By Tony Jones
MEMPHIS, TN — Thankfully, ruefully, social activism has become one of the watchwords of our times. Thankfully, because with the assistance of the internet, systemic racism is kept on the frontlines. But also, ruefully because with the awareness at internet there’s a plethora of so called “activists” not getting much done in real world terms.
But again thankfully, there are many others like Sharon Mourning. Known as “Diamond” to most people she encounters, Mourning was named Activist of the Year at the 5th Annual Hood Idol Awards, held this past November in Hazlehurst, Mississippi a half hour from Jackson, Mississippi. A long way from her Memphis home base, but just as her own story transects many roads, she’s regularly in Mississippi helping someone fight unfair circumstances.
Developed by his company SSC Marketing Group, the Hood Idol Award nominees are chosen by the public, creator and executive producer Lex Luga explains. Presented in Memphis last year, “It’s held in a different city every year. Even before they make the ballot, we have a group of researchers that research them. We want to be sure they are verified by the work that they do, and after we learned of all the work she is doing in the community, she definitely earned it. She received nominations from people all over the nation.”
I caught up with her on a typical day as she was riding around the city giving away food donated from the Food Bank and other resources. The week before I had visited the bi-weekly dinner she cooks and serves in Court Square for the homeless downtown, including to-go plates, cakes, cookies, pie, and fruit to get them through the night or the next day or two. She has a regular route she drives before dinner is served to let her “guests” know dinner is ready. She came to know many of them when working on the Memphis Downtown Commission’s Blue Suede Brigade. She also has a side gig as an Uber driver, a consultant/supporter to many community-based initiatives, (gladly bringing her bullhorn to join a necessary protest), and is developing an upgrade for her own non-profit. The only thing she seems to not find time to do is sleep properly.
She laughs in response. “I inherited it from my great grandmother Arvella Dodson, really. She was like a nurse and everything else to our entire neighborhood in Collierville. I’ve been that way since I was a child because of her.”
Her own story is just as compelling. Reconnecting at the first protest to save the Aquifer, we met years ago in musical circles. She had ultimately migrated here after living in Germany for years, performing, as a dancer and background singer, including being on the talent team utilized in the painful MIli Vanilli scandal. That’s part of the reason the Hood Idol Award is so special to her. “Lex is known for breaking many artists into the industry, but he’s just as committed to actually serving the community. He’s got mad respect, as we say in musical mode.”
The formal process started years ago when she formed The Ride of Tears in 2017 in response to “the violent mindset” that is plaguing Memphis. “Our babies are getting killed and it’s time to fight back. It’s just that simple. I’m developing phase two, called Mama D (Leave My Children Alone) now to upgrade direct involvement with nurture, caring and concern for childhood victims of crime and to teach our children pride in themselves, work harder and become more successful. We’ve got to hit this problem from every angle. All of us.”
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