For 16 years, our goal for @jxnfreepress has been to talk up to Mississippians, assume you're smart enough to handle, use real history, believe in the power of information to help lift our state off the bottom, tackle systemic racism and help improve relations between our ppl. 1/
It's almost funny that Hyde-Smith response was to call us "liberal"--the same old playbook always used against truth and new ideas in the South. Those of us who want a new, improved state are expected to run from those folks. But so many Mississippians are standing OUR ground. 2/
Our goal has always been deep, history-grounded journalism that doesn't shy away from difficult truth. Folks like Hyde-Smith think they can cavort w SCV, battle caps, rebel flags on football fields, and nobody shld notice the symbols of white supremacy. It time to notice. 3/
It is also high time for majority of Mississippians to stand tall+proud and celebrate our progress and face our challenges together. We must reject political division of poor, middle-class blacks and whites. We must recognize the dog whistles that assume whites are racist. 4/
For generations now, we've allowed ugly games to divide us in order to benefit corporations and the ultra-wealthy. We can just let that go and be better. All we have to do is to just decide that Mississippi is no longer a laughing stock to make all other states look better. 5/
I'll never forget the night Mississippi defeated Personhood with a coalition of people, led by grassroots women of various beliefs and backgrounds who came together to shock the nation that just assumed we would pass it. That night, I knew we can be different together. 6/
As Mississippians, we learn from outset that we're many things here but not excellent. And we absorb helplessness from the air to do anything about it. Than bad players take advantage of that to stoke fears, bigotry. We just must decide our state is worth fighting for. 7/
Bad actors have run so many great, smart Mississippians (even children of bad actors), and it's a shame. I know so many ex-pats who still cry for their state and our choices. We allow black eyes to be inflicted upon us. Knowing, discussing our shared history can reverse this. 8/
Mississippi is going to change, whether Tuesday or not. I've watched it from the front row. People finding, using voices. Talking back. Building coalitions. Facing really tough history together. I truly believe we can lead nation on racial healing. 9/
It'll take a lot of people (especially white folks) deciding to put one foot in front of the other despite discomfort. Talk, fellowship, ask questions and love the hell out of fellow Mississippians while making them face truths to break this cycle. 10/
Mississippi has a certain curse, if you will, to overcome: We were the richest, and then the poorest, from slavery and the deep harms it caused all of us, physically or morally. Lost causers ensured our mis-education as kids, and dividers ensured our division and distrust. 11/
Bottom line: We have the power. Face the truths and demand leaders who will also do that by our side instead of celebrating old traditions and practices of white supremacy to keep an unhappy voting base solid. Let's shake up this state and believe in her potential. Much love. 12/
*run off
