communists destroyed the south. I believe they sent the American boys to Vietnam to fight communists, while communists ran the marxist civil rights campaign here
Ironically the Grain embargo was in retaliation for the USSR invasion of Afghanistan, good to see the US sticking up for Afghanistan by trying to punish those evil invading forces ah :)
@@OomaGooma : Who knows what strings are attached to those federal funds? That’s always the toxic side. We spent Trillions on the Middle East, over the last 20 years & BILLIONS in Ukraine. We have absolute shit politicians on both sides of the aisle
I agree, but when Biden tried to pass a major infrastructure bill, it was unfortunately voted against by the Republicans and centrist Dems. Other than that, some of the aid that we send abroad maintains the stability of poor nations to prevent mass immigration, like what you see in Central America at the moment. Both Dem and GOP administrations have reduced aid in the region after decades of intelligence agency destabilization and now we're witnessing mass migration as a result.
I grew up in the rural south and I think you saw some of why I will never leave. The people may have been abandoned by the modern world, but if my car broke down and I didn't have a cell phone, I would simply knock on the nearest door. I would be allowed to use their phone, probably be offered a ride or help with my car and probably be given a glass of ice tea. When I left, I would leave there with a new friend.
But if you were Black and knocked on the door you would be shot through it. Black people are welcoming and accepting and trusting and not suspicious, but thanks to OAN Fox News and Tucker Carlson poor white people are under the belief that Black people are moving in hoards to kill them and take their... junk.
I'm in the delta and I'll stop for anyone on the side of the road and keep a gas can for the folks that need it. Some folks have a lot and some have nothing, but we are out here surviving together as best we can.
@@yurikendal4868 Yes Matt story was cool. However, that story does nothing to change the fact that 1)Mississippi is last and every major quality of life indicator. 2)the politicians that represent this state continue to use fear and fantasy to stay in power. They do nothing substantial to better than life of the people of Mississippi.
I've traveled through a lot of America in the last 20 years and all I've seen is increasing poverty in MANY areas in many states. It's been an eye opener.
Same here. We are touring musicians - country musicians. We have been in mostly small towns and rural areas in 15 states in the southeast. This situation is prevalent EVERYWHERE and getting worse by the day.
WELL, PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THE BIRTH RATE IS GOING DOWN IN AMERICA, AND THE WORLD FOR THAT MATTER, THE YOUNG P EOPLE LEAVE FOR BETTER JOBS IN THE CITY OR OUTSIDE THE BIG CITYS LEAVING ALL THE OLD AND DISABLED PEOPLE TO JUST LIVE AND DIE IN PLACES LIKE THIS, IMMAGRATION IS THE ANSWER TO A LOT OF THESE PROBLEMS,
I use to live in the delta nic. The people in the world that have the least amount of material possessions are the most happiest. Money only brings you temporary happiness. The Mississippi delta people are the most friendly in America.
that's not true. material wealth brings more happiness up to an income of about $75,000USD at least. poor people are less likely to complain because they see no use to it, while rich people will whine about trivial crap because they know someone will attend to their whining. makes them seem less happy. but refugee camps are full of the people who have the fewest material possessions, and they are not happy places.
I’m from Mississippi. We don’t have a lot, but the people are good to each other for the most part. Mike was a great representation of how people are down here.
THE SPOKES PERSON IS A LIAR…!!! ALSO HE IS STILL BENEFITING OFF THE BACKS OF BLACK STRUGGLE.,!! GUESS WHAT HE IS COMING BACK TO TELL THE HORRIBLE STORY.,!!
Maybe "soil" is a metaphor. That land is Ancient History to brown folks. A lot maybe just dont want to leave their hometown. F**k this man made gov't. I know their plans and wicked deeds.
Unfortunately, the worst poverty I've encountered in America is on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. That reservation is regularly listed as the most impoverished location in the entire US. The poverty on that reservation is downright depressing! Pine Ridge also has the worst unemployment rates, the worst suicide rates, and some of the worst drug abuse and alcoholism rates in the US. It's truly tragic!
@@laurenanderson7330Because most of them prefer the label American Indian to Native American, though they prefer their individual tribe names to either of those. The push for the label them as Native American was a push from outside the minority group seeking to slap a more convenient term on them one sidedly without really considering or asking what they wanted.
One thing people don’t realize when they ask “why don’t you just leave?” is that leaving costs money. I moved from a very rural and poor area to a prosperous technology hub in the South. It changed my life. But I was only able to do it because I had family who lived there and they let me stay with them for 3 months while I earned enough to put down all the deposits for an apartment. Without that help, I wouldn’t have been able to afford the cost of a move, first & last months’ rent plus a security deposit. I’d still be earning nothing in the middle of nowhere.
I left Ohio in 1981 with 2 suitcases, 650 dollars cash, no car, an BA in history, worked as pharm. tech in Galveston till 84, went to UT Austin, worked my way through, got MLS, liby. science degree, worked for city of Houston 25 yrs till cancer ended my career at 56, retirement pension plus SS is over 5K per month, a lot of success depends on willpower and forcing yourself to embrace change
Yeah, it's very hazardous to leave if you don't have a support network. Without the ability to save up money to leave, it often means risking homelessness or being food insecure. The catch 22 is if you become homeless, nobody will hire you, and without a job nobody will let you rent a place so the entire effort becomes futile... I've made the jump a couple of times, and it's difficult even with savings and I was probably able to find housing and work just through sheer effort and dumb luck.
I live in the west, and have been in over 40 states. Went to Mississippi about 7 years ago and totally fell in love with it. I would take the poorest town in Mississippi over a monstrosity like New York City any day. Mississippi may be suffering, but it has soul and natural beauty.
Meridian, Mississippi has a lot of crime. So does Jackson, Greenville, Vicksburg, ect. All I see here are dumb black thugs. What's so great about that?
It's hard to break into what doesn't exist. The comments comparing a rural hamlet with a population in the hundreds to cities with millions of residents serve no purpose whatsoever except to inflame hatred and animosity.
Nick. These people know they are poor but remember having something maybe better than having nothing. At least they aren’t living on the streets with NOTHING. I wish no one had to live in such conditions. We don’t realize how fortunate we are. I wish we could fix all this but seems our government and leaders are only looking out for SELF , God help us 🙏🏼
Don't be fooled - People in Mississippi are some of the deepest caring people I have ever met. They have survived great tragedies, maintained dignity in poverty, and helped their neighbors in distress. They are a people rare to find, and I am honored to live in their state.
It's just so sad .the government is so crooked an has been for years .they keep people in poverty . To this day it's still the same . I ask myself how can this be in America but the history of this is so very heartbreaking . 😢
The poorest states in this country are all southern republican states. It is the democrat states that are sending money to these Republican lead southern states so that they can have schools and infrastructure, if you want the south quit being poor quit voting Republican it’s just that simple
THANK YOU! This was a degrading and unfair spin on things and quite frankly, mean. Poor in the pocketbook does not mean broke in spirit and dignity. Money isn't everything. What a pompous presentation.
Bad budgeting priorities and debt financing. To be fair, a lot of older working-class people have given up on improving their economic situation and figure “why not have nice toys” (on debt, of course).
@@brightharbor_ I get it. I've had a blue collared career since 69' and never had much more than to get by...although, I am debt free until I die and for some ungodly reason I'll owe the government a death tax. Hey, if it makes their lives a little better then so what. TY friend...
@@tbyas4406 When I was growing up in the south in the 60's, blacks had more farms than today. Hell, blacks owned more land 100 years ago than they do today. The reason for this is political and I'm staying away from that conversation.
