http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/p...820/OPINION/608200333&SearchID=73254330230985
August 20, 2006
Sunday Morning With Keisha Stokes, 20, of Jackson: Jackson State valedictorian, Harvard Law School bound
By Eric Stringfellow
[email protected]
Tell us about your experience at Lanier High School.
My education began at Christ Missionary and Industrial College and Brinkley Middle School, where I acquired an excellent foundation. My education at Lanier is the foundation of all my accomplishments since. It was at Lanier that I developed a love for history which translated to my major in college, honed my writing skills and progressed from a shy girl to a sociable cheerleader. It bothers me that a negative perception of Lanier persists, despite its legacy as the first high school for blacks in Jackson and the continued commitment of the faculty and administration to ensure the intellectual development of the student body. It was my pleasure to return to Lanier as a student teacher in the spring. I can safely say that the students there are bright, beautiful and full of promise.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in the Georgetown neighborhood. It is a very close-knit community and from the time that I was a very small child, I knew that I had many neighbors and family friends who supported and looked after me.
What are the key things you learned from your parents?
My parents reared me in a strong Christian environment. Therefore, faith in God is a guiding principle in my life. My parents have shown me that I cannot hesitate to do what is right for fear of reprisals from those who may disagree. Mississippi exists in the shadow of slavery and racial apartheid. Accordingly, many people live in fear of incurring the anger of those who are seemingly more powerful. In such a tense environment, leaders must be courageous enough to shed light on, pursue and protect the interests of their constituents, even when doing so conflicts with the interests and opinions of the establishment. I can only hope that during the course of my life the courage and faith of my parents have rubbed off on me.
Do you think there is really a big difference in the era that your parents grew up in and the era that you grew up in?
In any era, the tendency exists for the older members of the society to reflect on the "good-old-days" of their youth and criticize the recklessness and disrespect of the younger generation. So it was with the flappers of the 1920s, the hippies of the 1960s, and so it is with the hip-hop generation of today. Rather than highlighting differences and hurling criticisms, time would be better spent acknowledging the desire of young people to express themselves and creating a discourse between generations to discuss relevant issues and resolve disagreements.
Do you have any siblings?
My brother, Keith, also a Lanier and Jackson State graduate, is a doctor. An alumnus of Meharry Medical College, he is currently in his final year of residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. I prize his advice, encouragement and example. My sister, Kenita, is a 10th grader at Lanier, where she is a Rangerette and honor student.
Was there ever any question that you were going to college?
I always knew I would go to Jackson State. Going to JSU football games every fall left little room for doubt. Both of my parents, two of my grandparents and a host of other family members and friends are also alumni. I was proud to assume that legacy as a third-generation Jacksonian.
Tell us about your experience at Jackson State.
My years at Jackson State were the best of my life. I learned so much with people from diverse backgrounds and taught by talented, committed professors. I participated in the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge team, the History Club, and many honor societies. In 2005, I joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and I will always be grateful to my fellow members for extending their sisterhood and support to me. Without the inspiration and encouragement of President Ronald Mason, the deans, professors and staff, particularly from the Department of History and Philosophy, College of Education, and W.E.B. DuBois Honors College, I would not be attending Harvard Law School. I recommend JSU to anyone contemplating college.
When did you decide to be a lawyer?
My parents are lawyers, so law has always been at the forefront of my career options. Whether I pursue a career as a civil rights attorney, politician, professor or university president, my law degree will be beneficial and indispensible.
What does it feel like to get into Harvard?
Being accepted at Harvard Law School feels rewarding, exciting, yet also humbling. Although I am certainly honored by the opportunity, I am also humbled because I know it is not the result of my singular effort, but rather the product of the collective investment toward my success by friends, family, and instructors throughout my life. It is also challenging because I know that in law school, and for the rest of my life, I will be representing not only myself, but my family, community, university, and hometown.
Do you plan to return to Jackson?
I will return because I feel a responsibility to use my knowledge in the service of those whose encouragement allowed me to attain it. Mississippi's greatest resource is its people. Only by the continual development of and reinvestment in our populace can the state hope to survive and thrive.
Can Jackson's challenges be fixed?
Increased voter registration and turnout are imperative if Jackson is to make the gains of other cities with large black populations. Blacks must realize that only by electing leaders who are sincere and support the interests of the community will Jackson progress. As Mississippi is usually behind the rest of the country, we have the benefit of foresight. Witnessing racial and economic gentrification in other cities, it is obvious that Jackson is fertile ground for the destruction of poor, black communities, to be replaced with expensive, typically non-black developments, forcing property values to rise and residents of surrounding areas to leave.
