51.4 F
Oxford

Opinion: Changing the State Flag is Right for Every Reason

By Jeff Roberson
Hottytoddy.com contributor
robersonjeff0630@gmail.com

I guess I’m about as Mississippi as you can get. I’ve never lived in any other state. A lot of you reading this haven’t either. I join you as ‘lifers.’

I don’t even know if I can recall all the “Mississippi” that’s in me as I write this. I’ll mention a couple and get to my main point.

I’m fortunate to have been born into a big Mississippi family. One of my first cousins on my father’s side was a quarterback on the 1962 Walk of Champions perfect season Ole Miss football team. My grandfather on my mother’s side was a historian and writer in his time.

After serving in the Navy during World War II, my dad was working for his dad in Pontotoc, and a couple of years later he received a call from an acquaintance. “Babe” McCarthy asked my dad to join him in Baldwyn to help him coach. After some back and forth dialogue over a few days, dad went. During his first year there he met the woman he would marry, and a decade later I came along.

Not just because he was later a highly successful head basketball coach at Mississippi State with four SEC titles in 10 seasons, McCarthy became one of the most significant figures in Mississippi sports during the civil rights movement. In 1963, he and his MSU team defied state law and basically escaped Mississippi for East Lansing, Michigan, so the Bulldogs could play Loyola of Chicago in the NCAA Tournament.

Loyola had black players, and Mississippi teams were not allowed to be integrated or play integrated teams. Some say it was a written rule, others say it was unwritten. Bottom line, it wasn’t a “rule” or a “law” that was the hangup, it was society and its leaders.

There have been stories written about that 1963 MSU team and its important game on the basketball court of the Big Ten’s MSU. There have also been documentaries, and my friend Kyle Veazey, an Ole Miss alum who lives in Memphis and works for Mayor Jim Strickland, wrote a book, “Champions For Change: How the Mississippi State Bulldogs and Their Bold Coach Defied Segregation.”

When Kermit Davis, Jr., got the Ole Miss basketball job, I introduced him to my dad. Kermit and I are the same age and we have something else in common. My dad was Babe McCarthy’s first assistant coach when he joined him in Baldwyn. Kermit Davis, Sr., was Babe McCarthy’s first basketball signee at Mississippi State.

I’ve surely always appreciated Babe, who died of cancer at age 51 in our Mississippi hometown after being a head coach in the professional ranks, for getting my dad to Baldwyn. Otherwise, of course, I wouldn’t be here.

Five years ago a Mississippi Department of Archives and History marker was dedicated to Coach McCarthy in downtown Baldwyn. On Babe’s day, my dad was one of the ones who helped with the unveiling. Kermit Davis, Sr., was there, as was MSU, Boston Celtics great, and Mississippi men’s basketball trophy namesake Bailey Howell. So was my sportswriting friend Rick Cleveland, and a number of Babe’s friends and family members.

When the ceremony ended, I watched Kermit, Sr., and Bailey have a conversation on the sidewalk with the Baldwyn High boys basketball team, 65 years after Babe had coached that same program at his alma mater.

I could only think, “What a moment,” as two of Babe’s greatest players talked to a Baldwyn team of both black and white players about basketball. There was interest and attentiveness from all as basketball was the bond, and nothing else mattered.

I thought of the opportunities those young men now have because of the courageous actions of Mississippians like Babe McCarthy when others would not have dared.

We find ourselves at a crossroads again, Mississippi, as we begin the third decade of the 21st century.

Mississippi’s flag must be changed and changed now.

Changing the state flag is right for every reason. It should be a flag that represents all Mississippians.

Some say perhaps sports shouldn’t be a focal point. Sports is always a focal point.

My friendships with Coolidge Ball and Peggie Gillom-Granderson, the first male and female black athletes at Ole Miss, have always meant so much to me. I feel I’m in the presence of greatness when I visit with them, not just because of their extraordinary basketball talents but because of the people they are and the path they chose that others dared not – or could not.

The SEC and NCAA involvement the past few days has clearly raised the stakes. Can you imagine how difficult recruiting will be now for all of Mississippi’s colleges and universities and their coaches if the state flag isn’t retired now and changed now?

Can you imagine, since the SEC has drawn the first line in the sand, that if state elected officials don’t act on this, change it with their own votes as elected officials, and bring to life a new Mississippi flag, or at the very least retire the current one, the following question being a potential scenario?

“Who are the former charter members of the SEC who no longer reside in a Power Five conference?”

Right now that number is two: Sewanee and Tulane.

It cannot become four.

That cannot happen. And elected officials know that.

The year 2020 will be remembered for a lot of things. But the Mississippi legislature, Speaker, Lt. Gov. and Governor will only be remembered for one:

Either changing the state flag immediately and allowing all Mississippians to move forward together. Or leaving it as it is, the SEC eventually potentially dismissing the two Mississippi schools, and the economic and emotional life of this state, the bright future that it should have, dies at that moment.

