My great-uncle Jesse left Mississippi in the early 1900s and stated “as long as popcorn is white, I am never returning to Mississippi.” I never knew my great-uncle but my grandfather spoke about him often. I am happy to report that popcorn is now available in an assortment of colors and flavors including caramel, cheddar, strawberries & cream, pecan caramel and lemon heaven. With this expansion in colors and flavors for popcorn, the state of Mississippi has also made important strides in the Mississippi State Flag with the confederate emblem on it being pulled down! On June 28, 2020, the legislature passed a bill and the governor signed it to remove the flag from public buildings and commissioned a committee to design a new one. This is truly a Remarkable Thing during my life time.
Over the last few weeks, there has been a renewed attention to removing various confederate statues and flags around the country and we thank God for this deliverance! Unfortunately, these symbols serve as a painful reminder of our racist past and the years of discrimination, lynching and many other systematic problems that have hindered growth and economic development not only for the state of Mississippi, but in other states as well.. It is my prayer that the words stated in Amos 5:24, But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream will now be realized. Now, I see economic growth in the state of Mississippi, a return of the intellectual capital to our state because so many great people have fled our state just as my great-uncle did because of its past, and racial equality can now be achieved in every facet of our society.
The power of symbols and statutes honoring our racist past can continue to pull us apart or we can now take the necessary steps to pull them down in order to move towards a bold new future that truly honors all men!
Welcome home great-uncle Jesse and all others that may have left the state. Although, this is just the beginning, I think Dorothy said it best from the Wizard of Oz, “there is no place like home.”
Dr. ReShone
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