No one's going to deny that this poverty's beyond depressing. Still, what I see is a decent people doing their best to survive in a world that's written them off. These folks may not have much materially, but they have something the modern world is sorely lacking - community spirit and the caring to help their neighbors. Not to mention that they gave us one of the greatest artforms America has ever produced - the blues. Listen, I don't have the answers, either, but these folks deserve far better than bearing the brunt of classist, elitist contempt. Lord knows, they've dealt with enough of that already.
Thank you. They really do not tell the whole story when our state is mentioned. We really ( for the most part) see ourselves as loving and sharing people that have learned to deal with things that would absolutely break others. I think that is also why we are considered the Bible belt. God has truly kept us strong in so many ways. It is so nice when someone can see deep into Southern life and see the better things it offers. Again Thank you. 🥰 share the love y'all. Everyone should see the better truths in a place and the people.
Well there's people in Cuba and Philippines that are happy too because some are just humble and some it's just cause it's all they know but there's also many that want to get out of the poverty as well because they know there is much better out there to be discovered. All I know is I definitely would not want to live in a high poverty state like Mississippi.
Gallows humor. None of these people have ever left the area they lived in. They have never lived in another part of the country and are dimly aware of a greater world leaving them behind.
Mike Need To Tell His white Counterparts To Disburse Black People Reparations..!!!!! Monies That’s Owed, and That He and His Family Reaped, and Is Still Reaping..!!!!! How Dare He..!!!
It’s not rare in the blk community. Ppl are always shocked to see a side that differs from what the media promotes. Meanwhile we have been telling y’all the media is a lie for decades!
The northern delta in Mississippi is beautiful. Get out of the towns and out into the countryside and you almost feel like you're in the great plains with how flat it is and all the farm land everywhere. Its a very unique place with a ton of history in the area.
I twice did a solo motorcycle tour in Mississippi and my experiences mirrored yours. I’d stop in some little spot for fuel and would meet some of the nicest friendly folks ever. God bless Mississippi.
@@arthurgearheard4701 I’m from Kansas so getting down too far south just never happened. I spent a day at the civil war park in Jackson and rode the Natchez Trace. Other than that I just wandered on two lanes as the mood struck. Or like if there was rain west I’d ride east. If there were pickup trucks in front of a cafe that’s where I’d stop to eat. Going solo I was a free bird and I loved it. Destinations were never part of my day really.
That's been my experience too. Really nice people in the South! It was in Minneapolis, not in Mississippi, where I've been targeted for my race. Southern people have always treated me kindly. ❤️
Some of the poorest people I ever met were the kindest, most caring people. They give someone what they have if they are in need. I'd rather be around decent, respectful people than around people who think the world rotates around them. God bless them all.
You are absolutely right sister! A nation based on exploiting and degrading one group of people to benefit and control the wealth of that nation can not thrive. Now this is what we see, but others seem to blame the victims for their inability to break out of the curse of poverty and lack of generational wealth. Black, colored, indigenous negro (most recently labeled “African Americans) are the most resilient group of people on the face of the earth and most loving too. 💜💜💜 It is time for us all to heal! 😇
I think, as an Aussie, the thing that struck me the most was the entire area is rich, fertile farm land and none of it seems to be owned by the locals. Driving through Victorian country towns they are mostly pretty much thriving and I guess that's due to the farms being all locally owned, to my knowledge, and the money made from them gets reinvested into the communities. In the Mississippi Delta it looks like wealthy, far away board of directors and share holders rape the land and take all the profits. It just feels so wrong. The land should be owned and worked by the people who live there.
Old Chinese proverb - "Give a man 100 year lease on a desert, he will turn it into an oasis. Give a man a one year lease on an oasis, it will turn into a desert." You could be onto something - our politicians in bed with mega farms means people feel no sense of ownership.
I was thinking the same,would be nice if people could have a plot and grow their own produce, but it's all very complex,TBF, it seems so peaceful in my time of life I feel I'd want to spend my twilight yrs there,I live in a city in the UK, it's so noisy etc etc ,
Makes sense that people are happy, when you are poor and only surrounded by other poor people you get a community and don’t have rich people to compare yourself too sounds nice to me
When I go to visit the indigenous people in the Amazon I first felt sorry for them. Now I kinda envy them. They have absolutely nothing but we always have a great time.
@@stevenalley494 It is but it's a different kind than we normally think of with that word. This is all natural community based, not dictated from the top down. That's what makes this kind so nice and actually kind of work for a change.
Also wanted to say that I have family in the Deep South, whenever I visit they cook out, so much food, play blues, cards and it’s almost like I escape the reality of the monotony of the rat race. A lot of love and support of one another.
Despite being the poorest place I must say my family in Mississippi seem very happy and content they stick together and are very very friendly and welcoming
That ”gitty” attitude in people you interview or come across is pretty simple because the lesser you have, the more you learn to value what you have. It’s gratitude. If you’re not from a low income background or haven’t suffered enough, you won’t understand it. Adapt or wither.
I don’t think anyone could relate to Mississippis level tho they are literally the poorest state I’m from Ohio the 14th poorest state and they make us look Washington or some shit it’s that bad there.
@@soulinspiration1 I enjoy the country, but I have a great job and a nice house in a nice neighborhood. The delta can't provide the opportunities and the lifestyle that I have now, and on top of that my son is in a great school system. I'll never forget where I came from though and I'll always come back to visit my family and real friends.
In Mississippi, many people like living free and easy. As someone who has lived in Mississippi as a child, I can say Mississippi is 100 years behind the times and actually happy about that. It is sort of a matter of perspective. Minimalism is a good lifestyle for some people. It is when you want more that grief sets in. Sometimes you can find contentment in simple things.
Born in Meridian - Very poor (white) family. My childhood was a Free and happy life. Now I've made to 77 and did good $ wise, retired in Arizona mountains. Thanks Meridian Mississippi. I agree with you Mary.
Reminds me of the story about the businessman “explaining” to the fisherman about how he could expand his business exponentially…. So he could retire early and do what he loves to do - fish 😅
As someone born and raised in Massachusetts and New England area, I always like going down south, the people are so much more friendly and willing to talk new people
We need more people like Mike! What a class act! Kind, friendly, positive, etc. He's exactly the type of neighbor everyone would want to have. Sadly there aren't many people like him.
Are the people of Mississippi still active in farming? As shown in this video, I have noticed that many of their farms are not well taken cared of. What are the major crops that they plant on the farms of Mississippi? How about livestock? Cattle? Dairy Cows? Do they tend Goats and Horses? Its sad to see that some of the farms are in very bad shape.
I live in Northern California and while I don't wish to detract from your points, the area you show looks so much cleaner and safer than our poor neighborhoods. No trash along the sides of the road, no tents and boxes, no people sleeping on the sidewalk. Sure, the rural Mississippi houses may be dilapidated, but the people seem more civilized and the roads are cleaner.
Due to population density. California has at least 3 urban areas each with higher populations than the entire state of Mississippi. California's population is 13.3x larger than Mississippi. California has 24.63% or 33 of the top-134 cities in the list of highest population density cities in the US. Mississippi has zero cities in the top-134 in population density. This is a remarkable feat for California, it is second only to New Jersey in this figure with 36 NJ cities or 26.87% of the top-134, even NY ranks 3rd with just 23 cities & 17.16% of the top-134 cities in population density. By comparison, Florida only has 7 cities(5.22%), the 4th-place state is Pennsylvania with 13 cities(9.7%). Texas has 1 city in the top-134, Mobile City(Dallas) in 74th rank in population density. GDP per capita: 1. New York: $79,434 (1st, not including DC) 4. California: $73,934 Last. Mississippi: $35,555 Population: 1st(states) California: 39.24 M Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim: 12.1 M San Francisco-Oakland: 3.28 M San Diego urban area: 2.956 M 35th(states). Mississippi state: 2.95 M
Many of those people sleeping on the sidewalks of California, are probably exports, of the ethic cleaning, of the surplus to requirement, from the Republican, free-market paradise, of Mississippi :-) In California, they get state support, and the Republicans who really hate that, are determined to eliminate the federal spending that makes that possible :-)
There's no trash because they are so poor, they recycle everything. CA has programs on top of programs for homeless, the average homeless in CA would be middle class in Mississippi, per income.
