100 Black Men of Canton focused on community

By Courtney Warren

Everyone needs someone to look up to and be encouraged by. With the slogan of “what they see is what they will be,” the 100 Black Men of Canton have worked with mentees since November 2003 to better the young men of Canton.

With President Percy Smith, Sr., Vice President John Garrett, and Program Director James Sims, the organization is passionate about mentoring, education on health and wellness, and economic development.

Executive Director Dr. Leroy Lacy has been with 100 Black Men of Canton since it was merely a dream.

He explained the Canton chapter was inspired by the chapter in Jackson.

“This is our nineteenth year of being in existence. We went and visited the Jackson chapter at one of their galas or banquets. We began to get interested and wanted a chapter. Fred Esco, who was mayor at the time, saw the need for a group. He gathered men up, and the Jackson chapter came and shared with us what they do,” said Lacy.

Mentoring young men sparks passion in these volunteers, and Lacy said, “There were a lot of young boys who have a one-parent family, and we could stand in the gap. Mr. Leroy Walker in Jackson was instrumental in meeting with us and teaching us what to do.”

After traveling to the national office to petition to have a chapter, gather twenty-five men, and appearing before the board, 100 Black Men of Canton officially began in November of 2003.
Lacy was one of the original members, and, while Esco served as president, he eventually rolled off to focus on his duties as Canton Mayor.

Lacy served as president for around ten years and is now the executive director.

The organization has proven vital to the community, and Canton Tourism Executive Director May McCarty said, “Canton Tourism is very proud to have had a hand in helping establish this important organization years ago. Canton’s African American community is filled with rich history and culture, which we celebrate all year long. We are very blessed to have organizations like 100 Black Men and the Multicultural Museum. With my new role, I’m excited to have the opportunity to highlight them once again as important resources in our community.”

With a heart for the youth in our community, Lacy said, “We mentor in the schools here. We adopted Canton Elementary back some years ago and Rueben B Meyers School of Arts.

We adopted those two schools and were present in those schools. We sponsor mentees and take them to basketball games in Memphis, baseball games with the Mississippi Braves, take them to the waterfalls, Liberty Land, New Orleans.”

100 Black Men has also awarded over $135,000 to high school seniors.

“After they do good work and show us great grades, we love to do this with them,” said Lacy.

The organization also works with the city and focuses on economic development.

“We hit on all cylinders when it comes to community activities. We do so many activities ourselves. On MLK Day, we air on the radio that we do a clean-up and ask the citizens to do the same thing. We go clean up MLK Drive and other streets in the area. We take our mentees with us. We have a lot of other groups that join and clean up. People clean up their neighborhoods. That was always in February,” said Lacy.

COVID put a small halt to some activities, but, with restrictions getting better, the organization hopes to do even more in the community.  

“We go on with Canton Tourism and clean up with Beautification. We join in with them now and have men that go to the board meeting with the mayor and keep up, so we are informed with what’s going on. We also have a health fair during the month of April and sponsor two per year,” he said.

From health fairs to a Catfish Rodeo to sponsoring little league baseball, 100 Black Men is leaving their mark all over Canton.

“We don’t try to reinvent the wheel, but go along with it,” said Lacy.

The 100 Black Men of America, Inc. is recognized as the nation’s top African American-led mentoring organization.

For more information, visit the website at www.100blackmen.org