Jackson: ‘Why did I not know about this?’

Last Monday, on the steps of the Old Warren County Courthouse where Jefferson Davis once spoke in defense of slavery, a ceremony was held commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote in the U.S.

Among those participating at the event was Warren County District 5 Supervisor Kelle Barfield along with a few others.

“It really was not a big deal event. We just wanted the press to note that we did a ceremony to note the anniversary” Barfield said.

Earlier Tuesday, District 3 Supervisor Shawn Jackson posted a video on her social media page asking why she, the first black woman to serve as a supervisor in Warren County, was not invited.

“Why did I not know about this?” she asked.

When this reporter asked Barfield that question, she responded, “We did not mean to exclude anybody. Our goal was to make sure the public was reminded of the 100th anniversary.”

“I mentioned it several times in meetings. But I didn’t reach out to her personally or in an email,” Barfield added. “It was an oversight.”

Jackson wrote a social media post that noted the role of African American women in the Suffragette movement. She specifically mentioned “the role Lucy Jefferson, a Warren County resident, played in the Suffragette movement.”

Jackson went on to say that Black women were not included when suffrage was given to white women.

“When it all came down, black women still didn’t have a right to vote,” she wrote.

“I did not know about it and was not invited to participate,” an exasperated Jackson stated in her video about the event. “There are all types of implications with that, but let’s just deal with the inclusiveness of it. She didn’t have enough respect for me to include me? I think the whole community should have known about it. I am disappointed. I’m seeing a pattern and it’s a disturbing pattern.”

After Jackson made it clear to Barfield she was unhappy about not being a part of the event, Barfiled said she reached out to Jackson.

“I’ve [since] explained it in person and in an email to Jackson how the event came about,” she said. “There was no effort to exclude anyone.”

Just before the Vicksburg Daily News published this story, Barfield called to say she did not organize the event. The event was hosted by the Warren County Election Commission and organized by Sara Dionne, chair of the commission, Barfield said.

Dionne said Barfield approached her about the event and said they organized it together.

The Vicksburg Daily News was not notified of the 100th anniversary event prior to it occurring. Barfield apologized for the oversight stating she thought we had been notified.