NAACP leader James Crowell discusses Mississippi civil rights struggles, triumphs

James Crowell has been on the front lines of the fight for civil rights and equal opportunity across south Mississippi for more than four decades.

Crowell discussed a history of the civil rights movement and highlighted the triumphs made across the region during an Inclusion & Diversity lunch-and-learn Tuesday in the General Office Auditorium.

“When I was a child, I never would’ve seen a crowd as diverse as this,” Crowell said, noting the make-up of the nearly 60 people in attendance. “So we have absolutely come a long way, but we still have more to go.”

Crowell grew up and graduated from high school in segregated Columbus, Miss. After earning a Mathematics degree from Mississippi Industrial College in Holly Springs, he accepted a job teaching electronics and career training at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi.

It’s here that Crowell had his own diversity paradigm shift.

“The military was desegregated, so for the first time in my life, I was around different groups of people,” Crowell said. “I learned that people are people and that experience changed my attitude.”

Crowell, only the second president ever of the Biloxi chapter of the NAACP, discussed some of the challenges overcome by the chapter over the years. From desegregating the beaches of Harrison County, to the re-opening of Nichols Elementary School in east Biloxi following Hurricane Katrina, the audience learned a lot.

“I found it very insightful and was very interested in what Mr. Crowell had to say,” Deidra Robinson, a 27-year-old engineer in Hattiesburg said. “I didn’t even realize that something like a beach could be segregated. Hearing his experiences was inspiring.”

“I think it’s very important for everyone to see the struggle of Mississippi,” Human Resources Administrative Assistant Thyra Labat said. “Especially with big corporations like this now supporting our inclusion and diversity initiatives.”

Crowell was invited to be the Inclusion & Diversity program’s first Lunch-and-Learn speaker because of his breadth of experiences in finding opportunities for all citizens.

“James Crowell is an extraordinary leader and is well known for his devotion to all people and his undying efforts to improve the lives of everyone he comes into contact with,” Inclusion & Diversity Manager Kim Washington said. “I think he was absolutely right when he said, ‘Don’t give up on what you think is right.’”

“I appreciate what Mississippi Power does in our community,” Crowell said in his opening remarks. “Whether it’s working on MLK Day or sponsoring dinners and other events, you are a wonderful partner.”

Mississippi Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), produces safe, reliable and environmentally responsible energy for more than 188,000 customers in 23 southeast Mississippi counties. With nearly 160 megawatts of approved solar energy capacity, Mississippi Power is the largest partner in providing renewable energy in the state of Mississippi. Visit our website at mississippipower.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

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