Coahoma Community College News February 29, 2012 Rep. Coleman Praises Black Women Leaders CLARKSDALE - In a Black History Month finale addressing the quest of black women for success, state Rep. Linda Coleman, D-Mound Bayou, told hundreds at Coahoma Community College: "Success is met by obstacles." Despite insight linking education to success, Coleman said, "We enter college, but we are less likely to finish" because of "society ill" - drugs, alcohol, teen and unwanted pregnancies. Coleman praised three outstanding role models: Mary McLeod Bethune, the only female on President Franklin Roosevelt's cabinet who opened a school for African American students in Florida with $1.05; Mississippi civil rights activitist Fannie Lou Hamer, and Dr. Vivian Presley, CCC president. "One of our proudest experiences was in 1995 when Coahoma Community College received its own district," she said. "Earlier in 1992 - the same year I was sworn into the Legislature, I drew inspiration from Dr. Presley's success in stabilizing funding for CCC's $300,000 deficit," she continued. "She met resistance in a male-dominated Legislature, and she was the first college president to have a deficit appropriation funded," said Coleman. She added that Dr. Presley was the first African American and first woman to become president of one of Mississippi's 15 community colleges. Coleman praised Hammer for her courage despite beatings and arrest, and testimony before a credentials committee stating: "I wanted to register to be a first class citizen" - as second only to Bloody Selma behind President Lyndon Johnson signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Asking if Black History Month were still needed, Coleman answered, "Yes, or we will repeat history." The celebration included multiple performances including music by the CCC Concert Choir, Gospel Choir, Band; a dramatization by Turonia Cosey and Quishanta Cummings; an invocation by Jasmine Cleark; greetings by Angela Lackey, SGA president; a tribute by Miranda Davis; Kateria Evans who introduced the guest speaker, and remarks by Dr. Presley and Dr. Howard. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2012meeting-form.html for the October 21-23, 2012 HBCU Library Alliance 5th Membership Meeting and the Photographic Preservation Pre-Conference in New Orleans, LA. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.