Monday, January 30, 2012

VIDEO: A man of strong conviction

A man of strong conviction from Jake May on Vimeo.



He tied his shoes slowly, lace by lace. He buttoned up his jacket with such grace. Life is about the small details that make up the picture, together, everyone sees for this man.

As he put on his dark black hat, a feather protruding from its side, he walked into Second Baptist Church on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to commemorate a man of strong conviction in Jackson, Mich. A man that he, James Kelley, 64, modeled a living mentality after.

"After he was killed, (the movement for equality) sort of dwindled because you didn't have enough people with the same conviction," Kelley said as he lit up a cigarette in his kitchen. "There are a lot of things that could be done, even today."

As a child in Jackson, Kelley faced animosity and hatred from neighbors, store owners and many non-black residents. He joined the freedom marches through the city in the '60s, where he saw the most racial controversy to a non-violent pursuit of equality.

Kelley said he and other men wore baseball gloves to catch and avoid being hit by rocks, bottles and other solid objects thrown at marchers.

"I met such opposition from those who I knew," he said. "I knew there was segregation. I knew that there was differences in people. The hostility seems to elevate. These same people would be your adversaries and your marching for equality.
"Equality is something every man can put his hand on."

Kelley said Martin Luther King, Jr.'s message, purpose and drive showed him that there is always a way to succeed. He said King's stance with a relentless passion for a goal of a better tomorrow stuck with him the rest of Kelley's life.

"If you try, you can do it, you can succeed. Regardless of what anybody says, you can be better today than you (were) yesterday," Kelley said.

Monday, January 23, 2012

PORTRAIT: Libby March, photojournalist

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In-class project for JRN 521. Portrait of my class partner, Libby March. Also, she's my best friend (dork alert).

Friday, January 20, 2012

SPORTS: Ball State beats CMU at home 73-52

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Senior center Andre Coimbra reaches for a loose ball while wrapped up with Ball State's Jarrod Jones on Wednesday night at McGuirk Arena. Ball State beat Central Michigan 73-52. Coimbra turned over the ball three times.

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Head coach Ernie Zeigler, center, directs his team during a timeout Wednesday night at McGuirk Arena. Ball State beat Central Michigan 73-52.

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LEFT: Sophomore guard Trey Zeigler shoots a lay-up past Ball State's Jarrod Jones on Wednesday night at McGuirk Arena. Ball State beat Central Michigan 73-52. Zeigler was 3-for-12 for six points. RIGHT: Freshman point guard Austin McBroom leaps toward the basket past Ball State's Aaron Adeoye for a lay-up Wednesday night at McGuirk Arena. Ball State beat Central Michigan 73-52. McBroom went 5-for-9 from the field, including 3-for-6 three-pointers for 16 total points.

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Sophomore guard Derek Jackson prepares to shoot through Ball State traffic Wednesday night at McGuirk Arena. Ball State beat Central Michigan 73-52. Jackson tallied 3-for-10, including one three-pointer, recording seven total points.

Monday, January 16, 2012

PROJECT: James Kelley

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Jackson resident James Kelley, 64, stands solemnly as he prays during a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day church service on Monday morning at Second Baptist Church in Jackson, Mich.

For our first project in my JRN 521 class, we were asked to follow a subject through their experiences for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I followed up with someone I found during a peace march on Jan. 1 in Jackson, Mich. He was a well-versed, stoic gentleman named James Kelley. I made some calls, and tracked him down. He was incredibly willing to allow me into his life, and he has a fantastic view on King, and his life lends to tell quite the story. I will post my completed multimedia piece her one week from today.

Monday, January 9, 2012

SPORTS: CMU gymnastics meet

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Sophomore all-arounder Meaghan McWhorter leapt into the air as she tumbled on the mat during her floor routine, scoring 9.650 during the gymnastics meet Sunday at McGuirk Arena. CMU took first place in a meet of four teams, including Wisconsin- La Crosse, Wisconsin Eau Claire and Centenary.

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Senior all-arounder Kristin Teubner takes a breath as she prepares for to compete in the balance beam at the gymnastics meet Sunday at McGuirk Arena. Teubner scored an 8.525 in the event.

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Teammates applaud as freshman all-arounder Taylor Noonan lands successfully while competing her floor routine, scoring 9.575 during the gymnastics meet Sunday at McGuirk Arena.

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Freshman all-arounder Rebecca Druien tumbles backward as she competes in the balance beam, scoring a 9.350 at the gymnastics meet Sunday at McGuirk Arena.

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Junior all-arounder Samantha Piotrowski center, reacted as she screamed joyously with teammates after she saw the overall score, putting CMU in the lead after the first event of four at the gymnastics meet Sunday at McGuirk Arena.

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A judge watches on as head coach Jerry Reighard, left, positions himself to help freshman all-arounder Taylor Noonan as she competes on the bars Sunday at McGuirk Arena.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

NEWS: Stop the Violence March

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Tabitha Hampton of Jackson walked proudly as she chanted and sang "We Shall Overcome," as she and about 100 others marched Sunday through the streets of south Jackson during the Stop the Violence March.