By Dr. Edelia J. Carthan,
Author | Consultant | Educator
Forty-two years ago today, my father, Eddie J. Carthan, stood trial for a murder he didn't commit. The charges were trumped up, an attempt to discredit a man whose only crime was being principled in a world that demanded compromise. He was offered $10,000 to "do things the way they had always been done." He refused. That refusal led to trials—literal and metaphorical—testing not only his spirit but the very fabric of our community. Today, the echoes of those trials are loud and clear as I watch current events unfold. It feels like I'm witnessing season four of *House of Cards*, but this is real life, and the stakes are painfully high.
The story of Eddie Carthan’s several trials is a testament to the power of integrity, even in the face of overwhelming adversity. His principled stance garnered the support of lawyers, investigators, journalists, and, most importantly, community organizers who rallied around him. It wasn’t just a battle for one man's freedom; it was a fight for the soul of a community resisting corruption and oppression. My father’s story mattered then, and it matters now—perhaps even more so 42 years later—because it reveals the ongoing battle between righteousness and corruption, between true leadership and self-serving power.
In Jackson and Hinds County today, we see history repeating itself in a chilling way. Black elected officials are facing bribery charges, with more indictments likely to come. The federal court documents name "Unindicted Co-Conspirator A," "Unindicted Co-Conspirator B," and "Unindicted Co-Conspirator C," all of whom are elected officials in the City of Jackson. Sherik Marve' Smith's recent guilty plea for conspiracy to commit bribery reveals just how deep this corruption runs, implicating others who, so far, remain unnamed but loom over our community's future like shadows.
My father refused a bribe because he believed in something greater than personal gain. He believed in the future of Tchula and the people who put their trust in him. As we see officials today choosing the opposite—accepting bribes, dealing in secrecy—we must remember the lessons from Eddie Carthan's trials. Choosing the right path isn't always easy. It often comes with sacrifices, backlash, and even false accusations, but it remains the only way forward if we truly care about the communities we serve.
There are critical lessons to learn here. First, we have to do a better job of vetting our leaders. It’s not enough to cheer when we see Black faces in power; we must ensure those leaders are principled and committed to real change. We need to coach young leaders, emphasizing integrity and the hard lessons of history. And finally, we need to understand that corruption often lurks in the shadows. Unindicted co-conspirators may remain unnamed, but their actions leave a mark—on individuals, on communities, on the spirit of progress itself.
The truth is, the fight for justice isn’t a one-time battle. It’s ongoing, and it’s up to us to ensure that our leaders hold the line—not for personal gain, but for the people they serve. My father’s story is a powerful reminder: we cannot accept the status quo. We cannot do things "the way they’ve always been done" if those ways undermine our communities and betray our people. The choice is ours, and the time to choose is now.
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