***For Immediate Release***
Date: 9/17/2010
Contact: Bro. Ron/ R2C2H2 Tha Artivist
Phone: 901-299-4355
E-mail: r2c2h2@gmail.com
Website: http://www.weallbe.blogspot.com
W.E. A.L.L. B.E. Special Report: The Black Maverick Finally Gets His!
Civil Rights Maverick & Trail Blazer Gets Highway Named
In His Honor
By R2C2H2 Tha Artivist
By R2C2H2 Tha Artivist
Tha Artivist & Teddy Gilmore, The Son Of Dr. T.R.M. Howard
Teddy & Daddy Then...
Teddy Gilmore, The Beitos & MS State Rep. Linda Coleman
It was a bright sunny Mississippi Delta Labor Day in the
year of our Lord 2010 in the historic Black township of Mound Bayou, Ms which was founded by former enslaved Africans…It was
also a more memorable and celebratory one as well…One of Mound Bayou’s sons
finally got his long overdue recognition…Dr. Theodore Roosevelt Mason Howard, one of the forgotten heroes of the
American Civil Rights Movement, is finally becoming a household name or at least
a more recognizable one…
The Old Friendship Clinic
The Old Taborian Hospital
Maverick Helpers: Dr. Linda Beito & Dr. David Beito
Through the collective tenacity and collaboration of
his definitive biographers the Beitos (Dr. Linda & Dr. David who wrote The
Black Maverick: T.R.M. Howard’s Fight For Civil Rights & Economic Power),
the Mississippi State Legislature, civic organizations & Elders of the
Mound Bayou community, old highway 61 which runs past Dr. Howard’s old Friendship
Clinic(his innovative hospital where he also created a park, a zoo and the
first swimming pool for Blacks in Mississippi) and Taborian Hospital where he
began his tenure as an innovative surgeon in 1942 will be forever known as Dr.
T.R.M. Howard Memorial Highway. The passing of House Bill 598 in the
Mississippi State Legislature endorsed by District 29 State Rep. Linda Coleman
of Mound Bayou, Ms, made this long overdue moment possible.
The highway also goes past his former stately ranch style
house and massive farm estate where he once housed Mamie Till Mobley, the
mother of Emmett Till, U.S. Rep. Charles Diggs, witnesses, journalists and
others during the historic and tension filled Emmett Till Trial. Because of the
numerous threats on his life, Dr. Howard’s house had armed bodyguards 24/7. In
addition, Dr. Howard always kept a gun readily available and was an expert
marksman himself, stemming from his days when he used to hunt for squirrels and
other animals to literally feed his family in Murray, Kentucky when he was a
youngster.
According to the Beitos, in addition to his hospital,
swimming pool, park and zoo, Dr. Howard “had founded various business and
community enterprises, including a housing construction firm, a credit union,
an insurance company, a restaurant with a beer garden, and a thousand-acre farm
where he raised cattle, quail, hunting dogs, and cotton.” He was considered
during his time by many to be the wealthiest Black in Mississippi. Dr. Howard was also president of the National
Medical Association and chairman of the board of the National Negro Business League.
Family, friends, representatives of the organizations that
Dr. Howard created and belonged to in life and curious onlookers all formed a
colorful tapestry of humanity to witness something very unique in honor of a
very unique individual. All gathered along Old Highway 61 now Dr. T.R.M. Howard
Memorial Highway to witness the upbeat parade led by The JFK Memorial High
School Marching Band which included a motorcade featuring both the police and
fire departments as well as cars representing organizations affiliated or even
started by Dr. T.R.M. Howard. It seemed like a surreal this is your life moment,
with the only exception that the honored subject has been deceased since 1976.
The Beitos, who wrote the definitive Dr. T.R.M. Howard
biography (a must read), gave away $2000 in prize monies to several lucky
residents of Mound Bayou, Ms. Dr. T.R.M. Howard’s son, event planner
extraordinaire Teddy Gilmore, who uncannily possesses his father’s charm and
presence, came from Chicago to help unveil the new marker.
Tha Artivist & C. Sade Turnipseed
A luncheon was held at the Mound Bayou Neighborhood
Facilities Building where food was provided as well as food for thought on the
living legacy of Dr. T.R.M. Howard. Popular Delta News personality and cultural
activist C. Shade Turnispeed served as mistress of ceremonies. A proclamation in
honor of Dr. Howard was read by State Rep. Linda F. Coleman.
Rev. Darryl Johnson
Event organizer,
entrepreneur and proud Mound Bayou resident Rev. Darryl Johnson spoke with sincere
religious fervor about the need for youths and the young at heart to understand
the profound impact of Dr. Howard’s extraordinary example of service to
humanity and that they too can be an impactful change agent and a credit to
their community and people. Dr. Leslie Pollard, vice president Loma Linda University School of
Medicine, Dr. Howard’s alma mater, spoke of the importance of keeping alive Dr.
