blue & White Flash
JSU’s winning streak continues with win over UAPB
Wakil Atig Sports Editor
The football world was in for a treat this past weekend as the Tigers of Jackson State University battled the Golden Lions of the University of Arkansas Pine-Bluff. The Tigers entered this matchup on a twogame winning streak after two gritty overtime victories against Mississippi Valley and Prairie View A&M University. From the moment of the first kickoff, both teams let it be known that this game was going to be hard fought and earned. The intensity of this game is what football fans around the world could appreciate as it was an all out battle until the very end. At the start of the first quarter, freshman defensive back, Jason Baker intercepted a pass on defense that devastated UAPB. Jackson State’s defense was their key to success throughout the game. The fierce presence of their blitz along with the hunger from the secondary, startled the offense of UAPB. After a solid offensive sequence, JSU failed to capitalize on a field goal fake that was interrupted by the defense of UAPB. On offense UAPB ran the ball early and caused JSU to make some
adjustments definsively. JSU began blitzing the Lions causing their quarterback to behave timidly in the pocket. On 3rd down, senior defensive linemen CJ Anderson sacked the quarterback from UAPB sending the crowd at Mississippi Memorial Stadium into an uproar. This play gave JSU the momentum they needed heading into the second quarter. Although both teams failed to score in the first quarter, the second quarter proved to be the most pivotal quarter of the game as it was undecided who had control of the game. Freshman quarterback, Jalon Jones found receiver Terell Kennedy III on a 72-yard touchdown pass to take the lead. This was a big game for Jones as he finished with 162 passing yards, 1 touchdown and 1 rushing touchdown. UAPB struggled tremendously in the first half as their offense lacked execution and their defense suffered from laziness. Even though JSU only led 7-0 at halftime, the Tigers had won the game in the category of mental toughness and that was the deciding factor in this game. At the start of the third quarter, the game had got more intense. Tempers from both sides began to get out of hand as several penalty flags were issued. This only excited the crowd as it
Photo by Kalin Norman JSU player celebrates touchdown in the endzone.
showed the competitive nature of both programs. UAPB offense picked up some steam as they were determined to put points on the board. UAPB scored two touchdowns in the second
quarter and as they trailed 1412. UAPB rushed for a total of 72 yards in the game with 227 passing yards. Everything was clicking for the Lions on both sides of the ball until junior fullback Josh
Littles broke through traffic and sprinted down field for a 94-yard kickoff return to end the 3rd quarter. This would be the defining play of the game as the Tigers never gave UAPB a chance at making a comeback.
Soccer team advances to SWAC tournament with win streak Wakil Atig Sports Editor The women’s soccer team of Jackson State University has had a triumphant season thus far. After a season full of injuries and close loses on their record, they remained poised and end their regular season on a high note. The Jackson State University women’s soccer team has been on a mission this season. The ladies shut out their last five opponents and improved as a team on the field. In their game against Southern University, JSU completely dominated the game and controlled the tempo of the game from start to finish. The Tigers finished with a total of 13 shot with 11 of those shots on goal. Midway through the first half, junior Ana Leticia Batista nailed a shot to the back of the goal to give the Lady Tigers the lead. Senior, Patricia Calderon was in charge of the assist on that point. Southern never could match the intensity of Jackson State as they failed on numerous attempts to score. Although Southern made
Photo by Wakil Atig JSU player defends the ball against Southern University player.
a strong push in the second half, their offense was just too unstable to battle the Lady Tigers. It was clear that conditioning was a huge problem for the Jaguars as they seemed lifeless for most of the game. The Lady Tigers went on to
completely dismantle Southern University 1-0 in route to their sixth straight conference win to end their regular season. The Lady Tigers has held their last six opponents scoreless giving them supreme confidence heading into the SWAC tournament next week.
