JSCC held community remembrance & dedication for lynching victims of Madison County

JACKSON, Tenn. — Jackson State Community College held a community remembrance and a dedication of lynching site soil for the lynching victims of Madison County Friday in Ayers auditorium.

Three documented lynchings of African Americans in Madison County were honored – Eliza Woods, John Brown and Frank Ballard.

Many members of the community such as Mr. Harrell Carter, district attorney general Mr. Jody Pickens, reverend Daryll Coleman along with historians and professors, lane college students and a vocal ensemble shared their thoughts on race and justice with words and song.

“If we own parts of our history that are difficult or painful, I just believe that as a result when we own those difficult parts, it makes us stronger. It makes us whole and it makes us complete in some way,” Bob Raines, honors program coordinator, said.

Today’s community remembrance was sponsored by the Jackson State college honors program, the Jackson-Madison County branch of the NAACP, the Lane College chapter of the NAACP and the Equal Justice Initiative.