A Southern Arkansas University graduate who serves as a public defender in Columbia County said the preamble of the U.S. Constitution is for everyone.
She challenged more than 300 people at Saturday’s annual Columbia County NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet to determine their roles in the community, get involved and strive to make a difference. The event was held in the Southview Church of Christ Recreational Center.
“Together, we are greater. Before the Declaration of Independence, before the pilgrims landed and before Dr. (Martin Luther) King, there lived a great people. I want you to know tonight that ‘we’ are the ‘we’ in the people,” said Jessica Yarbrough, who graduated from SAU in 2004 and earned a law degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., three years later. She’s a former prosecutor, city attorney and worked in private practice.
Yarbrough, whose father pastored a church in Emerson for 17 years, said African-American and others are standing today because of those who risked their safety and lives to bring about a change.
“I am grateful to these unsung heroes. To those brave men and women who paved the way for me to live the life I live,” she said. “I will tell anyone the same thing my grandparents told me, which was to stay in school and learn as much as you can. We ought to strive for the cloak of knowledge.”
She mentioned that when the U.S. Constitution was written, it wasn’t for blacks or people of color. She explained they were considered property and not people.
“After the passing of the 13th amendment, which abolished slavery, the ‘we’ in ‘we the people’ should have include everyone. But you and I know there were many struggles before our voices were heard,” said the speaker.
Quoting Dr. King, Yarbrough stated, “It may be true that the law can’t make men love you, but it can keep them from lynching you.”
The speaker reminded the crowd each person is the key to changing things regarding education, economy and other matters.
“We can repair our streets and our community, if we work together,” she said, adding that each member of the national champions LSU Tigers perfected their individual craft before coming together and doing what some thought was impossible.
“Determine your role. Lay any pride aside. Together, we are greater,” said Yarbrough.
The speaker said answers to problems within the city, state and nation are not in the government, but lies within each individual person. Regardless of the intent when the preamble was written in 1787, she said “we” are the people.
“We can’t sit back and hope those in authority will make the changes we want to see. We have to get involve and make it happen,” she said. “We must have passion and purpose in our own hearts. I’ll say it one more time. Together, we are greater and we have the answer.”
The local NAACP also honored five individual with prestigious awards.
Velma George, who spent nearly four decades with First National Bank/BancorpSouth, was given the Barrier Break Award. Sarah Williams, a 29-year employee of Peoples Bank, received NAACP’s Making A Difference Award. Also, former BancorpSouth loan officer Darrell Howell, who now resides in Cibolo, Texas, received the same honor.
Magnolia City Councilman James Jefferson was recognized with the Making A Difference Community Service Award, while CSNS Fashion & Men’s Wear owner Shirley Gilliam received the Longevity African-American Business Owner Award.
NAACP president Carol Garland thanked all who supported the banquet and praised the community for its help with the Claudell Woods Endowment at SAU, which was fully endowed in 2019. The first scholarship will be award during the fall of 2021.