I Am Mississippi
I am Mississippi, the dirtiest part of the South.
I am the butt of every joke. Obesity. Illiteracy. Poverty. Go ahead. Make the obligatory joke you have already cued up in your head. It’s okay. Because sure, those things may be around, but there’s so much more. There is still abundant culture, and a proud one at that. We may be considered “simple” people, but that’s okay. In fact, we prefer it that way. Because what you call simple, we call hospitable, relaxed, and unconcerned with the constant status struggle that declares us to be obese, illiterate, and poor.
I am the physical embodiment of the blues. Beaten down and busted, yet timeless and original. There may not necessarily be a lot of money around here, but one can’t play the blues without soul, and soul is something that is never in short supply in these parts.
I am the warm breeze on a front porch at sunset, sweet tea in hand. I am simple, but not in the negative way others may misconstrue it as. Rather, I am the simple celebration of life. I am an appreciation of the simplicity of that breeze and that porch and that tea. A disconnect from the constant movement of life. Time stands still, or at least slows down, when that warm breeze blows through.
I am not a kissing cousin, but I am part of a family. One that cares for each other and picks each other up when they fall down. Hurricane Katrina destroyed buildings, but it didn’t destroy the helping spirit of all who came to rebuild. Tornadoes ripped apart Yazoo City, but as soon as they were gone, thousands came in to clean up the mess. We look after our brothers and sisters.
I am poor, but not discouraged. Economies come and go for white and black alike, but culture never goes through a recession.
I am not “Where do you live?” but rather, “Where do you stay?”, as if there is an ingrown universal understanding of the impermanence of life.
I am not “How are you?” but rather, “What’s good?”, as if we know what really need to be asked.
I am not doing well, I am “blessed”, as if we all truly understand where good and perfect things come from.
I have a difficult history, but one that includes ongoing reconciliation. Reconciliation that is in constant progress.
Where there once was division, there is now opportunity. Opportunity for the beautiful diversity to blend together. Opportunity for ancient wrongs to be righted again and again and again. Opportunities for mercy to be shown to those who do not deserve it.
I have a proud history, but one that has been abandoned. I am streets left for dead, which once upon a time were thriving. I am Chimneyville; a place burned down so thoroughly that only chimneys remained, yet soon rebuilt. I am the City With Soul, where even in difficult years, culture survived. Yet I am also the abandoned neighborhoods, where children run cocaine because it’s the only life they know. I am the parents who teach their kids that an entire city isn’t safe and isn’t worth saving, because it’s the only life they know.
I am a place with plenty of mistakes. A place where people would rather lose all identity and history than rebuild and rebirth. A place that only needs people to care.
I am just as much Farish Street and Peaches Restaurant as I am State Street and Walker’s Drive-In. I am just as much Oxford as I am Starkville as I am Hattiesburg. I am just as much the Coast as I am the Golden Triangle as I am the Natchez District as I am the Delta.
You see, I am Mississippi. It is in my blood; my being. And wherever I go, I bring her with me.
62 Responses to “I Am Mississippi”
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That was awesome.
YOU were awesome.
Do you live here? If you don’t, thanks for lending your considerable writing talents to a state you clearly care about but find just too uncool to live in. I always like it when bloggers project an understanding of what it’s like to live here from a studio apartment in Los Feliz.
I’m just projecting an understanding of what it’s like from here on Northside Drive.
Nice. My apologies.
All good. I understand the concern.
Does this mean I am dating an entire state?
Yes, and you picked the one that’s funnest to spell. Good job.
fine. i liked it.
yeah okay cool
WHAT’S DRUGS MY DEALLLLLLLLLLLLLLA
in all seriousness though, incredible.
*begins whatever the blog version of a slow clap is*
Whoa now. What is that you ordered? Is….is that a fish fillet?
Fish fillet, maybe chick-fil-a…no one knows.
*continues slow clap*
As someone who grew up in small-town Alabama, I totally get this. Especially the being-the-butt-of-everyone’s-jokes thing. Sigh.
Great post.
Yeah, jokes about the South get old PRETTY quickly, don’t they? But hey, we’ve got fried chicken and collard greens, so everyone else can just shut it.
I’m repeating Laura McClellan RIGHT NOW. In my head. Because on the screen would be re-DUN-dant.
I am Mississippi – deal with it.
….The Joseph Craven Story
Joseph Craven, you hit the nail on the head with this. I’m so blessed to have lived in this state for even just a little while. Mississippi is very dear to me for many of the reasons you mentioned and I always (literally) feel like I’m coming home when I visit. I find it very fitting that the word “miss” is in the state’s name, because I miss it and the people I’ve met who have encouraged my walk with Christ. Life. Changing.
Whoop, there it is.
me too! as an out-of-stater, i completely agree…
I am a Mississippian and identify w/ most of what you said. I really do appreciate this place, even though it is pretty screwed up at times. But I’m glad I’m not obese or illiterate.
wait…so, you’re Mississippi? ………………………..oh.
which part of you is Columbia? I feel this to be suddenly important to know…
also, nicely done, sir.