- Interview by Metro Columnist Eric Stringfellow
August 20, 2006
Sunday Morning With Keisha Stokes, 20, of Jackson: Jackson State valedictorian, Harvard Law School bound
By Eric Stringfellow
[email protected]
Tell us about your experience at Lanier High School.
My education began at Christ Missionary and Industrial College and Brinkley Middle School, where I acquired an excellent foundation. My education at Lanier is the foundation of all my accomplishments since. It was at Lanier that I developed a love for history which translated to my major in college, honed my writing skills and progressed from a shy girl to a sociable cheerleader. It bothers me that a negative perception of Lanier persists, despite its legacy as the first high school for blacks in Jackson and the continued commitment of the faculty and administration to ensure the intellectual development of the student body. It was my pleasure to return to Lanier as a student teacher in the spring. I can safely say that the students there are bright, beautiful and full of promise.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in the Georgetown neighborhood. It is a very close-knit community and from the time that I was a very small child, I knew that I had many neighbors and family friends who supported and looked after me.
What are the key things you learned from your parents?
My parents reared me in a strong Christian environment. Therefore, faith in God is a guiding principle in my life. My parents have shown me that I cannot hesitate to do what is right for fear of reprisals from those who may disagree. Mississippi exists in the shadow of slavery and racial apartheid. Accordingly, many people live in fear of incurring the anger of those who are seemingly more powerful. In such a tense environment, leaders must be courageous enough to shed light on, pursue and protect the interests of their constituents, even when doing so conflicts with the interests and opinions of the establishment. I can only hope that during the course of my life the courage and faith of my parents have rubbed off on me.
Do you think there is really a big difference in the era that your parents grew up in and the era that you grew up in?
In any era, the tendency exists for the older members of the society to reflect on the "good-old-days" of their youth and criticize the recklessness and disrespect of the younger generation. So it was with the flappers of the 1920s, the hippies of the 1960s, and so it is with the hip-hop generation of today. Rather than highlighting differences and hurling criticisms, time would be better spent acknowledging the desire of young people to express themselves and creating a discourse between generations to discuss relevant issues and resolve disagreements.
Do you have any siblings?
My brother, Keith, also a Lanier and Jackson State graduate, is a doctor. An alumnus of Meharry Medical College, he is currently in his final year of residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. I prize his advice, encouragement and example. My sister, Kenita, is a 10th grader at Lanier, where she is a Rangerette and honor student.
Was there ever any question that you were going to college?
I always knew I would go to Jackson State. Going to JSU football games every fall left little room for doubt. Both of my parents, two of my grandparents and a host of other family members and friends are also alumni. I was proud to assume that legacy as a third-generation Jacksonian.
Tell us about your experience at Jackson State.
My years at Jackson State were the best of my life. I learned so much with people from diverse backgrounds and taught by talented, committed professors. I participated in the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge team, the History Club, and many honor societies. In 2005, I joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and I will always be grateful to my fellow members for extending their sisterhood and support to me. Without the inspiration and encouragement of President Ronald Mason, the deans, professors and staff, particularly from the Department of History and Philosophy, College of Education, and W.E.B. DuBois Honors College, I would not be attending Harvard Law School. I recommend JSU to anyone contemplating college.
When did you decide to be a lawyer?
My parents are lawyers, so law has always been at the forefront of my career options. Whether I pursue a career as a civil rights attorney, politician, professor or university president, my law degree will be beneficial and indispensible.
What does it feel like to get into Harvard?
Being accepted at Harvard Law School feels rewarding, exciting, yet also humbling. Although I am certainly honored by the opportunity, I am also humbled because I know it is not the result of my singular effort, but rather the product of the collective investment toward my success by friends, family, and instructors throughout my life. It is also challenging because I know that in law school, and for the rest of my life, I will be representing not only myself, but my family, community, university, and hometown.
Do you plan to return to Jackson?
I will return because I feel a responsibility to use my knowledge in the service of those whose encouragement allowed me to attain it. Mississippi's greatest resource is its people. Only by the continual development of and reinvestment in our populace can the state hope to survive and thrive.
Can Jackson's challenges be fixed?
Increased voter registration and turnout are imperative if Jackson is to make the gains of other cities with large black populations. Blacks must realize that only by electing leaders who are sincere and support the interests of the community will Jackson progress. As Mississippi is usually behind the rest of the country, we have the benefit of foresight. Witnessing racial and economic gentrification in other cities, it is obvious that Jackson is fertile ground for the destruction of poor, black communities, to be replaced with expensive, typically non-black developments, forcing property values to rise and residents of surrounding areas to leave.
- Interview by Metro Columnist Eric Stringfellow
