I’m appalled at the recent behavior of some Senatobia (and not Senatobia) residents.
Yeah, I know. Those who know me tend to know I’m easily appalled at those who don’t seem to have manners.
I think I take it so personally because manners were literally beaten into me. My mama and grandparents didn’t slack up on instilling me with manners despite the fact that I insisted on being a barefoot heathen raised on a farm. I maintain to this day that I’m only a lady because my dear grandmother made a declaration (and mission) that she was going to make me one.
What has got me worked up this time is the mess that occurred at Senatobia City Hall last Tuesday evening.
There are certain protocols and procedures that must be followed when addressing the leaders of our city. I respect that. I’d never try and abuse a meeting to get my point addressed. In fact, I’d think that would negatively impact my mission.
But that is exactly what happened last Tuesday.
Local members of the NAACP decided to take over or hijack the City of Senatobia Board of Aldermen meeting. However, they missed a few steps.
When confronted by the mayor as to why they could not address the Board since they were not on the agenda, the only excuse offered was that they did not have time to plan NOT to be there.
Well, I’m not sure how everyone else does things, but I know it takes a lot more time and effort to plan to be somewhere than it does to decide to simply not go.
Also, I think I would nonimate an actual resident of the City of Senatobia to be the spokesperson for the group.
And here’s a life tip for the week, just because your mailing address lists “Senatobia” as your residence, it does not mean you live within the city limits. Those are two different things and maps are available at City Hall and Tate County Courthouse to help figure out this matter. I will say that if you do not live within the city limits, I highly doubt the Board of Aldermen care much for your opinion. Afterall, actual residents and voters put them into office.
The mission of the group was to confront the Board and complain that Senatobia police officers were brutal in the mostly Black neighborhoods of the city. They even took cheap shots at Alderman Tanksley and Alderman Garrett.
Which is strange to me. If the group wanted to confront the Board and claim racism was at fault, why then, did they only choose to make cheap shots at the only two Black aldermen on the Board?
It seems clear to me they attempted to goad the two men into anger and expected them to cave simply because they shared a certain percentage of pigmentation of melanin in their skin. What caught them off guard was that our aldermen didn’t agree and instead insisted that law and order would be their guide.
I’m proud of that. I’m proud our aldermen stood for justice, respect and instilling values in our youth. That makes them true leaders in our community, and I hate they would be considered anything but that simply because a local broadcast news network chose to portray them in that light.
It goes against my blood to criticize other news organizations, but I will do so willingly when I think they got it wrong. In this case, a Memphis based broadcast news organization totally forgot the basic premise of the job…ask questions.
They didn’t. They took the bait and bit down hard.
Hook. Line. Sinker. They ran a story that promoted WAR (they ran the quote three times) against a government body. How will that help?
Good Job Alderman Tanksley and Alderman Garrett. The city is watching and approves. It’s not always easy when people try to drag you through the mud, but it sure shows when you come out clean on the other side of the puddle.
