The following article was written by Marshall Ramsey and was published on August 2, 2014 in the Clarion-Ledger.
(Photo: “Jackson” book cover )
After a recent cartoon I drew about Jackson, a caller asked me, “Why should I care about Jackson?” I should have sent him Ken Murphy’s new book “Jackson” (Lemuria Books, 2014).
For 15 years, photographer Murphy has captured Mississippi’s beauty with his camera. In “Jackson,” he not only chronicles the interesting landmarks but tells the colorful story of its people as well.
It takes you on a tour without having to start your car.
Start in the lobby of Lemuria Books. Buckle up and read the foreword by owner John Evans and then read Jacksonian Leland Speed’s introduction. Then let your journey begin.
Head downtown and see Jackson’s historic City Hall. Then cruise over to the Governor’s Mansion and the Mississippi Old Capitol. By now you’ll notice how this book is different: These aren’t just postcard photos of buildings. The streets are teeming with paradegoers from Mal’s St. Paddy’s Parade. You not only see the city’s beauty: You feel its pulse.
Keep turning the pages. You’re taken geographically and historically through the city. Medgar Evers home (you see the driveway where he was gunned down) sits next to the William F. Winter Archives & History building. A winding road carries you into Greenwood Cemetery where you’ll stop in front of Eudora Welty’s grave. See Eddie Cotton’s performance at Duling Hall. On the next page are legends Bobby Rush and Jesse Robinson. Jackson’s musical roots run deep. All your senses are engaged visually now. You can almost smell the magnolias in Belhaven and hear the cheers at a Jackson State football game.
Hungry? Stop at Two Sisters Kitchen, Parlor Market, The Mayflower, The Elite or one of Jackson’s other fantastic restaurants. Or just pick up some fresh vegetables at the Farmer’s Market. Thirsty? Pull up a stool at Hal & Mals. You can almost hear writer Willie Morris holding court. Walk into the men’s room and see the tribute to Elvis. Head up State Street. See Fondren rise like a phoenix. Isn’t that Governor Winter’s home? Sure. He just happens to be standing in front of it.
Your tour continues, and you sit in Welty’s den and see her writing room. The warmth of the light in the photograph matches the power of her prose. Then you can step into one of Jackson’s art galleries to marvel at the talent that emanates from the city. See Jackson’s houses of worship and institutions of higher education. Take a stroll on a path near the Pearl River and see how close wildlife is to city life. Head to the State Capitol and see where the political sausage is made. Bored? Catch a festival. Go to a museum. Listen to a concert. Go to the Mississippi State Fair. The sun is going down? No problem. The photos and fun continue. Some of Murphy’s most compelling images are the ones taken at night.
Now you’re at the finish line — the Blues Marathon & Half Marathon finish line. Cross it and sit back, relax and read the plate details. It’s when Jackson’s history comes to life. “Jackson” broadened my knowledge of the city where I’ve worked in for nearly two decades.
Murphy and Lemuria Books have given us a book that deepens our knowledge and appreciation of a complex, interesting city. The city of Jackson should be celebrated. And “Jackson” does it well.
Marshall Ramsey, a two-time Pulitzer finalist, is a nationally syndicated editorial cartoonist, author, speaker and Mississippi Public Broadcasting radio host. He has drawn cartoons in Jackson for The Clarion-Ledger since 1996.
“Jackson”
• Photographs by Ken Murphy
• Foreword by John Evans
Publisher: Lemuria Bookstore
Pages: 183
Price: $75
Jackson: photographs by Ken Murphy is available now for purchase. To order a copy, call Lemuria Books at 601.366.7619 or visit us online at lemuriabooks.com.
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