Having conversations about shared history and the challenges that come with it is essential for the growth of Columbus.
That was the spirit of a Thursday night Trailblazers of Columbus event at The Gathering Place, where Laverne Greene-Leech, founder of the R.E. Hunt Museum, and 16th Circuit District Attorney Scott Colom shared their stories and offered ideas for how to encourage growth and unity.
Edwin Bridges, owner of The Gathering Place venue, said the goal of the event was to create a space during Black History Month to learn from leaders who have helped shape the community and local history.
“Their stories can sometimes be difficult, but it also can be inspiring too,” Bridges said. “When you bring people together and connect conversations with community, you can get different aspects of those who are open minded and willing to evolve.”
Greene-Leech, along with founding the R.E. Hunt Museum, was one of three Black women who integrated Mississippi University for Women, then called Mississippi State College for Women, in 1966. Recounting her experience to the crowd Thursday, she said the campus was a far less happy place for her then than it is now.
Walking down College Street to the campus, Green-Leech said people would sit on their porches and tell her to walk on the street instead of the sidewalk so a car would hit her. She was not allowed to eat in the campus cafeteria. She remembers being required to meet with administrators who questioned her motives for being there.
“He wanted to know, ‘Why do you want to go to that school? Who told you to go? Who’s encouraging you to go?’” she said. “All we could say was, ‘We just want an education, and it’s right here. We’re not trying to start any trouble. We’re not trying to make any history. We’re just doing something because it’s right.’”
At the time, Greene-Leech said a sense of fear among the community made it difficult for her and the other women to find support during the experience.
“We were not a part of what they thought was a Martin Luther King endorsement or somebody,” she said. “We didn’t have that. We were just three little Black girls just trying to get an education.”
While Greene-Leech spoke about overcoming adversity to earn her education, Colom shared how education, along with the influence of his parents and community, opened up opportunities for him.
When he was appointed interim Justice Court judge of Lowndes County in 2015, Colom was the youngest and first Black man to hold the position. He became the first Black appointed city prosecutor for Columbus in 2013. Building that success in his hometown was important to him, he said. Colom was elected district attorney in 2015, defeating a 26-year incumbent, and is serving his third term.
“I could have done a lot of different things in my career, but I really had it in my heart to come back to Columbus and give back to the community that I felt gave me a great childhood, a great upbringing and be a part of trying to give that to other young people,” he said.
That journey also came with adversity, Colom said, including doubt and criticism from community members as well as an unsuccessful nomination to be a federal judge.
“If you’re in the public arena, you put your name on the ballot and you get elected, you’re really going to have some moments where you have to just have courage and do what you think is right,” he said.
Looking toward the future
After the discussion, Greene-Leech told The Dispatch having conversations like these ensures everyone has a hand in progress. Talking about how far the community is necessary for knowing where it needs to go, she said.
“We as a community must come together and talk – everyone: young, old, Black, white, all of us,” she said. “Because we’re all a part of this city, whatever is to come, it’s because of us.”
Challenges will change as the community does, Colom said. One challenge youth in Columbus face today is the temptation to move to a metropolitan area that is more exciting for young people. It is important to find ways to keep youth in Columbus, so they can use their talents to spur future growth, he said.
“We’ve got to find ways … to create space for young people to feel like this is a place where they can get that itch scratched,” he said. “For Columbus to grow, for Starkville to grow, for West Point to grow … they’ve got to first retain more of a percent of people that graduate from college.”
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 26 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