And please don’t give me the “We’re charter members” line. If they want us, they keep us. If not, we’re gone. Bank on it.

Rarely have Mississippi State and Ole Miss ever been more aligned than in their desire to change the state flag. Many times our universities act, both on the field and off, as though one must fail for the other to succeed. But on this, we see that our fate is bound together. Either we change the flag, or we all suffer.

The choice to do the right thing rests with the elected officials, Mississippi’s leaders, and the time is right now.

You do not want the eternal stain of miscalculating the importance of this now on your hands or your legacies. And I know you know that.

The earlier efforts of Babe McCarthy, James Meredith, Peggie Gillom-Granderson, Coolidge Ball, and other courageous Mississippians demand that we follow their leads now and into a greater future for everyone in this state.


Most Popular

Recent Comments

scamasdscamith on News Watch Ole Miss
Frances Phillips on A Bigger, Better Student Union
Grace Hudditon on A Bigger, Better Student Union
Millie Johnston on A Bigger, Better Student Union
Binary options + Bitcoin = $ 1643 per week: https://8000-usd-per-day.blogspot.com.tr?b=46 on Beta Upsilon Chi: A Christian Brotherhood
Jay Mitchell on Reflections: The Square
Terry Wilcox SFCV USA RET on Oxford's Five Guys Announces Opening Date
Stephanie on Throwback Summer
organized religion is mans downfall on VP of Palmer Home Devotes Life to Finding Homes for Children
Paige Williams on Boyer: Best 10 Books of 2018
Keith mansel on Cleveland On Medgar Evans
Debbie Nader McManus on Cofield on Oxford — Lest We Forget
Bettye H. Galloway on Galloway: The Last of His Kind
Richard Burns on A William Faulkner Sighting
Bettye H. Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Bettye H Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Bettye H Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Bettye H. Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Ruby Begonia on Family Catching Rebel Fever
Greg Millar on The Hoka
Greg Millar on The Hoka
Greg Millar on The Hoka
Greg Millar on The Hoka
jeff the busy eater on Cooking With Kimme: Baked Brie
Travis Yarborough on Reflections: The Square
BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH on Oxford is About to Receive a Sweet Treat
baby travel systems australia on Heaton: 8 Southern Ways to Heckle in SEC Baseball
Rajka Radenkovich on Eating Oxford: Restaurant Watch
Richard Burns on Reflections: The Square
Guillermo Perez Arguello on Mississippi Quote Of The Day
A Friend with a Heavy Heart on Remembering Dr. Stacy Davidson
Harold M. "Hal" Frost, Ph.D. on UM Physical Acoustics Research Center Turns 30
Educated Citizen on Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving
Debbie Crenshaw on Trump’s Tough Road Ahead
Treadway Strickland on Wicker Looks Ahead to New Congress
Tony Ryals on parking
Heather Lee Hitchcock on ‘Pray for Oxford’ by Shane Brown
Heather Lee Hitchcock on ‘Pray for Oxford’ by Shane Brown
Dr Donald and Priscilla Powell on Deadly Plane Crash Leaves Eleven Children Behind
Dr Donald and Priscilla Powell on Deadly Plane Crash Leaves Eleven Children Behind
C. Scott Fischer on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
Sylvia Williams on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
Will Patterson on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
Rick Henderson on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
George L Price on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
on
Morgan Shands on Cleveland: On Ed Reed
Richard McGraw on Cleveland: On Cissye Gallagher
Branan Southerland on Gameday RV Parking at HottyToddy.com
Tom and Randa Baddley on Vassallo: Ole Miss Alum Finds His Niche
26 years and continuously learning on Ole Miss Puts History In Context With Plaque
a Paterson on Beyond Barton v. Barnett
Phil Higginbotham on ‘Unpublished’ by Shane Brown
Bettina Willie@www.yahoo.com.102Martinez St.Batesville,Ms.38606 on Bomb Threat: South Panola High School Evacuated This Morning
Anita M Fellenz, (Emilly Hoffman's CA grandmother on Ole Miss Spirit Groups Rank High in National Finals
Marilyn Moore Hughes on Vassallo: Ole Miss Alum Finds His Niche
Jaqundacotten@gmail williams on HottyToddy Hometown: Hollandale, Mississippi
Finney moore on Can Ole Miss Grow Too Big?