My father grew up in the Delta region and I spent a lot of time there with my grandparents as a child. Basically it is a lack of industry that is the problem. No amount of welfare is going to fix a local economy that is fundamentally broken.
Born in Indianola, raised in Belzoni as a child. I went back a few years ago for my uncle’s funeral and I was depressed at how bad it was. We rode around for an hour before the funeral and it made me sad.
Hey Nick! Its important to understand the mentality of the people of the Delta. Its a community of pride. Yes the problems are there. But the majority of folks there don't feel comfortable speaking negatively about their region. You may see something similar in the depressed small towns of Louisiana. They definitely do know the major issues. But the sense of familiarity is what keeps them there. Your neighbors are an extension of ur family. This is not something u see in big cities. I'm a Texan and it took me a while to understand this.
Speaking with pride is just talking bullshit when you don't have enough pride to work and clean up your neighborhood. The whole delta is lazy, uneducated people who have low standards because of their ignorance and unwillingness to improve themselves. It's disgusting.
@@AlAllerton going to church is a social thing for many southerners. They grow up going to church. They dont necessarily follow everything. HIV rates are higher in the South. Which means drug use and sex is taking place, in and out welock. 🙂
It gets those billions from people who actually do something and want their nation secured, which means the poor benefit from that as well. It's actually a pretty good deal.
@@whipivy - Secured from what? You'd think with a military budget approaching $1T a year - more than the rest of the world combined - the U.S. would be "secure" by now. It's not about security, its about transferring wealth to the 1%. Not a pretty good deal at all.
No it's another example on how the Governor is misusing funds that's supposed to go to their state. They take the funds and improve their areas and ignore the poor areas. These Governor are repeatedly vote in office over and over again without any consequences of their actions. They need to be held Accountable and investigated and charged for misuse of Funds.
When companies have moved into the area, not enough people wanted to give up their government support to work them. A lot of the educated young people have moved out, because it's a very hot, humid place and the coast offers more options. Also, if this is the worst he has ever seen, then he needs to travel to California
For such a rich and lush environment there especially near the river, it would be nice for some folks with a tractor to help clean up some of the yards. The old dilapidated buildings could also be fixed up or torn down. People love gardens and to grow things, to sustain themselves a bit, too. It makes them healthier. In California, we have many programs that offer fresh fruits and vegetables for the elderly etc. Communities can help each other. It just takes planning and having generous donors etc who care. It breaks my heart to watch stories like this about our neighbors in the South. 🙏🙏🙏🙏💔💔We will pray for all of you. It has to get better.....
How many more times are we gonna say this- Wheres the sense in trawlin up and down the streets in these towns photgraphing peoples misery or advantage taking others. Go AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT It. GO N SEE THE LOCAL POLITICIANS AND FIND OUT WHAT SWANKY PLACES THEY LIVE IN.What does it take to motivate the people in that country. Not that UK is any differerent. If you want us to run that place the military will have to be re trained first because corruption is rife.People all over the planet have gone along with the antics at Google. F-BK Twitter. for yrs thats how trusable joe public is. Give em art sport drama and you have compliance just likie 1920-1945 Germany and Soviets. donr just do something. sit there.
@@tinyvr7036 why is your heart breaking...these people are happy. Many of the old people have gardens in their backyards. They live a quiet simple life, what's wrong with that? Not everyone wants to run on a hamster wheel to get more material things that have zero meaning.
@@TheSwissChalet Many but not all. I've met some with dire health conditions who left. At least, some get help. But not all. Thanks for your personal perspective. You must live there? Peace to you.
I was an ICU nurse in the Delta for a long time. My family still doesn’t believe me when I tell them how different the delta is from the rest of Mississippi.
Lived in Jackson Mississippi, we struggled for basic nourishment but I was thankful my mom made it happen everyday. I didn't realize how poor we was because everyone around me was struggling.
I live in Vicksburg, Mississippi, the beginning of the delta. Vicksburg doesn't look quite like this though. I've lived here my whole life, and I love Mississippi. But the last few years I've come to realize this is caused from a poverty mentality. It's sad really. But there are some good things about Mississippi. Think you could ever do a video about some good things about Mississippi?
I live near the delta on Arkansas side. Town square was never the gathering for social events. In my opinion it’s always been the school and the church that bring people together. What you see may look sad to you, but inside some of those run down places are people who know a love so deep for others, passed down from generations. You will also find people grateful for what they have, although it may not seem like a lot. Community, love, generational connection, gratefulness. Sounds like contentment to me. That can’t be bought.
The problem is the government spends 100s of billions on the military knowing the US holds nukes that no one dear to attack so why waste while people are living in poverty? only half of that money can take every homeless out of the street and give him a job, why people are grateful for being robbed?
This is completely alien to me as an Australian. I cannot believe how bad some places are in the US. We don't have poverty and run down homes and towns like this. I'm completely shocked about the state America is in. All that wealth and all that poverty. It makes no sense.
Are you being serious now? Have you acquainted yourself with the Aboriginal communities destroyed by poverty, crime, alcohol and drugs in SEVERAL Australian towns? Ignorance isn't bliss, it's fatal.
@@DictumMeumPactum Exactly ignorance is bliss, I have been to townships and regional areas all over Australia, and yes we have issues effecting aboriginal groups. Again, it doesn't even compare to what is in the US, of entire cities with millions living in absolute and extreme poverty. We don't have ghettos, we don't have school shootings on daily basis, we don't have shantytowns with hundreds of thousands of people living in tents and rubbish dumps. We support Aboriginal people with $34 billion a year in welfare and health services. It's a problem we are actively solving. Literally the opposite of what is going on in the US. Nice try though.
I am willing to bet most people would gladly live their remaining years in the Delta than crime-ridden urban Philadelphia. Most people don't need much to be content: shelter, water, food, electricity, and cable/internet. The best thing for states to plan for is to shrink the number of habitable cities they have as that will reduce the infrastructure the tax base must support. Mike looks healthy, friendly, well-spoken, and not bitter. A smaller city/region is easier to defend and people start knowing the people around them (and the ones who are problems). The old American Dream is dying and it is time to go back to basics. A $50K house in these areas is do-able as we don't need these oversized housing debt traps. The world is not crumbling around around Mike. Mike is proof you don't need a big house, debt, new car, and a lot of Chinese junk in your home. My grandmother lived near Jackson and grew all her vegetables and fruit.
Shrink the number of habitable cities? Interesting thought. But do you really want the crime and drugs to move to the peaceful countrysides? Because I can tell you, big-city problems come with big-city people. And they have an outsized impact on their new localities. Example: Chicago and its impact on the formerly-great city of Madison, WI, over the past 25 years. (And really, all of Southeast Wisconsin.) Families move there to escape violence and drugs, but the atavistic mindset cannot be left behind. Not to mention, their friends road-trip from the big city to visit, and scope new opportunities. ANYWAY, loved your comments. Very thought provoking :) We could go right into urban design, sprawling/unsustainable suburbs, and much more.
