1. Jim Prince of the Neshoba Democrat in my hometown repped media at the big state dominionist prayer service this week (one of 7 centers of power); see below. @AshtonPittman and I've written about him a few times already.
2. In 2015, Jim Prince came for me because I called out a sexist comment by House speaker. He brought all the overwrought, dumb insults (basically: I'm a communist. I'm decidedly not). He was then immediate past president of @MPAnewspapers. I fired back: jacksonfreepress.com/news/2015/nov/…
3. In 2020, Jim Prince went after a minor boy who protested our hometown's Confederate statue and then ran an editorial claiming that Marxists were trying to take it down (he's kinda a one-trick pony with the red-baiting): jacksonfreepress.com/news/2020/jul/…
4. @ashtonpittman included emails from Jim Prince, who has a master's in journalism from the University of Mississippi, in his #UMEmails series. In 2018, Prince withdrew support from UM because it took Ed Meek's name off the J-school this time due to a "nameless, faceless mob"
5. @MadisonJournal (Prince owns it too) ran editorial gushing over Sen. Tim Scott's declaration of "no systemic racism in America." There's racism, sure, but decidedly not baked into U.S. systems (you know, like media). onlinemadison.com/stories/editor…
6. In that @MadisonJournal editorial (and the state prayer event this week), Prince and others are engaging what I call the-Krazy-Klucker-in-the-corner strategy. Never admit systems of racism, the role of all, yes, "centers of power" in our state/nation that pass it forward.
7. Instead, we hear from people now who support(ed) and still benefit from the systems of white supremacy that it was all done by a few crazy rednecks or such, thank God all that is over, and we're sorry all them Krazy Kluckers in the Korner did that to y'all. Time to move on.
8. Of course, "moving on" without rooting out the history, truth and causes/effects of that all-hands-on-deck racism/resistance bakes in the inequities and allows same people to keep benefitting from systemic racism. And leave same mostly white men in control, reaping benefits.
9. All of this is dressed up w Christian verbiage and tucked between prayers and declarations about how awful racism used to be. Just don't try to change racism of today, or God forbid the systems that keep pumping it out, or you're painted as a Marxist for noticing the obvious.
10. That my friends, in a tiny nutshell, captures the heart of dominionism. It's about consolidating power in the hands of a few, while praying a lot. And, of course, it's an insult both to anti-theocratic democracy and people who use faith to love and support across divides.
11. Decent piece about dominion theology hold on a disturbing number of politicians. And here's a yikes from none other than Ted Cruz. It's cool for a certain religion to control the state, just not vice versa. Um, that's not democracy. texasobserver.org/dominion-theol…
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This is seriously what happens when a nation, and its media, frames everything as a two-sided, us-or-them game that serves only a few politically. It’s a sick narrative, and deadly.
Americans need to learn to think systemically, not along a fake partisan dividing line even about a pandemic. Media should lead on this front—not bolster and profit from this binary game. For one, let’s end what’s called “political reporting”—now just games of already-powerful.
Replace so-called “political coverage” (usually done by too-often-misogynistic and arrogant white men seeking fame/clicks) with policy coverage—focused on real people, needs and how needs served, how, who. That is, stop serving those who benefit from fake “red-blue” reporting.
The opinions and question frames of @wlox anchor @DaveWLOX are among most interesting parts of @ashtonpittman’s followup to his viral story on SofS’s “woke college students” remarks. #TVNewsMS
1. This, by @TaylorVanceDJ, is my pick for Mississippi journalism of the work (not done by a Free Press. Ha.) Transparency in local elections is so important.
This is the Guardian piece I wrote about my mother and her illiteracy. I was just looking at her literacy books last night, so I'm really feeling this issue right now: theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2…
1. Catch up on what's happened with secretary of state's "woke college student" remarks since @ashtonpittman broke the story Tuesday, it went viral that day, national media jumped on it, @washingtonpost cited it in editorial Friday, and Watson commented on his comments (sort of).
2. Note one Mississippi outlet did usual déclassé thing with followup yesterday without linking to original reporting on it (although our reporters constantly cite their reporters—by name), did an editorial cartoon and then linked it back to their story it was, um, "based" on.
3. What is Mississippi media that acts this small so freakin' afraid of? I don't get it at all, especially on a story the whole country and state know @ashtonpittman and @MSFreePress broke by now.
1. Vital: This isn’t “but racism is everywhere” excuse-making. Point is to focus on what’s in your front yard everywhere, not scapegoat other places so you’re, well, superior. First: Learn your own history like we do ours here. Don’t be in denial because you were miseducated, too
2. Pilgrimages to Mississippi to understand our race fascism/history are great, and I meet/tour these folks continually. But when I ask them about history-digging for white supremacy and violence back home, I’m often met w blank looks. But we weren’t Mississippi, the logic goes.
3. No, their states weren’t the worst. We were. Mississippi was the heart of US slavery wealth and then resistance to ending it and the right to give Black people full human status. But all along way, that was reinforced from outside state, and racism was bad *everywhere* in U.S.
Indeed. While you’re at it, explore @msfreepress’ #highered coverage all year. We do real journalism about what’s happening at Mississippi’s colleges and universities, especially the public ones because they shouldn’t function behind closed doors. Archive: mississippifreepress.org/tag/highered/
Mississippi colleges, like those across country, are crucibles of the conflict between old ways and new ones. It’s heartening to watch so many students and faculty work to expose problems, even as others are either happy with status quo or silenced by the culture of fear.
This stepping-out-for-change versus culture-of-fear is at heart of what @msfreepress’ #UMemails series about, as well as lack of transparency and attempts to silence those who step out in various ways (and us, btw). It’s some of most important work I’ve edited. I’m proud of it.