U.S.M. Presents Documentary for M.L.K. Celebration

Protests are continuing in many cities in the wake of event in Ferguson, Missouri and Staten Island shootings of unarmed black men. In this time of racial tension, our nation gets ready to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and remember the Civil Rights Movement. Gordon Jackson, a community activist, says, “In some sectors of the community, there’s been a wakeup call, and there was this assumption back in the 80s and 90s that maybe racism was over, but that is not a factor anymore.”

Jackson and others have worked to put together a coast-wide M.L.K. celebration in south Mississippi to highlight the spirit of King’s message and to show the community how he is still relevant today. Howard Page of the Steps Coalition says, “One thing that’s consistent and that’s fairness. I think what Dr. King fought for was fairness.”

What Page and the Steps Coalition fights for is fairness on the Gulf Coast. Since Hurricane Katrina, when the federal government allocated $500 million to the Port of Gulfport instead of to build public housing, the Steps Coalition has kept a close eye on the project. Page also says, “It’s about various citizens that are making sure that this money is going to be wisely spent to create jobs and also make sure this money is spent in a way that doesn’t harm their communities.”

The Steps Coalition put together a documentary called Aboveboard – Port of the Future to explain the story of the port and how the Steps Coalition is still fighting for fairness. Thursday night, it was screened for the public as part of the Coast M.L.K. series.

Glenn Cobb of the Gulfport Civic Club says, “It’s not just a day, it’s not just a month, this is something that we can do year round, year after year, because it’s so important for us to try to do things that are going to be proactive.”