Celebrating Black Culture & Achievement in the Miss-Lou Region
It Takes a Village
BlackNatchez.org is committed to promoting and uplifting African-American culture in Southwest, Mississippi. We promote love, collaboration, and understanding of all people, with a specific emphasis on Black achievement, Black history, & black empowerment. We believe fundamentally that when black people thrive, the entire community rises.
On Thursday, September 26, BlackNatchez.org will highlight the work of Natchez activist & changemaker Dr. Lamar Braxton. The event will be held at Doll Baby’s at 6 Saint Catherine Street with pre-event activities beginning at 6:30pm. The onstage interview will begin at 7 p.m., with Dr. Braxton in conversation with BlackNatchez.org founder Joseph A.C. Smith. The event is free and open to the public. Guests will enjoy complimentary dinner entrees made possible through the generosity of the Braxton Family.
For nearly 42 years, Braxton led the AJFC Community Action Agency. He served on the Board of Directors for the Natchez Chamber of Commerce and as commissioner for the Natchez Airport. During his administration, Governor William Winter appointed Braxton to serve on the Mississippi Board of Public Welfare; Braxton accepted the appointment but only on the grounds that the Governor would appoint the State’s first black county welfare director (Braxton recommended Deloris Rankin who Winter appointed.) He served several terms as the President of the Mississippi Association of Community Action Agencies and a member of the NAACP Board of Directors, under the leadership of Rev. Leon Howard. In collaboration with Rev. Wendell Greene, Braxton co-founded the United League of Organizations who hosted Natchez’s first Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and led the effort to rename Pine Street in Dr. King’s honor.
The public is strongly encouraged to attend this once in a lifetime opportunity to hear firsthand accounts from one of Natchez’s leading change makers.
Join us
The MLK Triangle area has historically been a vibrant, multicultural hub for entertainment and business in Natchez. Unfortunately, due to drastic economic decline and disinvestment, this area has fallen victim to extreme blight…but WE WANT TO FIX THIS.
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On Saturday, September 21, we’re hosting a MLK Clean Up Day from 9am-Noon, followed by a community cookout.
We are seeking community members, business owners, and community organizations to help us in one of the following ways:
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Sign up to clean up or serve food on Saturday September 21 (students who volunteer will receive a letter documenting community service hours)
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Donate to offset the cost of clean up supplies and/or food (All donations are tax deductible. Visit blacknatchez.org to donate or email us to make other payment arrangements.)
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Commit to cleaning a portion of MLK at another time.
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Please email us at blacknatchez@gmail.com and let us know how you plan to help.
