Is it safe for African Americans to visit the area of Tunica?? Please Respond... (Jackson: how much, homes)

[ckhthankgod]

Huh? Tunica is a Delta town and the Delta is probably one of the "Blackest" regions of any state in the US, if not the "Blackest". My father is from Holmes County and while you would think it was almost in a third world country in some parts of the Delta, the people are nice and friendly. As a Black person, I don't think you would have anything to worry about.

[jacksonian]

Originally Posted by Dd714

Thanks aiangel. Morgan Freeman should know better, he is from northern mississippi and has lived through all the changes from the last 50 and 60 years.

I was under the impression that the film featured a school that had a prom every year, but that the white parents would always sponsor their own private prom to keep their kids from going to the real prom with blacks. Morgan Freeman offered to pay for a big blowout of a prom that all races could attend, yet the white parents were not happy about it. I have not seen the film yet, but this is what I got from reading articles about the film. I have seen photos from the prom, and it seemed everyone had a blast.

I don't think Freeman was trying to promote an image of racism for Mississippi in the film - from my perspective, it seems he is trying to show that the generation that grew up during segregation still retains some of the same ideals from when they were growing up, even though laws and legislation were passed decades ago. For those, it is still a competition between those who are perceived to succeed and those who do not. The next generation, however, is much more open to more democratic ideals such as freedom and liberty, because they were not exposed to the first hand experience of the civil rights movement or before. Sadly though, the animosity and/or dislike for other races does often get passed down from generation to generation, but I think the racist ideals are dissipating, although not as quickly in the South as in other areas of the US.

[Dd714]

Originally Posted by jacksonian

I was under the impression that the film featured a school that had a prom every year, but that the white parents would always sponsor their own private prom to keep their kids from going to the real prom with blacks. Morgan Freeman offered to pay for a big blowout of a prom that all races could attend, yet the white parents were not happy about it. I have not seen the film yet, but this is what I got from reading articles about the film. I have seen photos from the prom, and it seemed everyone had a blast.

I don't think Freeman was trying to promote an image of racism for Mississippi in the film - from my perspective, it seems he is trying to show that the generation that grew up during segregation still retains some of the same ideals from when they were growing up, even though laws and legislation were passed decades ago. For those, it is still a competition between those who are perceived to succeed and those who do not. The next generation, however, is much more open to more democratic ideals such as freedom and liberty, because they were not exposed to the first hand experience of the civil rights movement or before. Sadly though, the animosity and/or dislike for other races does often get passed down from generation to generation, but I think the racist ideals are dissipating, although not as quickly in the South as in other areas of the US.

Yes, I've read a bit more about the documentary since. The documentary itself is a good topic of discussion - not the OP's assertion that she will get attacked by men in white sheets for being a person of color - that's utter ignorant nonsense and ironically plays to the same fear and mistrust between races that Freeman and the documentary were trying to dispel.

I admire Morgan Freeman, his philosophy has always been "the best way to end racism is to stop talking about it". He refuses to celebrate and criticizes Black History Month because he sees it as dividing the races, not bringing people together. He doesn't see African Americans - he sees only Americans. He did a good thing with funding a non-segregated prom, with only good intentions. Not seeing the documentary, I hope it wasn't sensationalized by HBO. The fact that the OP entirely missed the point doesn't sound good.

Sadly, old ideas die slowly. For the old generation, black and white, it's hard to get rid of the segregationist ideas of the past, most of the new generation (the kids at the dance) could care less. It seems this little town is going back to a segregated prom next year as well.

[DA ONELOVE]

My opinion is based on three days spent there this week and a short visit a year ago----it is very safe. Tunica County is sparsely populated with wide swaths of farmland. You can drive for miles and see only farms and then up from nothing pops the large hulking casinos. There are small communities of homes and some apartments stores and hotels. There isn't much else in Robinsonville. I asked about crime while I was there and was told that most crime takes place in or around the casinos. Usually petty crimes- like folks trying to steal from the casinos or casino employees attempting to steal. This is ancetdotal. I dont have any statistics. I felt safe while I was there.

The racial issues are mch more subtle. The %school system is 99% black. There doesn't seem to be strong interest in developing county infrastructure to address the needs of the people that live there, only to support the casinos or to attract higher income (white?) families. Seems to me you have to address alll of these interests and goals in a more balanced way to make any progress.

[Sunnnee]

I live in California and haven't experienced any racisim, but we don't live in areas that are just black and white. Its a mixture of everyone from all races. I am sure there are some idiots in this state, but I don't waste my time worrying about them, because most people that I have come in contact with hasn't shown me otherwise. If so, it went over my head and I didn't really care anyway.

My mother was from Jackson, and she said that she experienced the worse racisim when she was growing up. That was over 50 years ago and that is why her parents settled in California. I am sure "some" things have changed and some haven't. It's sad that people still have this way of thinking, but what can you do when a person is raised that way? They are either a follower or a leader and some follow some narrow-minded stupid beliefs that one race is more superior then the other.

Hence, why they stay in the same area, same town, stay around the same people who believe what they do because they know spewing that crap outside would probably get more a backlash then anything else. I experienced it when I lived in missouri and honestly, I felt sorry for that person because misery loves company. Why play into that? I can't help that someone believes or feels a certain way about an entire race. Life is too short for me to be concerned with bull sh-- and people with low self esteem anyway...otherwise then why do they simply follow what someone else says or believes. I can't help that they life isn't they way they want it and they want to blame me or my race for their own inadequencies. We make our own choices and you reap what you sow.

All you can do is be a good person, live your life right and treat people with respect. I am sure Mississippi is a beautiful state and have allot of great friendly people. The media hypes up too much drama anyway. Bottom line, some people are still backwards and still live in the 50's...be it in Mississippi, California, or any other states. Misery loves company..don't play into it.

[southernmississippi23]

I met just as many racists when I lived in Nebraska for a year as I did growing up in Mississippi.

People need to stop buying into the media bias. They really do. Of course, should we really expect fair treatment when the media comes from places who have never visited and barely knows we exist?

We're normal people, not a bunch of plantation owners.

[lockheed111]

Nothing wrong with Tunica, the people are great I live in Ca now I go to Tunica about 3-4 times a year along I stay at Tunica Comforts Vacation Home in Tunica.

Linda

[cherwayjo]

That is a RIDICULOUS question...what year do you think this is? African-Americans are the majority race in many cities in MS. Blacks and Whites get along much better here than some northern cities I have lived in. Come and see for yourself!

[Nivalis]

The problem with the "majority black" argument is that there were a higher percentage of blacks in Mississippi during the Jim Crow days. Blacks were the majority in Mississippi until about the 1920s.

[OhDearMe]

Originally Posted by Mzshaunda

I was just wondering if someone could give me their perspective on whether or not it is safe for an out of town African American in the town of Tunica? I just purchased a week at a resort there but now I am hearing lots of "horror" stories about the way of culture and how the majority of people in that area are still stuck in the 40s-50s-60s. Can anyone clarify if this is true? I live in Virginia Beach, VA and RARELY EVER have I came into contact with racism and I do mean RARELY EVER. But after watching a HBO special on a Missisisippi town called Charleston and then hearing stories from others I am reluctant to make the trip. I love to travel and will go anywhere but not if there is a chance I wont return...lol

You live in the year 2009 right...then there is no problem for you to be fearful of.