Race relations in the Mississippi Delta (home, private schools, gated)

[ggluvbug]

Originally Posted by Miker2069

Why is this not in the Mississippi forum?

I thought this is the Mississippi forum. Is there another?

[Delta Planter]

Originally Posted by ggluvbug

I thought this is the Mississippi forum. Is there another?

then it got moved to the Political Forum, and has finally arrived here. Ain't life grand?

[Don D.]

Originally Posted by dullnboring

Therefore so it's perfectly understandable to be a little suspect or touchy if someone has negative criticism of it that goes against what a native thinks, and fails to divulge their own connections to the area.

I'm still curious as to why the thread was even started. Having memories based on a fleeting association with an 'ex girl friend' who lived near Cleveland would hardly (one would think) give one a real accurate perspective of a region or its people and their behavior (sorry for the run-on).

There are several stories intertwined with 'the Jena story'. One is the behavior of blacks. One is the behavior of whites. One is the behavior of self appointed black leaders. One is the story of the natives. One is the behavior of the press. Some are innocent, some are young, some are instigators, some are predators, some are opportunists, some are sad, some are glad, some don't care and some are tickled to death over it all. And then there are the circus directors.

Attempting to package it all as some kind of broadbrush statement of 'the mentality of Jena' or 'the mentality of the South' makes little sense and even less truth.

The question as to a correlation between this 'story' and life in general in the Mississippi delta is an exercise in futility. You can just as easily find a parallel in the southside of Chicago or in Detroit or sixteen miles east of Philadelphia, Pa.

[dullnboring]

Originally Posted by Don D.

I'm still curious as to why the thread was even started.

I don't know, but it's not a Mississippi-specific thing if that's what you're hinting at. I've seen these threads started in practically every forum from Ohio to San Francisco.

Having memories based on a fleeting association with an 'ex girl friend' who lived near Cleveland would hardly (one would think) give one a real accurate perspective of a region or its people and their behavior (sorry for the run-on).

I spent a summer in Bolivar County and the topic of race relations came up quite a bit in my discussions with my girlfriend, her family, her friends and co-workers (black and white). As I stated earlier, I do not claim to be a native but I don't feel that my opinion should be roundly dismissed just because I'm not one, and I stand by it.

There are several stories intertwined with 'the Jena story'. One is the behavior of blacks. One is the behavior of whites. One is the behavior of self appointed black leaders. One is the story of the natives. One is the behavior of the press. Some are innocent, some are young, some are instigators, some are predators, some are opportunists, some are sad, some are glad, some don't care and some are tickled to death over it all. And then there are the circus directors.

Attempting to package it all as some kind of broadbrush statement of 'the mentality of Jena' or 'the mentality of the South' makes little sense and even less truth.

I never painted the entire South with a broad brush. I spoke of two specific areas. I simply stated that the climate that I have read about in Jena is similar to the climate I saw and experienced in the Mississippi Delta.

The question as to a correlation between this 'story' and life in general in the Mississippi delta is an exercise in futility. You can just as easily find a parallel in the southside of Chicago or in Detroit or sixteen miles east of Philadelphia, Pa.

You're right, you can. I just chose Jena due to it's proximity and newsworthiness, not in an effort to link the whole South as some sort of bubbling cauldron of racial hostility.

If people want to dismiss any sort of opinion I have because I lack the "Mississippi credentials" they feel are needed to be worthy of an opinion, that's fine, and they're entitled to think that. I'm just one man with one opinion culled from conversations and my own personal experiences. People are more than free to counter them with their own feelings, but thus far, no one besides me has bothered to answer the OP's questions and instead have turned this thread into a "prove your opinion is worthy" thread. If people feel race relations are fine and dandy, then say so. That's what this thread is supposed to be about.

I for one would be interested in hearing a black native's perspective on the issue. I have a feeling it may be very different from a white native's perspective.

[Don D.]

Originally Posted by dullnboring

I for one would be interested in hearing a black native's perspective on the issue. I have a feeling it may be very different from a white native's perspective.

Would you be surprised if I were to tell you that I am a black native of the Mississippi Delta? As surprised as I am to learn that you think a summer daliance into the Delta region, drinking a few pops and speaking with a few people brought you some true perspective of a region and its people? I would think I'd gain as much perspective of Hawaii by attending a luau and weaving leis one summer at camp.

