Home Training

When the schools integrated in 1970, I first heard the term, "home training".  I remember in one of my classes that year, an African American teacher shouted out at a student who was misbehaving, "Boy, act right!  Act like you got some home training!"

Hinds County Supervisor, Kenneth Stokes

Recently, Hinds County Supervisor, Kenneth Stokes made a fool of himself with his behavior.  At a recent Supervisor's meeting, while an attorney was speaking in opposition of a solid waste landfill near the city limits of Clinton, Stokes simply couldn't control himself. He shouted out to attorney, Mindy McKay Morton, "Can you guarantee (employees) won't lose their jobs?"  Morton replied that she couldn't.  In response, Stokes responded: "Well I don't want to hear it then.  What about the poor people?  I heard this bullshit all day, and I'm tired of it."

Board President Robert Graham immediately responded, "Hold on a second, (that's) completely out of order."

Stokes response was no better than his initial profane outburst, saying to Graham: "You called Kenneth Stokes name, I'm going to respond.  I don't give a damn who you are."

Most of the shocked crowd, filled with supporters against the landfill began to murmur loudly.  Stokes locked eyes with one of them and blurted out, "Yo Momma!"

What was especially sad was that Stokes had a chance to apologize on multiple occasions.  Instead of doing so, he remained defiant.  In an interview with WLBT, he stated: "The other alternative would be for me to get up out of my seat and go to a person in the audience who should not be making any comments and slap the bad word out of them.  Now, would you rather I had done that?"

It appears that Kenneth Stokes is lacking in home training and the ability to interact in a civil manner.  In less than three years, Stokes will run for re-election.  Hopefully a young, successful minority candidate will step forward to run against him.  A candidate that is for promoting Hinds County and not for self promotion.  If and when that candidate steps forward, we need to be willing to pull out our wallets and support this candidate.  Kenneth Stokes needs to be sent home.  He needs some home training!