PASTOR ENCOURAGES YOUTHS NOT TO FORGO THEIR HERITAGE

SHAW - The Rev. Earl V. Hall, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Mound
Bayou and an alcohol and drug coordinator for the Mississippi Department of
Corrections, told the students at Shaw High School Wednesday it's important
for African Americans to look forward and create a positive future.

His talk was part of a Black History Month program presented by Shaw High
School students titled, "Understanding Our Past, Living Today, Creating Our
Future."

Hall used various expressions to arouse the students' interest, like
Mystical song "Shake It Fast, Watch Yourself, Show Me What You're Working
With."

"Some things you must shake off in life," Hall said.

The speaker said that in order to create a better future, people must shake
off negativity.

"We must understand where we came from and understand our past," said Hall.

According to Hall, it has been said that if African Americans do not know
their origin and history, they're doom to repeat it.

"As for African Americans, positiveness has been produced in our past," he
said. "We've come a long way, but there was struggle, then as well as a
struggle now.

Hall said African Americans' past struggle involve terms such as
segregation and discrimination,

"There is a present-day struggle going on and this is where you will play a
part in creating a better future," Hall said. "It is going to take people
like you to make the future better."

Hall said that today a war is going on and African Americans must
understand that there is a different battle taking place with many enemies.
The school of old says that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood," but
there are some things we are wrestling with in our community.

The main battle in the war is the abuse of drugs, he said.

"We are losing the war on drugs," Hall emphasized. "If the African American
community is going to better the community, we must address the new enemy.

Hall said it is for this reason why so many of young African Americans are
dropping out of school and saying jobs are hard to find.

"We as a race of people got to hang in there," he said.

Hall explained that young African Americans must understand that people
they read about in history had to struggle by walking miles and miles to
attend school and obtain an education.

"Some of you all hold no memory when African Americans could not come to
this building to receive an education, enjoy a nice meal at places like
Burger King or Wendy's, and hold no memory of being told that certain seats
on a bus or airplane are reserved," said Hall.

Hall added that Mississippi has more African Americans are incarcerated
than graduate from institutions of higher learning.

"I want you to understand that there are myths and propaganda telling you
that you can donothing to change your outlook on life," he said. "If we
come together and solidify our efforts, then we can do anything we want to
do," said Hall.

Hall told the students that they have an awesome responsibility and great
job with studying to show thyself approved. He recited several lines from
Robert Frost's poem The Road Less Traveled and Margaret Walker's poem For
My People emphasizing the point that "we all are somebody and we can do
anything that we put our mind to doing.

"It will work if you work it, whatever you work, it will work," said Pastor
Hall.

Several students from Shaw High School expressed how they feel about Black
History month. Carla Jones said that if you don't understand your past, you
will not have a future.

"Our ancestors did not give up when things became difficult, therefore, we
must continue to appreciate the rights they fought for us to have today,"
Carla said.

Johnnie Alexander believes African Americans must be determined and strive
for excellence to achieve success in life.