The following season, he led the team to its first championship in 14 years.
Then, the class of 2022’s No.
1 football recruit spurned both the University of Georgia and Florida State University to sign with JSU.
Credit:Cedric Angeles
But it’s not just Jackson State’s football team that has made waves.
For faculty and staff, the recognition was long overdue but wholly welcomed.
Let’s get the word out.
Credit: Cedric Angeles
Stay For A Spell
Getting lost in the crowd isn’t easy to do in Jackson.
If one neighborhood best reflects Jackson’s patchwork of people and personalities, it’s the historic Belhaven district.
Belhaven was founded in the early 1900s with a smattering of Colonial and Neoclassical Revival mansions.
Downtown murals depict Mississippi greats like Eudora Welty, Medgar Evers, Thalia Mara, and David Banner.Credit: Cedric Angeles
Today, the boutique hotel includes 18 immaculately appointed rooms and suites, many featuring soaking tubs and fireplaces.
TheLibrary Loungeserves craft cocktails inspired by Mississippi literary legends like Alice Walker, Richard Wright, and William Faulkner.
Setting The Table
A simple rule of thumb when dining in Jackson is to follow the history.
The revitalized Fondren district is known for its retro atmosphere.Credit: Cedric Angeles
If a spot has been open for several decades, it’s probably great.
When it’s kept a loyal following for 80-some years, you’re guaranteed a meal to remember.
At theBig Apple Inn, try a near-extinct Southern delicacy.
Fairview Inn features a formal garden out back.Credit: Cedric Angeles
NAACP field officer Medgar Evers once worked above the restaurant.
Tradition and history are paramount atMayflower Cafe, which opened in 1935.
Fast-forward around 50 years, and you reach the inception of two more Jackson institutions.
The fire red “smokes” sliders at Big Apple Inn are made with Red Rose brand sausage.Credit: Cedric Angeles
The restaurant earned a James Beard America’s Classics Award in 2016.
We’ve always had built-in roommates.
The idea was that this would help revitalize the area," he says.
The fried chicken and spicy collard greens come highly recommended at Bully’s Restaurant.Credit: Cedric Angeles
Where Old Meets New
Meshing past and present is a common theme in Jackson.
Theretro vibescontinue atBrent’s Drugs, a 1946 soda fountain and pharmacy that now fills stomachs instead of prescriptions.
A Storied City
To truly understand this town, look to the books.
Hal & Mal’s is known for its Louisiana and Mississippi Delta cuisine.Credit: Cedric Angeles
“I believe that it’s through our literary heroes that we’re told in wholenot in parts.”
Perhaps no one told the tale of Jackson better than Eudora Welty.
confirm to spend plenty of time in herlegendary rose garden, too.
Order the redfish amandine at Elvie’s.Credit: Cedric Angeles
Jackson has the distinct walk and talk of a small town.
Resources and talents are shared here, and everyone contributes to its success.
Junior was contemplating retirement.
The ice cream sundae at Brent’s Drugs is too good to miss.Credit: Cedric Angeles
Junior went in to inquire about docent positions.
“This is what God told me to do,” she says.
“These were just ordinary people doing phenomenal things to bring about change,” she says.
Lemuria Books has comfortable reading nooks.Credit: Cedric Angeles
The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum’s central gallery, This Little Light of Mine, honors activists and features an interactive glowing sculpture.Credit: Cedric Angeles
