First let me say that I am by no means a political commentator. But, our country’s political climate has caused me to write about politics in my blog. Why? Because United States citizens are becoming increasingly more depressed, and the Trump administration is to blame. Some even feel like strangers in their own land. So, politics it is…if it will help to save someone from a bit of mental anguish.
I listen to the Tom Joyner Morning Show regularly. One of my favorite segments features activist and writer, Shaun King. On more than one occasion, I’ve heard Mr. King refer to North Carolina as “the new Mississippi”. Now, if you aren’t familiar with Jim Crow south and the Civil Rights Movement, then this analogy might fall short. Mississippi set the trend in racial oppression. Nina Simone said it best in one of her most popular yet controversial songs. After the many years of racially motivated violence perpetrated in Jim Crow Mississippi, all that could be said at the time is Mississippi goddam. So, hear me when I say, I literally cringe at the thought of my home state being looked upon in such a manner. But to Shaun King’s defense, he’s not the only person who thinks the Tar Heel state might be turning into Old Miss. (Could North Carolina be the new Mississippi?) Here is a portion of the premise for this comparison.
Between 2013 and 2017 North Carolina experienced a monumental shift in government. Republicans ran both the governorship and the legislature. Trust me, North Carolinians were just as shocked at that outcome as Americans are with the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. I can’t tell you how it happened. (just as we are still discussing how Trump became president) It’s particularly difficult to fathom because of all the colleges and universities in the state. One would think there are too many educated liberal people in the state to elect full governing control to the GOP. Maybe it was the Tea Party. Maybe people just wanted a change. Maybe it was some sort of political retaliation for being a “blue state” in the 2008 presidential election. I don’t know. Nonetheless, it happened, and the state and the country felt the sting of the aftermath. This particular administration did everything it could to push back the social and economic advancements the previous administration made to benefit poor people and minorities, especially in regards to voter rights.
It’s difficult to try to compare North Carolina with any other state because North Carolina politics is just as tricky as its weather. On any given winter week the temperature can fluctuate between a 20-30 degree shift (either direction). One day, people are snowed in their homes and then days later might leave the house in flip flops. The political climate is the same. True, North Carolina is a part of the “Old South”, but it is also progressive. While there are some North Carolinians who would like to hold on to the old ways, there have always been a few who stand up against injustice, and who help to shift the direction of the state to its mostly moderate culture. We are neither red nor blue, but we are most definitely not the new Mississippi. The truth of the matter is that North Carolina is probably the best state representation of the collective United States.
The United States fluctuates politically just as much as North Carolina, but in the end justice always seems to win (eventually). North Carolina has been on the front lines for change within this country since the Revolutionary War. Take a look at the rich culture of my hometown alone Greensboro (Guilford County), North Carolina.
- The battle of Guilford Courthouse helped to change the trajectory of the Revolutionary War.
- Historians identified Guilford College (founded by Quakers) as the southern starting point of the Underground Railroad.
- And most notably, the Greensboro Four, who helped ignite social change by inspiring the Sit-In Movement.
Sure, North Carolina has seen some dark days, especially recently. However, that darkness cannot over shadow all the innovative ways North Carolinians have used to shine brighter than that darkness. We always find a way to inspire hope and to change the tide toward justice and equality. Take for instance, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II president of the NC chapter of the NAACP. His 2016 DNC Speech spoke to this sentiment. We have to “revive the heart of our democracy”.
The United States is exactly where North Carolina has been for the past four years. But guess what, we aren’t there now. I can hear the old church anthem in my head, “trouble don’t last always”, and it doesn’t. Already, Governor Roy Cooper is dismantling much of what the previous administration started. Most recently, the state overturned the controversial ‘Bathroom Bill’. And, it appears that more change is underway.
So, here’s my message to the Shaun Kings that want to compare North Carolina to Mississippi. North Carolina is not the new Mississippi. The United States is the old North Carolina. Listen, North Carolina survived the seeming tyranny of a republican administration, and so can the United States. No need to feel defeated or depressed about the state of our country. It will get better. Remember, trouble don’t last always, even in politics. Let’s wait patiently for a change to come, and as always, let’s press on together!
…And Shaun King, please don’t come for me 