• A member of the Sonic Boom of the South walks into Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium before JSU’s homecoming game against Mississippi Valley State University Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Members of the Sonic Boom of the South and J-Settes perform at halftime during JSU’s homecoming game against Mississippi Valley State University Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Sonic Boom alumni perform at halftime during JSU’s homecoming game against Mississippi Valley State University Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Members of the Sonic Boom of the South prepare to perform at half-time at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium during JSU’s homecoming game against Mississippi Valley State University Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • The Jackson State Tigers show excitement before playing against Mississippi Valley State University during their homecoming game Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Fans watch as Jackson State plays against Mississippi Valley State University during JSU’s homecoming game Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Jackson State’s quarterback Jarrad Hayes looks for a pass during their homecoming game against Mississippi Valley State University Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Jackson State’s Keene Young attempts to get past Mississippi Valley State University defense during JSU’s homecoming game Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Jackson State’s Keene Young breaks Mississippi Valley State University’s Darion Staten’s tackle during JSU’s homecoming game Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Fans watch as Jackson State plays against Mississippi Valley State University during JSU’s homecoming game Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Jackson State’s homecoming court is introduced in the halftime show during JSU’s homecoming game against Mississippi Valley State University Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Mister JSU, Darrian B. Jackson, waits on the sideline before halftime during JSU’s homecoming game against Mississippi Valley State University Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Miss JSU, Gabrielle A. Baker, Mister JSU, Darrian B. Jackson, smile as they are introduced in the halftime show during JSU’s homecoming game against Mississippi Valley State University Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Jackson State’s Jordan Johnson tries to get past Mississippi Valley State University’s Morgan Ford during JSU’s homecoming game Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Jackson State players celebrate a touchdown during their homecoming game against Mississippi Valley State University Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Jackson State’s quarterback Jarrad Hayes looks for a pass during their homecoming game against Mississippi Valley State University Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Jackson State’s Jordan Johnson tries to get past Mississippi Valley State’s defense during JSU’s homecoming game Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Jackson State’s Jordan Johnson runs towards the end zone while getting around a Mississippi Valley State University defender during JSU’s homecoming game Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Parade goers watch Jackson State’s homecoming parade as it travels near JSU’s campus Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Fans watch Jackson State’s homecoming parade near JSU’s campus Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Mister JSU, Darrian B. Jackson, and Miss JSU, Gabrielle A. Baker, wave to the crowd during Jackson State’s homecoming parade near JSU’s campus Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Jackson State’s J-Settes perform during JSU’s homecoming parade Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Parade goers celebrate as they watch Jackson State’s homecoming parade near JSU’s campus Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Members of New Hope Christian School participate in Jackson State’s homecoming parade near JSU’s campus Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Jackson State dancers walk into Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium before JSU’s homecoming game against Mississippi Valley State University Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • A parade participant wears a blue wig celebrating Jackson State University’s homecoming theme “Thee Revolution” during JSU’s homecoming parade near JSU’s campus Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America
  • Cornelle Ransom holds holds his 3-year-old son, Cornelle Ransom Jr., on his shoulders as they watch Jackson State’s homecoming parade near JSU’s campus Saturday, October 13, 2018. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America

Creative Commons License

Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.

Eric J. Shelton was a 2018 corps member in Report for America, and joined the team as our first photojournalist. A native of Columbia, Miss., Eric earned his bachelor’s in photojournalism from the University of Southern Mississippi. He was a multimedia journalist for Abilene Reporter-News, chief photographer for the Hattiesburg American and photo editor for the Killeen Daily Herald before joining our team June 2018. He rejoined Mississippi Today as our health photojournalist in January 2022.