There is no connection with the Delta region of Mississippi and the recent activities in Jena, Louisiana, other than highway 61 running north and south as a connector road, no matter how anxious you are to draw a parallel. Now we have a video clip of five black boys beating a 13 year old white boy in, what was it, Virginia, yesterday? I'd think you'd be more about drawing a correlation between the behavior of both groups of assailants. If the races were reversed, both would be prosecuted as hate crimes. There is absolutely no doubt about that.

[dullnboring]

Originally Posted by Don D.

Would you be surprised if I were to tell you that I am a black native of the Mississippi Delta?

Yes, because unless I am confusing you with someone else (I'm too lazy to go check right now), in the Confederate Flag thread, you spoke of your white ancestors. In terms of whether or not it would surprise me that you are black based on your position on race relations in the Delta; no, it wouldn't, but then again, I don't know your feelings yet as you have yet to state them.

I do not believe all blacks would speak of an inhospitable racial climate, nor do I believe that all whites would speak of a rainbow coalition. It boils down to the individual. However, as a collective whole, I found that the outlook by blacks on race relations tended to be quite different, and generally more negative than the outlook of whites. This is not something unique to the Mississippi Delta, although the difference is more pronounced there than what I have seen elsewhere.

As surprised as I am to learn that you think a summer daliance into the Delta region, drinking a few pops and speaking with a few people brought you some true perspective of a region and its people? I would think I'd gain as much perspective of Hawaii by attending a luau and weaving leis one summer at camp.

Yes, you have already established that you think my opinion means ****. That's fine. Why continue on this repetitive binge? Why not answer the original poster's questions instead of continuing to pick apart my apparently pithy and worthless opinion? You have made it clear and established for all to see who are responding to this thread, your issues with my opinion and the reasons you feel it should be tossed to the side, so what else is there left to say on the matter?

There is no connection with the Delta region of Mississippi and the recent activities in Jena, Louisiana, other than highway 61 running north and south as a connector road, no matter how anxious you are to draw a parallel

I disagree. I stand by my opinion. You'll stand by yours, and that's that. We have two conflicting opinions and we're not going to see eye to eye on it, so again, just as you are going to be unable to convince me that my opinion is wrong, I won't be able, nor would I attempt to, do the same to yours.

[Huckleberry3911948]

Originally Posted by TexasReb

I am not from the Mississippi Delta area, but have several close friends who are. And my own ancestral roots are somewhat of that area.

So while I can't really answer the question in a first hand manner, I do want to say that "racial taboos" like any other, exist everywhere. Whether it be in the very defined ethnic enclaves of the northeast, or the social customs of the South. I grew up during the last phases of de jure segregation in the South (Texas was a "Jim Crow" state like all others in the region). And what I really do say, and will maintain, is that the biggest difference in segregation in the North (or far West) and in the South, is that the latter was just less hypocritical about it.

Anyway, just my opinion. And it really doesn't answer yours. Perhaps some of the native Mississippi delta friends will reply to this one.

lots of culture clash up ahead. lots of AA moving back to the deep south.
carrying with them west coast behavior. expecting local whites to back down to confrontations and bad behavior, which is the california white guy custom. the california apology, i am so sorry my stupid face got in the way of your swinging fist. not like that in the delta. big mistake rough waters up ahead.
stephen s
san diego ca

[Sam I Am]

Everyone get a grip. There's a way to state your opinion that isn't offensive. If you want to debate race relations, take it to the Controversies forum or something. We're about to get wildly off topic here.

[dullnboring]

Originally Posted by Sam I Am

Everyone get a grip. There's a way to state your opinion that isn't offensive. If you want to debate race relations, take it to the Controversies forum or something. We're about to get wildly off topic here.

Duly noted. My apologies.

I will bow out of this thread now. I've said my piece and now I'm done.

[Don D.]

Originally Posted by Sam I Am

Everyone get a grip. There's a way to state your opinion that isn't offensive. If you want to debate race relations, take it to the Controversies forum or something. We're about to get wildly off topic here.

Might you explain to the rest of us how it is possible 'to debate race relations' without someone being offended? It is entirely IMpossible. There are people, surely as you know, who make not only a life, but a living off being offended and by claiming victimhood.

There are those who are capitalizing on the Jena situation who know nothing of it. And there are those who will randomly attempt to associate that situation with other regions of the country, again, knowing nothing of it.

I think you said 'we are about to get wildly off topic here'. Might you remind us what your version of the topic is then? As I recall, it was an assertion or stated impression that the Mississippi Delta might (arguably) be similar to Jena in some manner. I know nothing of Jena. I do have precise knowledge of the Mississippi Delta, having lived there for four decades and visited regularly for two more.