diane faulkner cawlley on Oxford’s Olden Days: Miss Annie’s Yard
Phil Higginbotham on ‘November 24’ by Shane Brown
Maralyn Bullion on Neely-Dorsey: Hog Killing Time
Beth Carr on A Letter To Mom
Becky on A Letter To Mom
Marilyn Tinnnin on A Letter To Mom
Roger ulmer on UM Takes Down State Flag
Chris Pool on UM Takes Down State Flag
TampaRebel on UM Takes Down State Flag
david smith on UM Takes Down State Flag
Boyd Harris on UM Takes Down State Flag
Jim (Herc @ UM) on Cleveland: Fall Vacations
Robert Hollingsworth on Rebels on the Road: Memphis Eateries
David McCullough on Shepard Leaves Ole Miss Football
Gayle G. Henry on Meet Your 2015 Miss Ole Miss
Guillermo F. Perez-Argüello on Neely-Dorsey: Elvis Presley’s Big Homecoming
Jennifer Mooneyham on ESPN: Ole Miss No. 1 in Nation
Wes McIngvale on Ole Miss Defeats Alabama
BARRY MCCAMMON on Ole Miss Defeats Alabama
Laughing out Loud on ESPN: Ole Miss No. 1 in Nation
Dr.Bill Priester on Cleveland: On Bob Priester
A woman who has no WHITE PRIVILEGE on Oxford Removes Mississippi Flag from City Property
A woman who has no WHITE PRIVILEGE on Oxford Removes Mississippi Flag from City Property
paulette holmes langbecker on Cofield on Oxford – Rising Ole Miss Rookie
Ruth Shipp Yarbrough on Cofield on Oxford — Lest We Forget
Karllen Smith on ‘Rilee’ by Shane Brown
Jean Baker Pinion on ‘The Cool Pad’ by Shane Brown
Janet Hollingsworth (Cavanaugh) on John Cofield on Oxford: A Beacon
Proud Mississippi Voter on Gunn Calls for Change in Mississippi Flag
Deloris Brown-Thompson on Bebe’s Letters: A WWII Love Story
Sue Ellen Parker Stubbs on Bebe’s Letters: A WWII Love Story
Tim Heaton on Heaton: Who is Southern?
Tim Heaton on Heaton: Who is Southern?
Karen fowler on Heaton: Who is Southern?
Don't Go to Law School on Four Legal Rebels Rising in the Real World
bernadette on Feeding the Blues
bernadette on Feeding the Blues
Joanne and Mark Wilkinson on Ron Vernon: a Fellowship of Music
Mary Ellen (Dring) Gamble on Ron Vernon: a Fellowship of Music
Cyndy Carroll on Filming it Up in Mississippi
Dottie Dewberry on Top 10 Secret Southern Sayings
Brother Everett Childers on ‘The Shack’ by Shane Brown
Mark McElreath on ‘The Shack’ by Shane Brown
Bill Wilkes, UM '57, '58, '63 on A Letter from Chancellor Dan Jones
Sandra Caffey Neal on Mississippi Has Proud Irish Heritage
Teresa Enyeart, and Terry Enyeat on Death of Ole Miss Grad, U.S. Vet Stuns Rebel Nation
P. D. Fyke on Wells: Steelhead Run
Johnny Neumann on Freeze Staying with Rebels
Maralyn Bullion on On Cooking Southern: Chess Pie
Kaye Bryant on Henry: E. for Congress
charles Eichorn on Hotty Tamales, Gosh Almighty
Jack of All Trades on Roll Over Bear Bryant
w nadler on Roll Over Bear Bryant
Stacey Berryhill on Oxford Man Dies in Crash
John Appleton on Grovin' Gameday Memories
Charlotte Lamb on Grovin' Gameday Memories
Guillermo F. Perez-Argüello on Two True Mississippi Icons
Morgan Williamson on A College Education is a MUST
Morgan Williamson on A College Education is a MUST
Jeanette Berryhill Wells on HottyToddy Hometown: Senatobia, Mississippi
Tire of the same ole news on 3 "Must Eat" Breakfast Spots in Oxford
gonna be a rebelution on Walking Rebel Fans Back Off the Ledge
Nora Jaccaud on Rickshaws in Oxford
Martha Marshall on Educating the Delta — Or Not
Nita McVeigh on 'I'm So Oxford' Goes Viral
Guillermo F. Perez-Argüello on How a Visit to the Magnolia State Can Inspire You
Charlie Fowler Jr. on Prawns? In the Mississippi Delta?
Martha Marshall on A Salute to 37 Years of Sparky
Sylvia Hartness Williams on Oxford Approves Diversity Resolution
Jerry Greenfield on Wine Tip: Problem Corks
Cheryl Obrentz on I Won the Lottery! Now What?
Bnogas on Food for the Soul
Barbeque Memphis on History of Tennessee Barbecue
Josephine Bass on The Delta and the Civil War
Nicolas Morrison on The Walking Man
Pete Williams on Blog: MPACT’s Future
Laurie Triplette on On Cooking Southern: Fall Veggies
Harvey Faust on The Kream Kup of the Krop
StarReb on The Hoka
Scott Whodatty Keetereaux Keet on Hip Hop — Yo or No, What’s Your Call
Johnathan Doeman on Oxford Man Dies in Crash
Andy McWilliams on The Warden & The Chief
Kathryn McElroy on Think Like A Writer
Claire Duff Sullivan on Alert Dogs Give Diabetics Peace of Mind
Jesse Yancy on The Hoka
Jennifer Thompson Walker on Ole Miss, Gameday From The Eyes of a Freshman
HottyToddy.com