With this victory the Lady Tigers improve to 7-11 overall and 7-3 in the SWAC conference action. They hold the No. 3 spot in the SWAC tournament as they await their next opponent. Taronta Gines, a junior accounting major from Moss Point, Miss., is excited that the
Lady Tigers have turned their season around and persevered throughout the hard times during the season. “I have been a soccer fan my entire life and really have a distinct passion for the game. I have watched the soccer team here at Jackson State for the past two years and can honestly say that this is the best they have been. Their team is menatlly tough and has what it takes to go far. I’m so proud of them.” Samaria Manning, a sophomore biology major from Little Rock, Ark., is proud of the soccer team’s performance throughout the season and is even more excited for what they caan do in the future. “The team has battled all season and it’s about time that they get the respect that they deserve. I wish them nothing but success in the SWAC tournament because I’m certain that their battle tested and can win. It is really motivating to watch those girls on campus carry each other up the stairs and assisting one another in the cafe due to injuries. I just want them to keep that fighting spirit in the tournament so they can get what they’ve worked for.”
High school athlete disqualified in race for wearing hijab
Google Image
Kambui Bomani Staff Writer Noor Alexandria Abukaram competed in high school sports since 2016 wearing her sportswear hijab without an inkling of retribution. So, it was pretty understandable that she was in shock to the notice for the first time in her high school athletics career her religious headwear would be disallowed during her cross country meet. After her seventh cross country competition during the month of October in the heat of
its season, Abukaram learned she wasn’t allowed to compete in the race with her headwrap on without special permission. The decision was made by the Ohio High School Athletic Association through the disqualification of Abukaram during a Saturday meet in October. The ruling was met with social media and national outrage by many who felt the decision was a violation of Noor’s human rights. The debacle led to Abukaram expressing her discernment and discontent in her own Facebook post. In an interview with other media outlets, Noor spoke about
feeling that the incident was aliken to a nightmare; “It was like a nightmare came true,” Abukaram said. Tim Stried, a known spokesman for the Ohio High School Athletic Association, defended the situation as a decision designed to enforce the enlisted rules in the rule book. He spoke about other cross-country runners being given the green light to compete in “religious headwear” as long as they received a waiver allowing them to bend the associations uniform regulations. “The official was simply
enforcing this rule since a waiver had not been submitted,” Stried said to the Times. Striden was quick to add that the association would delve into the current rule standard on religious headwear being regulated prior to races. The hope is that OHSAA can modify the rules if need be so that clothing such as religious headwear won’t require a waiver. Abukarama attends a private Islamic School in Sylvania,Ohio, that pertains to her religious beliefs but competes athletically for the public school Northview High in the same city. Amy Addington, a spokeswoman for the Sylvania school district spoke of being informed through her email about a competitor from the school district being disqualified because of her headscarf. Although Noor wasn’t named, the email to Addington prefaced a student-athlete’s coach being told their player was disqualified from the competition, because of a clothing attire issue. The coach, Jerry Flowers, said that he didn’t want to distract Abukaram with the disqualification, and felt she deserved to finish and complete the race like her other teammates. Prior to the disqualification, Noor Abukaram was a known competitor in six other cross country races while also playing track and soccer for two years at Northview High. In all activities, she was wearing her hijab with no rulebook issue surfacing. Normally when she runs, she wears a long-sleeved
shirt, long leggings and a Nike sports hijab according to the Times. Abukaram referenced that the hijab wear was the same one worn by Arabian Female Athlete Ibtihaj Muhammad in the 2016 Summer Olympics for Team USA’s National Fencing Team. Noor’s mother, Yolanda Melendez, told the New York Times how she scoured the Ohio High School Sports Association’s rulebook on the ability to wear headwear, because she had two daughters who were studentathletes at Northview High. She was adamant enough to note that no rule was in place that barred a student from wearing a hijab and had not run into a previous problem by the Association on her daughter’s hijabs. The situation raised question on should allowance of religious clothing during competition be a discussion that should be had. One figures that since its a person’s religious belief and that’s a constitutional right to have, this whole debacle was extremely overblown. “They’re saying her hijab violates the association’s uniform regulation , however, her hijab is central to her spiritual identity,” said Kaelyn Conley a senior English major from Jacksonville, Fla. “At this point, it seems that the state of Ohio just doesn’t want to submit to change and be inclusive of the various cultures that America accepted,” said Kejaun Wright, a senior electrical engineer major from D’Iberville, Miss.