Howard’s legacy by making quality health care affordable and accessible to
everyone.
Famed and prolific African American sculptor Ed Dwight came
from Denver and was on hand to rally public support for the commission of a
larger than life sculpture of Dr. Howard.
Ms Democrat Gubernatorial candidate and Morgan Freeman’s Business
partner lawyer Bill Luckett and his wife Francine from Clarksdale, Ms, were also on hand to offer
remarks of support and encouragement.
The Beitos showed rare footage of Dr. Howard being interviewed for tv in
Los Angeles:
Former NFL Player & Author Kevin Henry & Tha Artivist
Some prodigal sons and hometown heroes also made appearances at
the function. Among those included were former Pittsburgh Steelers and author Kevin
Henry and super literacy promoter Dr. Floyd Stokes also known as the Super Reader.
This Elder is 96 years young, was the Postmaster General Of Mound Bayou for 40 plus years and drives his own late model Cadillac.
Civil Rights Activist Dr. Elaine Baker remembers Dr. Howard well and recalled his love for and influence over the Mound Bayou community:
“He believed in the youth of Mound Bayou and he believed in the families of Mound Bayou. He was an inspiration to me. I remember when he left for Chicago I would get the Jet Magazine and it was a joy to see him in there because I knew he would be in there talking about some new adventure.”
Mound Bayou Alderman Shelton Woodley & Tha Artivist. Dr. Howard's example inspired him to become a public servant.
Many elders were in attendance. It seems like Mound Bayou
has a usually high number of elders in their 90s who get around like they were
in their 60s. Many recalled with childish glee, joy and admiration the effect
that Dr. Howard had on the collective psyche of that small yet proud community. It as if they have been waiting for decades
to share and demonstrate their unconditional love for Dr. T.R.M. Howard with
the world. Many other younger Elders took pride in knowing that Dr. T.R.M.
Howard helped to deliver them into this world.
If you listen to the stories or testimonials one could imagine Dr.
Howard as being this larger than life folk character with Herculean ability,
but in actuality he was a flesh and blood man with some exceptional moral
clarity when it came to human rights issues and steel resolve when it came to
righting wrongs.
Although Mound Bayou is still suffering from the lingering effects
of “integration”, the automation of the cotton industry and this over-outsourced
downturn economy, the renaming of this highway to honor one of their own seems
to mark a spiritual upswing that could led to a physical and mental
transformation or rebirth of this town which was once considered a prized jewel
in the crown of Black America.
SEE ALSO...
Tha Artstorian Reports: Why Dr. T.R.M. Howard Should Be Remembered: The John The Baptist Of The Civil Rights Movement:
http://weallbe.blogspot.com/2010/09/tha-artstorian-reports-why-dr-trm.html
Tha Artstorian Reports: Why Dr. T.R.M. Howard Should Be Remembered: The John The Baptist Of The Civil Rights Movement:
http://weallbe.blogspot.com/2010/09/tha-artstorian-reports-why-dr-trm.html
To Learn More About The Amazing Life Of Dr. Howard &
Order The Book, Black Maverick: T.R.M. Howard’s Fight For Civil Rights &
Economic Empowerment Please Visit The Official Website:
Please Use The Following Link To View More Pics From The Dr.
T.R.M. Howard Memorial Highway Dedication Event (All Pics Are © Property O f
The W.E. A.L.L. B.E. Group):
Watch The Documentary “Black Maverick: Dr. T.R.M. Howard:
Forgotten Civil Rights Hero” On W.E. A.L.L. B.E. TV:
http://blip.tv/file/3271863
W.E. A.L.L. B.E. Radio Special~Remembering The Black Maverick: Dr. T.R.M. Howard...
The Greatest Civil Rights Leader You Never Heard Of...
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/weallbe/2009/10/01/Tha-Artivist-PresentsWE-ALL-BE-News-Radio
More Dr. T.R.M. Howard On W.E. A.L.L. B.E.:
http://weallbe.blogspot.com/search?q=DR.+T.R.M.+HOWARD
http://blip.tv/file/3271863
W.E. A.L.L. B.E. Radio Special~Remembering The Black Maverick: Dr. T.R.M. Howard...
The Greatest Civil Rights Leader You Never Heard Of...
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/weallbe/2009/10/01/Tha-Artivist-PresentsWE-ALL-BE-News-Radio
More Dr. T.R.M. Howard On W.E. A.L.L. B.E.:
http://weallbe.blogspot.com/search?q=DR.+T.R.M.+HOWARD
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