THE
Daily Egyptian n SERVING THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY SINCE 1916.
DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2026
VOL. 109, ISSUE 20
SIU to host several Black History Month events LEO CASTRO lcastro@dailyegyptian.com
Feb. 1 marked the beginning of Black History Month, a nationwide observance recognizing the achievements and often-overlooked contributions of Black Americans
throughout history. This year’s national theme is “A Century of Black History Commemorations” celebrating 100 years of Black History Month which originated in 1926. Southern Illinois University Carbondale will observe
Black History Month by hosting a series of events and activities throughout February. The university kicked off the celebration Monday, Feb. 2, with a keynote address by Sarah Lewis in the Student Center Ballroom. Lewis
is an award-winning author and a professor of African and African American studies and humanities at Harvard University. Her TED talk about embracing near wins has earned millions of views on YouTube and her writing has received multiple awards.
Celebrating Black-owned business
Jackson Funeral Home to turn 121 this October PEYTON COOK pcook@dailyegyptian.com
One of the oldest Black businesses in Carbondale, the Jackson Funeral Home, is everything to Larry Walton. Walton grew up in and around the home learning about the funeral business from James Walker and Etta Jackson. Jackson opened the home with her husband Frank in 1905. After Frank’s death in 1949, Jackson continued to run the business with the assistance of John E. Jones, until his death in 1964. In 1974, Walker took over the business with the help of Jackson and his wife Thelma. Jackson died in 1980 and the Walkers continued to run it until Thelma died in 2008 and James died in 2011. After serving in the Navy, Walton came back to southern Illinois and now directs the home. “The Jackson Funeral Home is one of the oldest Black funeral homes in the southern Illinois area, proudly serving Carbondale and the surrounding communities for generations,” Walton said in an interview in mid-January. Walton keeps photos of the original owners, Etta and Frank Jackson, on the wall throughout the home. “It serves as a daily reminder of our legacy, our roots and the longstanding commitment to service that continues to guide our work today,” employee Leanor Lewis said. Throughout the years, they have made small updates and improvements to the business without taking away from the building’s heritage.
The City of Carbondale and the Carbondale Branch NAACP celebrated with an “At the Table” Dinner and Dialogue on Tuesday, Feb. 2, at the Carbondale Civic Center. Doors opened at 5 p.m., and
MONTH | 8
Navigating rural Illinois as a Black student TREVOR JOHN tjohn@dailyegyptian.com
Larry Walton, owner of Jackson Funeral Home, stands by the sign of his nearly 121-year-old business Feb. 2, 2026 in Carbondale, Illinois. Peyton Cook | @cookmeavisual
“The building hasn’t changed much over the years,” Walton said. From the chapel with an organ in the corner to the front entrance with photos of the owners throughout the home, Walton says that the overall structure and character of the funeral home has remained the same. Walton said Etta Jackson treated everyone like family and that money isn’t the most important
thing – but that helping others in the community is. This idea has stayed with Walton throughout his life. “I believe in providing a family the utmost care that we can afford to,” Walton said. “It is a service. Yeah, you want to make money, that’s true enough in a business, but sometimes, taking care of a family and serving a family and helping that JACKSON | 4
Sierra Anderson, a junior nursing student at Southern Illinois University, said she adjusts her speech and behavior to fit into predominantly white environments, a practice known as code-switching. Code-switching refers to the practice of voluntarily changing one’s behavior, speech, appearance or expression to fit into a specific environment — usually the dominant culture of the environment. According to research done by Danielle Dickens and Elizabeth Chavez in the journal “Sex Roles,” code switching is often a survival or coping strategy to avoid bias, be heard and feel safe. For Black Americans, codeswitching has opened doors to professional success. On the flip side, it carries a heavy collective toll on mental health, community connection and personal identity. “I feel like I’ve gotten so used to sort of code-switching,” Anderson said. “I kind of have to shrink myself down in a way to make myself palatable for my environment.” Anderson is from the Chicago NAVIGATING | 5
How southern Illinois is regulating kratom ANNALISE SCHMIDT aschmidt@dailyegyptian.com
InsiDE
The Jackson County Board’s ordinance banning the sale and distribution of kratom and kratombased products in unincorporated areas went into effect Jan. 1. The move comes as local officials raise concerns about the substance’s potential health risks, particularly among youth and other vulnerable populations. Kratom is a plant-derived substance sometimes sold as an herbal
supplement. In low doses, it can act as a stimulant, while higher doses produce sedative effects. Kratom is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration and the agency recommends that the public avoid using kratom for medical purposes until its safety can be further evaluated since products are not standardized, and the potency can vary between brands and stores. Federal agencies, including the FDA, Centers for Disease Control and
BLACK HISTORY MONTH EDITION
Prevention and National Institute on Drug Abuse, have linked the substance to seizures, liver damage, rapid heart rate, respiratory issues and, in some cases, hospitalization or death. Jackson County Board Chairman C.J. Calandro described the ordinance as a proactive measure to safeguard public health in a press release. “Our goal is to prevent avoidable harm and make sure people have accurate information about substances that can be dangerous,” he said.
SIU ENROLLMENT INCREASES Up 0.5% from spring 2025 | Page 5
Under the ordinance, it is now illegal to sell, distribute or give away kratom in unincorporated areas of Jackson County. Officials allowed a period of advance notice before enforcement to give businesses and residents time to remove products voluntarily. The Jackson County Health Department did not provide comment when reached by the Daily Egyptian. Kratom is sold directly to consumers through a variety of outlets. Specialty stores, such as head
ICE PROTESTS CONTINUE Rallies held in Carbondale, Marion | Pages 6-7
shops, apothecaries and smoke shops, commonly stock these products along with herbal supplements and other smoking-related products and accessories. Some convenience stores also carry kratom, and it is available through online retailers that ship from regional or national distributors. Several local areas have already taken similar steps. Most recently, Murphysboro passed a city ordinance Oct. 28 banning both the sale and KRATOM | 3
HISTORY IN HARRISBURG Senior breaks all-time scoring records | Page 8