From the Clarion Ledger:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be Young, Gifted and Black\u201d \u201cOh what a lovely and precious gift.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many know these words as lyrics from Nina Simone\u2019s song that served as an anthem during the civil rights era.\u202f But, in the Jackson community,\u00a0Dr. Mark Henderson uses it to empower others. It also serves as the motto of\u00a0MADDRAMA,\u00a0the performance troupe he founded.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Henderson\u00a0is the\u00a0current\u00a0director of the Theatre department at Jackson State University.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoc\u201d is how most\u00a0JSU\u00a0students refer to\u00a0Henderson. When I think about this title,\u00a0I compare\u00a0him\u00a0to an actual physician. The way he deals with each individual based on their \u201csymptoms\u201d further exemplifies his dedication to building them up rather than giving them generic medicine they\u2019ve probably been getting their entire lives.<\/p>\n
The people Doc comes in contact with come from many walks of life with various expectations of life and different ways of dealing with their personal issues.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cOne of the first questions I ask students who come to me for guidance is \u201cWhat do you need from me; How can I help you?\u201d It is from there that I begin to see what their needs are and I attend to that,\u201d said Doc.<\/p>\n