Crime-ridden urban Philadelphia has plentiful healthcare access not to mention the violent crime rate per 100k in the Delta is most likely higher than it is in Philadelphia since the actual dangerous cities tend to be in the south and not so much the usual large city punching bags.
@@ericandbeethoven "plentiful healthcare access" what a load of crap that people value going to the petrochemical pill pushing pimps in the white coats....and act like that's some sort of valuable thing...bullcrap!
I lived in Mississippi for 4 years as a student at Mississippi State University in Starkville. I love Mississippi, a great state with great people. Beautiful scenery and landscape. I am a Malaysian, greetings from Malaysia. Would love to visit Mississippi again.
I so appreciate many that have had heartwarming post about my home, the Delta. It may be hard for some to understand our lives, our culture, very rich beautiful culture, if they haven’t spent real time in our communities. “Don’t judge a book by its cover” is all I can say.
my sentiments exatly Liza!!! I doubt very seriously if Mr Johnson did any interviews with city officials - I am guessing that his "sources" were mainly "GOOGLE" and no fact checking! Many times "wealth" equates to security, familiarity, Love & Community I am headed back to the South - high-dollar City Life is Waaaaay over-rated!!!
Do you wonder what it is he thinks people are missing by living there? I don't understand city folk. What more do you need beyond Yashua, family, community, a roof over your head and enough to eat? An increasing number of Americans everywhere don't have any of the most important things and are struggling to not end up homeless and hungry. I was born poor, had a corporate career, got cheated out of my pension and benefits, and choose to live very rurally in a state considered almost as poor as those in the Delta. City people would consider me poor, but I don't. To me, they are missing what it most important. I could make more money if I were willing to focus only on work.
The people from Israel could transform this fine land and grow the community, with good healthy organic food.. Mississippi is a treasure waiting to be discovered. Go Mississippi Go. The Promised land.
I think its a mix of people in denial but also people just being content. Honestly as I've gotten older I make more money than I ever have, however, I live simpler and simpler and it really helps my mental health. Our house is small I stay debt free the best I can, that brings peace of mind, simple living as a sacrifice to keep your bills low shouldn't be considered a sacrifice.
I am from Mississippi and I will tell you this, they may be poor and may be behind on standards of things but I am proud to say that they know how to treat others with respect and they are helpful and loving. In fact they will give you the short off their back. I say that the rest of the country need to take note and learn from the people of Mississippi on how to treat each other. They are number one in that folks.
My parents migrated from the deep south. I enjoyed and relished my yearly 2 week visits to rural Georgia growing up. I'd rather be around good souls like Mike in the Mississippi Delta than the lost souls in places like NYC any day.
Not all of NYC is like that. But I get your point. Ironically, when NY was "dangerous and dirty" back in like the 1970s, most people in the city were likely more friendly (at least that's what my dad said. He liked the old NY for that very reason).
You are so right. You wouldn't be able to even talk to someone on Skidd row or a homeless encampment in San Francisco. They would be too impaired from mental health and drug addiction problems.
A very good video. Liked the guy you interviewed. He gave alot of history about Mississippi and background. Cities towns writers music 🎶. Very informative. Also about the land etc. Excellent information. 😊😊😊
Less is more that’s why everyone in big city’s like where I’m from Philadelphia is miserable and angry and negative I hate it here rather live down there around people who appreciate the little things in life that actually matter
My oldest son lives in Mississippi and he loves it. I never could understand why because all I hear about is the poverty. But watching this I think I understand why he likes it there. I grew up in rural Oregon in the 60's before the Californians took over and before they shut everything down with the spotted owl. None of us had much money. Most people didn't work all year round, the woods would shut down in the winter and sometimes in the summer due to fire risks. In the summer a lot of moms and kids worked in the fields. I voluntarily started working in 4th grade. We didn't have big fancy homes or fancy cars or the latest style clothes or exotic vacations, mostly no vacation at all except maybe camping. We were poor but we didn't know we were poor. We had enough to eat and our homes were warm in summer. We had fun doing simple things, fishing, going in the woods on horses or dirt bikes, sports, and a lot of the guys built up old cars. We could go to town and see people we knew, we helped each other, we were a big family and we were safe. When your loved there is no place like home. We were richer then anyone living in a fancy gated community today. I can't help but wonder though if the dirt is so good why I didn't see anyone growing a garden at their home?
@@TEWMUCH Thats good. If the stores are a long ways off she will have acess to good food- better then found in the stores no doubt. I just wondered because some places won't let people grow gardens in town. They won't let them collect rain water either. It's insane.
Not all of Mississippi looks like this. This guy needs to do better research. A lot of the things he's told aren't correct. At all. I've lived in Mississippi all my life and no we're not the richest people in the world but we have good people. I'm not saying we don't have bad people here because we do. Some of these places he has shown are a lot of what was left after a tornado/tornadoes. No our state government doesn't take care of us like they should but I assure they are taken care of.
@Beth Allen agreed. In Greenville, he could've gone down main st, there's very big, pretty houses over there. Also there's nice neighborhoods on the other side of town. I just think he was focusing on poverty being that that was the title of the video. And we certainly have alot of that. Also he was focusing on the Delta. The delta IS pretty terrible. Be honest compared to Hattiesburg or the coast. Some of things the white man said in my opinion may have been exagerrated in a positive way like when he spoke of racial tensions of the PAST he may have left out some important information.
I live in a very similar community in a hidden pocket of GA. The poverty rate is high, the area is super run down, our options for food and other shopping is limited without driving 20+ miles. Many of the nearby towns are the same. Yet we all still make up a lovely, connected community. Those with money know what it's like to be without and that bridges most of the gap. Volunteering opportunities are in abundance and the community really rallies together to help. We still have many street fairs and community gatherings all the time. You don't go anywhere where you don't see someone you know. Get into trouble and help is but a phone call away. I love it.
I've noticed a trend. I've been watching a lot of videos about different states and ways of life. I noticed that in Appalachia and in some of the South, where people are considered to be in poverty, you find some of the happiest people with some of the most connected communities. Very interesting. I'm looking to move out of the northeast because of the cold weather and some of these so called "run down" places seem to be the warmest and most welcoming to be in! All those fancy looking suburbs with perfect lawns and houses make me feel uncomfortable anyway, something about it, I can't put my finger on it, it just seems so artificial, or like their values are in the wrong place, like looking good instead of actually being good.
@@GenZealous Belzoni is 70 miles away from the next biggest town of Jackson. That’s very isolated. I don’t think you’ll find anyplace like that in Georgia anymore.
@@El_Chompo Yup. This is true in other countries too. I have a house in the Philippines and it's very similar there to many of the poorer places in the US (happy people and very connected communities).
they are happy there because you don't miss what they never had. I had a very happy childhood for that reason. some poor kids are happier than rich ones.
Very true. My wife grew up very poor in a developing country and she always says things like this. She speaks more fondly of her childhood than I (a middle class guy from the US) speak of mine.
Mike is a gem, as radiant as his yellow jersey ! He is content with being alive and we can feel he is participating to keep the world nice, full if dignity.
I'd be friends with Mike. He has a great attitude and hypes the area up even though it is a depressing area. I can only imagine how he would be with a big turnaround in the area?
I wish I was a Billionaire. I would move to Mississippi and work to getting it a thriving state again. I feel for these angels having to live in poverty. It breaks my heart.