This was really well done. You took a most complex concept and gave it voice. LOVED it. PS: are you related to Ann and Steve Craven? I was at MSU with them, even went to their wedding.
Well, several years after Ann and Steve got married, in the year 1988, they had their third son, Joseph, who went on to run a blog called The Greatest Blog Of All Time, where he wrote the post you just commented on, and is now replying to your comment.
So yes, that’s my mom and dad. Fun connection!
Twice read, which is saying much about blogs these days. And which part is Madison… I think you need to have it removed ;0)
FULLY AGREED. There’s a reason Madison didn’t get mentioned….
Because you are from Clinton? LOL
The word “sip” is also in the state’s name, due to the native love of they homebrew sweet tea drank. And let’s not forget “pi.” Every Mississippian I’ve ever met loves ‘rithmetic and/or pie/pie graphs.
Descent article. Would’ve been better if you were Texas. Or California. “Or…” X 47
I like your brother more.
I just cried a little !
TRUTH
Awesome post, Joseph.
Spent a week last year in Tupelo – loved it. Awesome post!
SURPRISE! YOU’RE IN AN ACTUAL ZOO!!…But seriously…surprise, you’re in an ACTUAL zoo.
Everybody HATES surprises!
“I am the parents who teach their kids that an entire city isn’t safe and isn’t worth saving, because it’s the only life they know.”
I believe we can live in a MS that is restored, a place that can be rebuilt, a MS that can be saved and unrivaled. Each state has what makes them great, and one of the many things I’ve come to love about living in this state (I’ve lived a little bit of everywhere over the south) is the heart it has.
Mississippi has some great value, and you pointed it out, with great care, here.(in british accent) Fantastic post, Mr. Craven.
Awesome! I’m from Brookhaven, born and raised. There are times I’m really disappointed in my state but most of the time I am proud I was born in the south. Mississippi is an amazing state and there is no other place like it. Thank you for writing this post.
I can hear the accent in the mistake of thousands “come in” instead of “came in.”
Thank you, Joseph! I am Mississippi (Purvis) born and bred. Because of work I have lived in TX, LA, TN, and now SC. I find, even in the South, that I have to defend my home. You have put into words what I defend every time I tell someone that I am from Mississippi! I usually leave with everyone wanting to visit!
I love Mississippi. From purvis and live in Texas for many years. All my Daddy wanted was to move back home. I am the same way. Proud to be a Mississippian. This was beautiful annd am so glad I saw it on my fb page.Thank you!!!
Especially living in DC now, your post really meant a lot to me. Thanks, Joseph.
Thanks, Dr. Jones!
Mississippi born an bred, and when I die I’ll be Mississippi dead.
I love Mississippi too and I am proud to be a part of her. It is people like to that remind of why. Thank you.
Well shoot. That should have been ‘It is people like you that remind me of why’. Good thing we have a sense of humor here.
Amen to that. I wouldn’t have survived this long otherwise.
God Bless the Em Eye Crooked Letter Crooked Letter…
Perfect!
Thanks! I am not a native but have adopted this wonderful state and the wonderful city of Clinton.
Love it! Thank you, thank you. It’s hard to explain to others about the pull of Mississippi to those of us born and raised here. When my husband was in the Navy, we were stationed in Italy for 3 yrs. I loved it, but used to wake up crying because I just wanted to see THE RIVER!
I am also Mississippi! Long live all of us <3
I guess I am the only person who was happy to get out.
10 years ago my boyfriend and I took “The National IQ Test” on tv. Mississippi scored in the top 10 states. I scored 119 (first time I had ever taken an IQ test and didn’t know what to expect). My boyfriend scored 130 ( he was his school’s Valedictorian). We were in our 40′s then and live in Tupelo. So what does that say for the general idea that Mississippians are illiterate? I admit we are poor as dirt though. That’s because our Mississippi legislature keeps us down. I’ve lived in Natchez, Yazoo City and Tupelo though I’m really was born in Louisiana and lived all over it also. I guess you could call me a Mississippian from Louisiana. LOL
I’m from Picayune. I say the name of my city and people automatcally deduct I.Q. points.
But it is beautiful here! 30 mins to an hour from anything I could possibly need. We have the Pearl River running thru and Nasa’s John C. Stennis space center here. 30 mins from Bogalusa, Slidell, and Poplarville, an hour from Hattiesburg, Gulfport, AND New Orleans. Family roots a mile long, people who call you Friend and MEAN it, (sure everyone knows what everyone is doing, but that keeps us honest!) I love my place in Mississippi. Y’all come visit!
I’ll allow it.
This is one of the best things I’ve read all day. This native Biloxian, former Jacksonian and current Louisiana resident is a proud Mississippian all the day long, and I’ll be sharing your blog up and down. Thank you for the smile.
I’m not Mississippi, I’m Massachusetts. But I live in Mississippi now, and there are definitely things I prefer about the South. Like not shoveling snow or slipping on black ice. And Chick Fil A. And BBQ (up north it’s spelled “barbeque” and it’s nowhere near as succulent). And the slower, more relaxed pace and attitude. There are things I miss about the North as well, but since this is a MS post not an MA one, I’ll leave those out.
Nicely written post.