Inequality in Government: Is there Racism in Mississippi? In 2014? Say it ain’t so!

It occurred to me recently in a couple conversations I had with friends in various parts of our United States, that equal representation is a matter with which we still struggle.

While on occasion I’ve opined about injustice through inequality – the United States’ Constitution guarantees Equal Protection and Equal Rights under law via the 14th Amendment – it occurred to me recently that there are some who “just don’t get it.”

More to the point, I was spurred by a photograph sent to me by a friend in one of our Northern sister states – the Land of the Frozen Chosen, sometimes also referred to as “The Great White North.”

In gentleness, I refer, of course, to Minnesota.

It was a photograph of my friend’s co-worker which sparked my interest, and subsequent curiosity.

The co-worker was Afro-American, aka “Black.”

I was somewhat surprised to see a Black person in Minnesota, so I queried the Census Bureau for some Quick Statistics about our United States.

Here’s what I found:
Only 5.5% of Minnesota’s population is Black.

In comparison to the United States at large, 13.1% of our American population in general is Black. And in Alabama, 26.5% are Black, while in neighboring Mississippi, 37.4% of that state’s residents are Black. Alabama’s Eastern neighbor Georgia has a closely similar percentage with a 31.2% Black population, while Tennessee is nearly half, with a 17% Black population.

Examining some other states, I found that Alabama’s Southern neighbor, Florida has a very closely similar Black population with 16.6%, while Louisiana’s Black population is just about double with 32.4%. The “Natural State” of Arkansas has a 15.6% Black population, while North and South Carolina are almost evenly tied with 22 & 28% respectively.

On the other hand, Texas has a lower Black population than either Tennessee or Arkansas with only 12.3%.

Kentucky? Only 8.1% of Kentuckians are Black.

Interestingly, of the 16 players on the Kentucky Wildcats Basketball team, only 6 are not Black. In other words, 62.5% of the team is Black – a clear majority. And yet, the state’s general population is completely and disproportionately unrepresentative of the team.

What about Virginia? With a 19.7% Black population, Virginia stands in distinct contrast to West Virginia, which only has a 3.5% Black population – a very stark contrast, indeed.

But what about some of the other Midwestern states?

Missouri has an 11.7% Black population, while only 3.2% of corn-fed Iowans are Black.

From Minnesota moving West, South Dakota has a mere 1.7% Black population, while Montana…

Well.. there just about no Black folks in that state, at all. Only a mere 0.6% – 6/10ths on one percent – of that state’s residents are Black.

A casual observation would be that it’s mighty White up North.

But let’s bring it back on home to Mississippi…

In a recent post shared by someone else on FaceBook, it occurred to me that, well… I’ll let you see for yourself.

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Mississippi Governor signs Bill into law. Where are the Black folks?

Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signing Senate Bill 2425 into law, on April 2, 2014. The law will provide Mississippi sportsmen (hunters) an annual tax free holiday in September.

Here’s the press release from the Mississippi Governor’s office.

Governor Bryant Signs Bill Giving Mississippi Sportsmen Annual Tax Holiday
April 2, 2014

JACKSON—Gov. Phil Bryant today signed into law Senate Bill 2425, giving Mississippi sportsmen an annual tax free holiday in September. The Mississippi Second Amendment Weekend holiday will include sales tax exemption on individual sales of firearms, ammunition, archery equipment and certain hunting supplies. The annual holiday will occur on the first Friday of each September until midnight on the following Sunday.

During State Fiscal Year 2013, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks sold more than 425,000 resident hunting and fishing licenses.

“Many Mississippians share my strong belief in the Second Amendment and love the outdoors,” Gov. Bryant said. “This tax holiday will help ensure Mississippians continue to enjoy our state’s great outdoor heritage for years to come. I thank the Mississippi Legislature for their hard work on this bill and for supporting Mississippi sportsmen and sportswomen.”

Senate Bill 2425 passed both the House and Senate with strong bipartisan support.

The National Rifle Association also supports the measure.

“On behalf of the NRA’s five million members, we want to thank Governor Bryant for supporting this tax holiday for Mississippi’s sportsmen,” noted Chris W. Cox, executive director of the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action. “This new law pays tribute to Mississippi’s hunting heritage and our Second Amendment Rights. We look forward to the celebration of these freedoms when Mississippi gun owners and sportsmen visit their local firearms and sporting goods retailers in September, “added Cox.

The law will go into effect July 1, 2014, and the first tax holiday weekend will be September 5-7, 2014.

http://www.governorbryant.com/governor-bryant-signs-bill-giving-mississippi-sportsmen-annual-tax-holiday/