Race in Mississippi: Beyond Jena 6

Mississippi has not been the bastion of overt racism I feared it might be before moving here. And yet, one can feel a sharp undercurrent of intense discomfort about race just beneath the surface. Race is the elephant in the room which most White Mississippians ignore. Even in the face of the Jena 6 case and other undeniable acts of racism, the virtual absence of local reactions are telling.

One of the earliest lessons I learned about Mississippi was that there is only one subject that is more taboo than that of evolution: race. Bringing up race in the college classrooms where I teach is the one sure thing that will end discussion and silence both White and African American students alike. Mentioning race in a casual conversation with social acquaintances is sure to bring uncomfortable silence or an abrupt change of subject.

The Jena 6 case should be big news around here. After all, it happened in the neighboring state of Louisiana. And yet, I've only heard a few Mississippi Whites acknowledge that hanging the nooses was wrong before changing the subject. These same Whites are quick to express outrage over the beating of the White student, but they tend not to view the assault as racially motivated. The local African American community seems equally reluctant to discuss the case, although it is clear that many were upset by the nooses. Far from elevating the Jena 6 to hero status, I think most African Americans around here just want the whole thing to go away as quickly as possible.

Shortly after I moved here, a colleague took me aside and attempted to explain the active avoidance of race-related topics in Mississippi. "What you have to understand," he said, "is that every Mississippian knows how we are perceived by the rest of America." "Mississippians are so tired of having to talk about race and of being stereotyped as a racist backwater."

I suppose he has a point. The legacy of racism is undeniable, and tolerant Mississippians have to be sick of being lumped in with their bigoted neighbors. My colleague went on to explain that some Mississippians who remember the Civil Rights era recall it as if the state was occupied by a foreign army of Northern socialists. Even some of those who welcomed the reforms resented the meddling by outsiders. One does not have to look hard to find that this sentiment remains alive and well in some corners.

What I find most unfortunate is that the refusal to openly address race almost guarantees that Mississippi will continue to experience its own racial woes and be regarded by the rest of the country as backwards. There is plenty we could learn from the rest of the country, but there are also things we could teach. I fail to see how shutting down the dialogue benefits anyone.

Tags: Mississippi, Louisiana, Jena 6, race, racism, Civil Rights, America