My heart is so heavy and broken with the transition of Dr. Aaron Shirley, M.D....the Revelations of the Revolution continue... +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hey, Yall, I AM making faith! I could write a dissertation on my personal relationship, and, especially that of both of my late parents--civil rights attorney Frank R. Parker, III and healthcare/union rights/community activist Carolyn Travis Parkers--friendship, love, mutual respect and professionalism like none other--especially back in the day with Dr. Aaron E. Shirley, M.D. Three quick notes on why Dr. Shirley leaving us as a medical pioneer and what and why his sudden death has such a profound effect on my broken heart strings. Did you know: 1) The actual plans for the Jackson Hinds Comprehensive Health Center were written on my Mama and Daddys dining room table by Dr. Aaron Shirley, Dr. James Anderson, M.D., and Dr. Robert Smith, M.D., as well as Dr. Ollye Shirley and a couple others I cant recall today. What I do remember is that I was a pig-tailed hair little girl (around 7ish or so) hiding under the table listening intently, being seen but not heard about how badly we need a medical facility to serve the needs of the poor, under-insured and uninsured mostly minority citizens of Jackson and Mississippi. Dr. Shirley and the rest of them worked tirelessly for months. Once these medical pioneers got the concept and idea off the ground, my Mama became the very first employee of JHCHC. Again, JHCHC plans were written on MY Mama and Daddys dining room table. Who wouldda ever thunk it?! 2) When the late Gov. John Bell Williams, an avowed segregationist had frozen the federal funds in the late 1960s, for Head Start and JHCHC and other organizations geared to serving the least of these, Mama had been fired by Dr. Shirley and Dr. Anderson for her big, sassy mouth. (Then Yall wonder why Ive got a take no crap off of anybody demeanor--even from my boss or who signs my check). Dr. Shirley and Dr. Anderson wanted to have a protest march against Gov. Williams, but they knew there was no one out there that the community would follow and could organize the masses, and in short order, other than my Mama. Uh, oh! These doctors knew one of them had to break down and call my Mama for help. So, who drew the short end of the straw to go put the bell around the cat? Po Dr. Anderson!!! So, Doc called up Mama on bended knees, took the flat-foot cussing out from Mama, but, of course, Mama agree to lead the protest and picket. Mama, Dr. Ollye and a group of the marchers then painted protest signs all night long, talking mucho-macho smack about Gov. Williams. The protestors met at Smith Park and started their peaceful, non-violent, civil disobedience, direct action march. Back in the day (1968-1972), there was no brick wall, or white fence ringing around the Gov.s Mansion building. (Negros) Black folks knew better than to walk on them white folks grass--at all! But, NAW!!!! Not my crazy arse Mama!!! Mama and Dr. Ollye walked their behinds right up to the front door of the Governors Mansion and banged directly on that door--demanding to talk to Gov. Williams. Of course, the menacing looking, big burly all-white Highway Patrolmen met them at the door, Mama left a salty, non-profanity laced message for Gov. Williams from her, Dr. Aaron, Dr. Ollye, Dr. Anderson and the large group gathered on the sidewalk to un-freeze and quit withholding federal funds for the poor--or else they would bring in the national leaders for help, and put Mississippi back in the spotlight for their racist policies. Well, two days later, Gov. Williams released the federal funds, and also, brick by brick began to be built around the Gov.s Mansion, pad locked gates constructed and a check point put up to keep Carolyn Travis Parker off that grass!!! So, every time you pass by the Governors Mansion, just look over there and call that white brick fence--Carolyns Wall! (rotflmao) 3) In the mid-1990s, there was a silent plan being worked out by the then Mississippi Department of Corrections executive director to purchase the then-dilapidated shell of the former Jackson Mall from its then-owner Mr. Jimmy Coggins to turn the Mall into a PRIVATE PRISON!!! YEP! Then Gov. Kirk Fordice wanted the Legislature to pass a bill approving the purchase of the Mall facility for MDOC, and then MDOC would allow a private prison company to run the prison in the middle of the Black community!!! State Representative James (Jim) Evans gave a few of us activists the heads up--and we hit the fricking ceiling--big time!!! So, me, Jim, the late Clara Spencer, the late Rev. L.D. Bass, as well as Kathy Sykes, Rev. Edward Hightower, Vernon Jasper, Rev. Paul Luckett, Donna Antoine LaVigne (and a couple of more I cant recall today) held press conferences inside the Mall, protests at the State Capitol, and threatened everybody, everywhere who we found were complicit in these smoke-filled, back-room deal-cutting to publically call them out!!! Well, when Fordice and some of his Black water-toting lackeys realized that we were serious as five heart attacks about NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard), and had drawn a line in the sand about NO PRISON in our community--at all, and we publically dared them to try us, the powers-to-be dropped those plans to put a private prison in the middle of the Black community. What happened shortly there after? Dr. Aaron Shirley, former MS Supreme Court Justice Reuben Anderson and their investors were able to transform the Jackson Mall into a world-class medical facility that is the envy of so many similar models across our nation. So, these are just a few of the reasons why I feel like Ive lost my daddy all over again, a role model, an idol of mine, a special person who has always, always supported me, verbally whipped me back into line when he was being like a father figure to me, advisor, calling me up to do some behind the scenes heavy lifting on a controversial issue, and just been a GREAT friend to me. Im NOT trying to take anything, credit wise or other from anybody else, but history MUST be recorded accurately and factually at all times. And, the roles that my late parents and I have played--major or minor, needs to be known so that our legacies dont get written out of or excluded in the news stories and books others will write. Christal, Erin, Terry, Kevin and Dr. Ollye, my most sincerest condolences to each of you, as well as the in-laws and grands. So, Ill always love you Dr. Shirley, and until we meet again, just as I swore and pledged on my word to you that your legacy is and always will be safe with me. AMEN! ~ Steph
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 05:35:24 +0000
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