You can begin by just giving to the people directly, and encourage others to do this too. Offer to pay for groceries, that's $100, not billions. Maybe pay their rent, that's $1000, not billions. Start there
@@crescentprincekronos2518 policy doesn't change without a change in politics. Politics is mathematically controlled by the majority. Frankly, the majority in this country aren't of the same racial background as the majority population in the Mississippi Delta. This is why Obama constantly said it would be politically impossible to do anything to help black American families. Basically bud, if you want to help, you'll have to directly without government or political or policy based intervention. Sadly...
@@economicdevelopmentplannin8715 I agree because the government can't, that's democracy unfortunately. As far as grass roots, jobs, mate prospects, and stability (a future) is far more valuable than just giving money. The goals should be to get as many educated and into a "productive" job as possible. Sort of like give someone a fish or teach them to fish. Not simple but similar philosophy.
I’ve been in rural India, rural Texas, rural Kansas , and there is so much that can be done. Some of Mississippi looked comparable to buildings dying in Uttar Pradesh(eastern part) on the way to Agra. There is much that can be done. Wood from the houses falling down can be repurposed, same with old doors and windows. There is much that can be made whole again. Gardens can be planted to vitality the community, and so much more. I see stuff that can be done locally, and maybe because I was born abroad. My dad was military, and I’ve seen what can be done, and only with a small amount of effort. We don’t have to let jobs shipped overseas destroy us. We can abandon those companies, and we can make our own. They are all owned by a huge conglomerate anyways. Most people are unaware. Much of the decay is engineered, but you can take back your life. You teach yourself skills, reinvent the wheel so to speak, and you keep your home, family, and friends where they are meant to be.
Stop comparing apples and oranges. American is supposed to be a developed country and gives lectures to other countries. While small towns all over America are dilapidated, morally, culturally and economically ruined. US policy makers need a wake up call.
My family is from Leland, Mississippi and have owned land since slavery ended. They are very decent, hardworking, educated people. It's unfortunate you only shared the negative. My family are AWESOME people. Who have not asked the government for anything.
thats awesome! But theres also nothing wrong with welfare, we pay into that as taxpayers as a social safety net for folks who struggle. Nothing wrong accepting help when its needed, nothing wrong with helping others who need it.
@@artsymarxist I am not against a help up. I am against enabling. Not necessarily meaning that is the fault of individuals, but a fault of many many politicians & other enablers. What we need is great people, making this a great place (world), but that hasn't been happening. They have been purposely keeping people down, jobs out of reach, people divided on things no one would even spend their days thinking about, if it wasn't shoved in their face, everyday. We are ruined by design & we help them in that endeavor. Welfare is a trap. Almost no one knows how to self sustain if they needed to, which further makes you "dependent" on those who don't want you to exist anyway. Anything they (Gov.) giveth, they can taketh away, when they need to bring people to heel.
The Mississippi Delta might be the future of America. The number of billionaires is increasing, and the middle class is shrinking. As one recent saying goes, “You will own nothing and be happy.”
If they'd said, "We will all own nothing and be happy," I'd be fine with it. But when they say "You will own nothing" it's because they plan to own everything, and rent it to us. 😑🤦🏾♀️
I'm from Clarksdale, the delta not changing. The people there like it. You saw how up beat that first guy was. Most people there are like that. Money and flashing sparkling light don't bring happiness. I like it too. I'm happy here.
@@jrodger4 that is just fascinating how it was once a cultural, literary meeting place. This video makes me want to visit someday bc of its legends and history.
I love all these people because I'm southern and I understand them. I wish the state government would help more but that old way of thinking still has a stranglehold. No damn person in this country is getting too much welfare. The pentagon gets 800 billon a year and we can't take care of our own damn people. Call me a bleeding heart because my heart does break seeing this.
Love how everybody demonizes welfare recipients but no body saying these things ever demonizes corporate welfare. I’m from a high welfare region and of course some people abuse it but let’s be sure to include all the welfare abusers in this country when we say these things
Well said! End corporate welfare!! Did Brett farve and the other criminals who stole federal funds intended for Mississippi public assistance ever end up in jail?
BINGO…. I know plenty of young strapping guys who REFUSE to do manual labor and instead bounce from woman to woman living off of her and her children’s welfare benefits /food stamps. She gives him a place to lay his head and he gives her another baby to collect benefits for. The system is broken.
I had a very dear friend who lived west of Tupelo. Didnt have much but she was always a happy, loving person. Almost always, very upbeat. She told me once that "when you don't have much, you dont dont have much to worry about."
I'm glad you did a documentary on this. I was born in Cleveland and raised in Rosedale. I was down there just about 6 months ago. Really sad, but my family and friends are always happy down there.
If you grow up there, you understand the place and look at it differently... outsiders will never understand.. childhood was incredible, literally went to school with the same ppl from head start to high school, fortunate enough to have real childhood friends.. when it's time to go, leave.. I left Rosedale in 2004, but I'll always be an Eagle
@Marquez Smith Absolutely! Go Eagles! It's hard to believe I've been gone for 21 years, but I wouldn't change anything. Had lots of fun growing up there.
I lived in Rosewood apartments as a little one in Rosedale 😢 I visit Greenville ever so often but have yet to visit Rosedale. I love it in the Delta and I don't care how poor it is, I would love to move back and take it slow. This city life is exhausting
@Winfrey Nenette yeah, the delta is something else... I left Rosedale a long time ago, live in Washington DC now... my children love going down to visit, it's almost like a culture shock to them... they can't believe a whole town is that small 😂 but they love the love and how close everyone is...
I am seeing dilapidated homes, lots of poverty, but I see no trash piled up around houses, on streets, etc. Everything looks very clean. Says something very profound. These people, as poor as they may be, have dignity. They care about
Having traveled a bit, it doesn't look that bad to me. Michael seems like he'd be a great neighbor, there's no hipsters or small plate restaurants, nor anything else that annoys me about most cities. Might consider moving there if I wasn't opposed to humidity, flat land, and tornados.
How many more times are we gonna say this- Wheres the sense in trawlin up and down the streets in these towns photgraphing peoples misery or advantage taking others. Go AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT It. GO N SEE THE LOCAL POLITICIANS AND FIND OUT WHAT SWANKY PLACES THEY LIVE IN.What does it take to motivate the people in that country. Not that UK is any differerent. If you want us to run that place the military will have to be re trained first because corruption is rife.People all over the planet have gone along with the antics at Google. F-BK Twitter. for yrs thats how trusable joe public is. Give em art sport drama and you have compliance just likie 1920-1945 Germany and Soviets. donr just do something. sit there.
They are upbeat because they're content. ❤🙏🏾 More money, more stress and problems.💯 -- that said, shame on the wealthiest country on the planet for letting this happen to our own. 😔
If I was given a choice between the Mississippi Delta and the Kensington area of Philadelphia, I wouldn't even think twice and immediately choose the Delta.
I really love your videos bro, I am an immigrant who live in this beautiful country and damn……is increíble to see the things that u show in your videos, the some ones reality in the most richest and powerful country in the world!!
What does surprise me about these places is just how clean they are, the houses are in a terrible state, but very little litter, except for the piles of mattresses and stuff people have thrown out. Even the grass seems healthy.
@@assassin8636 Yes. Humans do not view the world all in the same way. Humans do not think in the same way. There is no such thing as equality. Humans are all very different.
@@cassandraelliot7878 Yes, humans can only progress through self-determination. Some races understand/understood that better than others but as it stands no race is free since the controllers of money bought control everywhere
@@assassin8636 Go to Italy & there's hundreds of abandoned tiny villages in rural areas. Times change, people move to where jobs & opportunties are. The history of America is riddled with places that boomed, then went bust. I think Nick can be a bit overdramatic in his despair of certain areas in his videos. For every place like this, there is a counter example of a place that is building up & investing in itself.
