Mississippi joined the Union as the 20th state in 1817, and the name of the state came from the Mississippi River, which makes up the western border of the state. Early citizens of the state which will became Mississippi included the Choctaw, Natchez, and Chickasaw. Spanish explorers arrived in the area in 1540, but it was the French who made the first permanent settlement in present-day Mississippi in 1699. During the first half of the 19th century, Mississippi was the top cotton producer in the United States, and owners of large plantations depended on the labor of black slaves. Mississippi left the Union in 1861 and suffered greatly during the American Civil War. Despite the abolition of slavery, racial discrimination endured in Mississippi, and the state was a battleground of the Civil Rights Movement in the mid-20th century. In the early 21st century, Mississippi ranked among America’s poorest states.
Last week I along with my boyfriend travel down to Jackson (the state capital) Mississippi. The visit was due to the fact that my younger sister was graduating high school. From Detroit to Jackson is a 14-hour car ride, in which my boyfriend and I endured. Once we enter the great southern state, we start to notice the difference. As we the main interstate the is I-55, it seems to us that if you wanted to go anywhere in the state you had to take that route. It was my boyfriend’s first time in Mississippi, and I could not wait to see how he would react to the city. I been to Mississippi twice in my life, and I call Mississippi my second home because my family starts from Clarksdale and Lyons, Mississippi.
After we saw the “Welcome to Mississippi” sign on the interstate, we still had two hours left before we reached our hotel. We saw countless big rigs on the road as we drove to our hotel. My boyfriend loved to look at the houses we drove by. Once an hour pass, we both was ready to be just out of the car after thirteen hours in the car. We pulled over to fill the car and switch drivers. Another hour to go in the car, I never wanted to lay down in a bed in my life. We stayed at the Regency Hotel in Jackson, and it was minutes away from downtown. The outside of the hotel could turn some people off, yet once we walked in it was beautiful and gives a courtyard in Italy vibe. At the front desk, they sell little snacks and personal items anyone could need during their stay there. The staff was super nice and friendly, and that is something we are not used to in Detroit. Our room was nice, clean, and cool.
During our time in Mississippi, we notice the big cultural differences between Detroit, Michigan and Jackson, Mississippi. In the south, manners rules. What I mean about manners rules is the citizens are always friendly, smiling, saying please and thank you, and in Detroit the citizens use their manners as well, yet due to the cultural differences and climate they do not use them as often as they do in the south.
The trip was super fun because I got a chance to see how life moves so fast, yet enjoy the moments to slow down and look around you and enjoy the scenery. I strongly love the idea of people getting out of their home state and spend time in another state. Go for a drive, train, or take a flight and enjoy the state or city for its natural beauty and find out what the locals do for fun.
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