My best friend is from Jackson Mississippi. The whole family moved here (Texas) back in the mid nineties due to the lack of jobs there. I've been there several times with her and the people are very friendly with plenty Southern hospitality. Best catfish I ever ate!
Ya it looks bad but clearly Mike was thankful for the room over his head some people just have joy in their hearts. They care about feeling safe, having people that care for them and just being able to pay the bills. Mike clearly feels blessed I wish I have friends like him again the kinda people who'd sit out back by a BBQ have a beer and just enjoy life not needing a Lambo in the drive wa,y not being ragged on by their boss to misery. Just a simple happy guy who enjoys life I wish I could by him a beer
what surprises a lot of people is that a lot of people don't need everything they see and want to be happy, from my experience of 81 years is that some of the so-called poorest are really the richest and the richest are the poorest, like my granddad said years ago, " I didn't know I was poor until the government told me I was"
Corporations love to trash the government. Because without governmental regulations (consumer protections) they can do anything they want with no repercussions. Poison the air, water, land with complete abandon. Who will stop them? THE GOVERNMENT!
I'm poverty too so if I move there I might be able to afford rent or a house. Costs at least a quarter of a million dollars and up ⬆️ to buy a regular 3 bedroom ranch style house in Ohio. That's why the growing number of homeless are going up all across the USA.
Most seniors looking for peace and quiet also want health care. You did not mention the backroad, rural towns' hospital situation, but I bet once retirees look the scarcity of healthcare options, that would be a big deterrent to moving. A place that cannot lure teachers certainly would not be able to lure doctors and nurses. That is one of the reasons why churches have such a hold on people's lives, I wager.
That's right, Keith. Something has to shake people up down there so that they stop electing the same kind of people to government year after year. The South has known forever it has a problem with too many churches and not enough health care centers and high quality schools. They must all be waiting on the Second Coming or something. And when people go down there to try to get change coming, it goes nowhere. Sick loyalty to the families that keep them down, I think, and the demonization of federal government programs. And that comes from churches, all of them. "We can't let women and girls think for themselves, and we can't let young men question the system." Why not, I ask?
Unacceptable! Residents in all states need to start holding ever single elected official up and down for homelessness, decaying bridges, streets etc. don’t wait!!
@@psycharol who are you talking about voting for? They rigged the election rules after Ross Perot got too close, so it is literally impossible to get a third party candidate. And the last two presidents had control of congress for at least half their term, so we know 'I'd fix everything, but the OTHER party won't let me' is a very nice scam so they don't have to do anything. Maybe we need to figure out a big enough carrot to bribe big corp to work for we the people, though I am not sure how.
But what about Ukraine? Aren’t the Ukrainians important too??? They need more money and weapons to fight off those damn Ruskies!!! 😹😹😹 Can’t believe how much money has been diverted to fight that war the UN provoked.
That man you interviewed in the truck said it best about the cities. You didn't get assaulted did you? The high mortality rate of babies and mothers goes back to the poor nutrition. Fix the Welfare where the fruits and vegetables and fresh meat are paid for not candy, chips, soda and prepackaged food. Free garden seeds and starts should be apart of the food stamp program, but the government wants to keep us sick.
I'll never forget the time I got stuck on the sude of the road and a random gentleman stopped and pulled me out of the ditch. Granted, as a southerner with a 4x4, I'm normally the one who pulls people out, but his help was truly a life-saver. Even with the race trouble, he stopped to help a white guy who was in need in the middle of nowhere. I truly feel bad for their economic situation, but damn, those are some good people.
Here's my entire Deep South Road Trip series: th-cam.com/play/PLq-_cmf3H6yrg0_gX1fq81lsxUQTnt7Vl.html
He flagged us down...then politely took our wallets
communists destroyed the south. I believe they sent the American boys to Vietnam to fight communists, while communists ran the marxist civil rights campaign here
Ironically the Grain embargo was in retaliation for the USSR invasion of Afghanistan, good to see the US sticking up for Afghanistan by trying to punish those evil invading forces ah :)
I love the people in MS
Thank you, Nick
Another example of why we need to STOP sending Aide overseas. We have our own folks that need help
The video said the Governor won’t take federal money. I don’t really understand why though. Those people need it desperately.
@@OomaGooma : Who knows what strings are attached to those federal funds? That’s always the toxic side. We spent Trillions on the Middle East, over the last 20 years & BILLIONS in Ukraine. We have absolute shit politicians on both sides of the aisle
I agree, but when Biden tried to pass a major infrastructure bill, it was unfortunately voted against by the Republicans and centrist Dems. Other than that, some of the aid that we send abroad maintains the stability of poor nations to prevent mass immigration, like what you see in Central America at the moment. Both Dem and GOP administrations have reduced aid in the region after decades of intelligence agency destabilization and now we're witnessing mass migration as a result.
What is the Governor doing?
And stop instigating and spendings billions on wars around the world!
I grew up in the rural south and I think you saw some of why I will never leave. The people may have been abandoned by the modern world, but if my car broke down and I didn't have a cell phone, I would simply knock on the nearest door. I would be allowed to use their phone, probably be offered a ride or help with my car and probably be given a glass of ice tea. When I left, I would leave there with a new friend.
Cool story. Not always true but cool anyways
But if you were Black and knocked on the door you would be shot through it. Black people are welcoming and accepting and trusting and not suspicious, but thanks to OAN Fox News and Tucker Carlson poor white people are under the belief that Black people are moving in hoards to kill them and take their... junk.
I'm in the delta and I'll stop for anyone on the side of the road and keep a gas can for the folks that need it. Some folks have a lot and some have nothing, but we are out here surviving together as best we can.
And that's why I stayed here..😂😂😂❤❤
@@yurikendal4868 Yes Matt story was cool. However, that story does nothing to change the fact that 1)Mississippi is last and every major quality of life indicator. 2)the politicians that represent this state continue to use fear and fantasy to stay in power. They do nothing substantial to better than life of the people of Mississippi.
I've traveled through a lot of America in the last 20 years and all I've seen is increasing poverty in MANY areas in many states. It's been an eye opener.
Same here. We are touring musicians - country musicians. We have been in mostly small towns and rural areas in 15 states in the southeast. This situation is prevalent EVERYWHERE and getting worse by the day.
Middle Class has all but disappeared.
It’s the land of the “ haves and have nots “
WELL, PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THE BIRTH RATE IS GOING DOWN IN AMERICA, AND THE WORLD FOR THAT MATTER, THE YOUNG P EOPLE LEAVE FOR BETTER JOBS IN THE CITY OR OUTSIDE THE BIG CITYS LEAVING ALL THE OLD AND DISABLED PEOPLE TO JUST LIVE AND DIE IN PLACES LIKE THIS, IMMAGRATION IS THE ANSWER TO A LOT OF THESE PROBLEMS,
WOW. Just plain WOW❗❗❗❗❗❗
So, why do people want to move here by migrations??? Going from one Banana Republic to another!🙄😒😥
Born and raised in Mississippi. Traveled the world...home is still home. Love Mississippi
I use to live in the delta nic. The people in the world that have the least amount of material possessions are the most happiest. Money only brings you temporary happiness. The Mississippi delta people are the most friendly in America.
They get a group spirit somehow and rely each other.
I've seen it here in Rural NC too, really brings a community element back, you rely on your neighbors for help support and friendship.
that's not true. material wealth brings more happiness up to an income of about $75,000USD at least. poor people are less likely to complain because they see no use to it, while rich people will whine about trivial crap because they know someone will attend to their whining. makes them seem less happy. but refugee camps are full of the people who have the fewest material possessions, and they are not happy places.
@@perfectallycromulentI suspect that you missed the point, brining in the plight of refugees kind of confirmed that.
@@tompiper9276 lol right. Refugees?
I’m from Mississippi. We don’t have a lot, but the people are good to each other for the most part. Mike was a great representation of how people are down here.
I wouldn't go to Hattiesburg😮😮
Yeah but it's third world class
Good people are better than money. With all the crazy violence in Chicago or LA what's to migrate to?
Yea except that's the state I was shot in an armed robbery while walking my dog. 6 shots. I managed to live. Mississippi is a crap hole of crime.
@@isokabooks3758 Uh-huh. Any evidence?
Don't let this dude fool you. It isn't the "soil" that keeps people there. It's the fact that they can't afford to move their entire family elsewhere.
THE SPOKES PERSON IS A LIAR…!!!
ALSO HE IS STILL BENEFITING OFF THE BACKS OF BLACK STRUGGLE.,!!
GUESS WHAT HE IS COMING BACK TO TELL THE HORRIBLE STORY.,!!
I agree.
Maybe "soil" is a metaphor. That land is Ancient History to brown folks. A lot maybe just dont want to leave their hometown. F**k this man made gov't. I know their plans and wicked deeds.
The people are content. Why stir up discontent? Oh yea race hustlers live off discontent.
🎯
Unfortunately, the worst poverty I've encountered in America is on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. That reservation is regularly listed as the most impoverished location in the entire US. The poverty on that reservation is downright depressing! Pine Ridge also has the worst unemployment rates, the worst suicide rates, and some of the worst drug abuse and alcoholism rates in the US. It's truly tragic!
Memphis too
Heartbreaking
I'm only half American so i don't understand why the US continues to call native americans "Indians"?? Do you know?
А как правильно называть?@@laurenanderson7330
@@laurenanderson7330Because most of them prefer the label American Indian to Native American, though they prefer their individual tribe names to either of those.
The push for the label them as Native American was a push from outside the minority group seeking to slap a more convenient term on them one sidedly without really considering or asking what they wanted.
One thing people don’t realize when they ask “why don’t you just leave?” is that leaving costs money. I moved from a very rural and poor area to a prosperous technology hub in the South. It changed my life. But I was only able to do it because I had family who lived there and they let me stay with them for 3 months while I earned enough to put down all the deposits for an apartment. Without that help, I wouldn’t have been able to afford the cost of a move, first & last months’ rent plus a security deposit. I’d still be earning nothing in the middle of nowhere.
I left Ohio in 1981 with 2 suitcases, 650 dollars cash, no car, an BA in history, worked as pharm. tech in Galveston till 84, went to UT Austin, worked my way through, got MLS, liby. science degree, worked for city of Houston 25 yrs till cancer ended my career at 56, retirement pension plus SS is over 5K per month, a lot of success depends on willpower and forcing yourself to embrace change
Unless you are an orphan you have family.
Yeah, it's very hazardous to leave if you don't have a support network. Without the ability to save up money to leave, it often means risking homelessness or being food insecure. The catch 22 is if you become homeless, nobody will hire you, and without a job nobody will let you rent a place so the entire effort becomes futile...
I've made the jump a couple of times, and it's difficult even with savings and I was probably able to find housing and work just through sheer effort and dumb luck.
@Rovingdog628How did this half white, half AFRICAN get into the White House?
@@BravuraLeeVim same way Biden did.
I live in the west, and have been in over 40 states. Went to Mississippi about 7 years ago and totally fell in love with it. I would take the poorest town in Mississippi over a monstrosity like New York City any day. Mississippi may be suffering, but it has soul and natural beauty.
You also don't see them breaking into stores and stealing like in NYC.
Meridian, Mississippi has a lot of crime. So does Jackson, Greenville, Vicksburg, ect. All I see here are dumb black thugs. What's so great about that?
It's hard to break into what doesn't exist. The comments comparing a rural hamlet with a population in the hundreds to cities with millions of residents serve no purpose whatsoever except to inflame hatred and animosity.
@@pyrexmaniac Or just maybe they were brought up right, and not like animals.
Nick. These people know they are poor but remember having something maybe better than having nothing. At least they aren’t living on the streets with NOTHING. I wish no one had to live in such conditions. We don’t realize how fortunate we are. I wish we could fix all this but seems our government and leaders are only looking out for SELF , God help us 🙏🏼
Don't be fooled - People in Mississippi are some of the deepest caring people I have ever met. They have survived great tragedies, maintained dignity in poverty, and helped their neighbors in distress. They are a people rare to find, and I am honored to live in their state.
still a lack of pride run down houses buildings roads sidewalks if they had pride everything would be clean
It's just so sad .the government is so crooked an has been for years .they keep people in poverty . To this day it's still the same . I ask myself how can this be in America but the history of this is so very heartbreaking . 😢
The poorest states in this country are all southern republican states. It is the democrat states that are sending money to these Republican lead southern states so that they can have schools and infrastructure, if you want the south quit being poor quit voting Republican it’s just that simple
THANK YOU! This was a degrading and unfair spin on things and quite frankly, mean. Poor in the pocketbook does not mean broke in spirit and dignity. Money isn't everything. What a pompous presentation.
exactly. these people may be very rich
Michael was an awesome human. My question is, how does someone live in a shed and still drive a $54,000.00 vehicle.
Bad budgeting priorities and debt financing. To be fair, a lot of older working-class people have given up on improving their economic situation and figure “why not have nice toys” (on debt, of course).
@@brightharbor_ I get it. I've had a blue collared career since 69' and never had much more than to get by...although, I am debt free until I die and for some ungodly reason I'll owe the government a death tax. Hey, if it makes their lives a little better then so what. TY friend...
Some of these black people have 100s of acres of land, but he didn’t show that.
@@tbyas4406 When I was growing up in the south in the 60's, blacks had more farms than today. Hell, blacks owned more land 100 years ago than they do today. The reason for this is political and I'm staying away from that conversation.
@@tbyas4406 Of course he didn’t, he’s got a narrative to uphold. It’s sad that people care more about their preconceived notions than the truth.
No one's going to deny that this poverty's beyond depressing. Still, what I see is a decent people doing their best to survive in a world that's written them off. These folks may not have much materially, but they have something the modern world is sorely lacking - community spirit and the caring to help their neighbors. Not to mention that they gave us one of the greatest artforms America has ever produced - the blues. Listen, I don't have the answers, either, but these folks deserve far better than bearing the brunt of classist, elitist contempt. Lord knows, they've dealt with enough of that already.
Thank you. They really do not tell the whole story when our state is mentioned. We really ( for the most part) see ourselves as loving and sharing people that have learned to deal with things that would absolutely break others. I think that is also why we are considered the Bible belt. God has truly kept us strong in so many ways. It is so nice when someone can see deep into Southern life and see the better things it offers. Again Thank you. 🥰 share the love y'all. Everyone should see the better truths in a place and the people.
Well there's people in Cuba and Philippines that are happy too because some are just humble and some it's just cause it's all they know but there's also many that want to get out of the poverty as well because they know there is much better out there to be discovered. All I know is I definitely would not want to live in a high poverty state like Mississippi.
Very well said
Mike seemed like a nice, upbeat, positive guy. He's the kind of person that small towns like that need.
Agree
Mike knows that Since they have been Sucked Dry they can eat Bread in Peace
Gallows humor. None of these people have ever left the area they lived in. They have never lived in another part of the country and are dimly aware of a greater world leaving them behind.
The United States needs more Mikes
Mike Need To Tell His white Counterparts To Disburse Black People Reparations..!!!!!
Monies That’s Owed, and That He and His Family Reaped, and Is Still Reaping..!!!!!
How Dare He..!!!
I was just in a Mississippi a couple days ago and one thing that struck me was how kind everybody was.
same experience
Know Jesus, know peace
No Jesus, no peace.
There are many people who don't need much to be content.
I travel in a semi with my husband and it's my favorite state. (People, not the road conditions)
How sad that kindness is so rare. But still glad that you were struck by it.
It’s not rare in the blk community. Ppl are always shocked to see a side that differs from what the media promotes. Meanwhile we have been telling y’all the media is a lie for decades!
The northern delta in Mississippi is beautiful. Get out of the towns and out into the countryside and you almost feel like you're in the great plains with how flat it is and all the farm land everywhere. Its a very unique place with a ton of history in the area.
No you feel like ur in a 3rd world country with all the poverty and lack of basic amenities
Nothing better than meeting people like mike! Still people like him with a great attitude and hope
Mike's a fool. He still thinks they are the catfish capital of the world. The guy's uneducated and enjoys living in filth.
He's probably retired military and has a pension. To me Mike doesn't look or sound like he's hurting.
I twice did a solo motorcycle tour in Mississippi and my experiences mirrored yours. I’d stop in some little spot for fuel and would meet some of the nicest friendly folks ever. God bless Mississippi.
What about the Gulf Coast, Natchez, and Oxford?
@@arthurgearheard4701 I’m from Kansas so getting down too far south just never happened. I spent a day at the civil war park in Jackson and rode the Natchez Trace. Other than that I just wandered on two lanes as the mood struck. Or like if there was rain west I’d ride east. If there were pickup trucks in front of a cafe that’s where I’d stop to eat. Going solo I was a free bird and I loved it. Destinations were never part of my day really.
That's been my experience too. Really nice people in the South!
It was in Minneapolis, not in Mississippi, where I've been targeted for my race. Southern people have always treated me kindly. ❤️
They have no reason to be mean and hateful anymore. They economy has tanked but they need be friendly now to get the visitors money
Some of the poorest people I ever met were the kindest, most caring people. They give someone what they have if they are in need. I'd rather be around decent, respectful people than around people who think the world rotates around them. God bless them all.
You are absolutely right sister! A nation based on exploiting and degrading one group of people to benefit and control the wealth of that nation can not thrive. Now this is what we see, but others seem to blame the victims for their inability to break out of the curse of poverty and lack of generational wealth. Black, colored, indigenous negro (most recently labeled “African Americans) are the most resilient group of people on the face of the earth and most loving too. 💜💜💜 It is time for us all to heal! 😇
@@roperryinspirationalvoices1421
Hahaha
That's the spirit
Me too. And I agree with the idea that we can help other countries as long as we make sure we take care of our own people first!
@@lynnjudd9036 friends 🦊🤝🐺
The Mississippi Delta is a terribly depressing place to live, absolutely nothing there, not even a grocery store. Wow! Terrible
There are grocery stores in the Delta. 😂
I think, as an Aussie, the thing that struck me the most was the entire area is rich, fertile farm land and none of it seems to be owned by the locals. Driving through Victorian country towns they are mostly pretty much thriving and I guess that's due to the farms being all locally owned, to my knowledge, and the money made from them gets reinvested into the communities. In the Mississippi Delta it looks like wealthy, far away board of directors and share holders rape the land and take all the profits. It just feels so wrong. The land should be owned and worked by the people who live there.
Old Chinese proverb - "Give a man 100 year lease on a desert, he will turn it into an oasis. Give a man a one year lease on an oasis, it will turn into a desert." You could be onto something - our politicians in bed with mega farms means people feel no sense of ownership.
I was thinking the same,would be nice if people could have a plot and grow their own produce, but it's all very complex,TBF, it seems so peaceful in my time of life I feel I'd want to spend my twilight yrs there,I live in a city in the UK, it's so noisy etc etc ,
Agree. I am struggling to live here in Australia and all that land with majestic trees left to rot. I’d be there tomorrow if I could.
OMG!! Socialism!! Get behind me Satan!! 😂
You're right but that's America's capitalism for you. Free market for big corporations and feudalism for poor people.
Makes sense that people are happy, when you are poor and only surrounded by other poor people you get a community and don’t have rich people to compare yourself too sounds nice to me
It is. It truly is.
that sounds like socialism 😂
When I go to visit the indigenous people in the Amazon I first felt sorry for them. Now I kinda envy them. They have absolutely nothing but we always have a great time.
@@stevenalley494 It is but it's a different kind than we normally think of with that word. This is all natural community based, not dictated from the top down. That's what makes this kind so nice and actually kind of work for a change.
Being poor is a mental illness
Also wanted to say that I have family in the Deep South, whenever I visit they cook out, so much food, play blues, cards and it’s almost like I escape the reality of the monotony of the rat race. A lot of love and support of one another.
Yes ma’am they roll out the food! I am from Mississippi and I miss all of this and the people!!
True anywhere. Not unique to the south.
@@yurikendal4868 I disagree the south is more layed back, relaxed
Y’all dnt have to live day for day in that Mf that shit hell
@@sharonburcham66 any place is laid back and relaxed.
Especially enjoyed the wisdom of the Mississippi Author! Thanks for sharing!
Despite being the poorest place I must say my family in Mississippi seem very happy and content they stick together and are very very friendly and welcoming
That ”gitty” attitude in people you interview or come across is pretty simple because the lesser you have, the more you learn to value what you have. It’s gratitude. If you’re not from a low income background or haven’t suffered enough, you won’t understand it. Adapt or wither.
I don’t think anyone could relate to Mississippis level tho they are literally the poorest state I’m from Ohio the 14th poorest state and they make us look Washington or some shit it’s that bad there.
I grew up in the Mississippi Delta. I moved away 10 years ago, but it’s nothing like going back to visit. Nothing but love from everybody!
You grew up around those people but a stranger would be shot at especially if he was not white.
Why did you move away? And why havent you returned?
@@soulinspiration1 I enjoy the country, but I have a great job and a nice house in a nice neighborhood. The delta can't provide the opportunities and the lifestyle that I have now, and on top of that my son is in a great school system. I'll never forget where I came from though and I'll always come back to visit my family and real friends.
@WOKESOCIETYLLC 😅 the world may never know...
I grew up in the Mississippi Delta in the late 40s and 50s. It's even worse now than it was then.
In Mississippi, many people like living free and easy. As someone who has lived in Mississippi as a child, I can say Mississippi is 100 years behind the times and actually happy about that. It is sort of a matter of perspective. Minimalism is a good lifestyle for some people. It is when you want more that grief sets in. Sometimes you can find contentment in simple things.
Born in Meridian - Very poor (white) family. My childhood was a Free and happy life. Now I've made to 77 and did good $ wise, retired in Arizona mountains. Thanks Meridian Mississippi. I agree with you Mary.
Reminds me of the story about the businessman “explaining” to the fisherman about how he could expand his business exponentially…. So he could retire early and do what he loves to do - fish 😅
My thoughts exactly...
Agree with you Mary!
Good to hear another perspective.
As someone born and raised in Massachusetts and New England area, I always like going down south, the people are so much more friendly and willing to talk new people
We need more people like Mike! What a class act! Kind, friendly, positive, etc. He's exactly the type of neighbor everyone would want to have. Sadly there aren't many people like him.
There's plenty like him. Well traveled. Well educated. Aware of the greater world. Mike may not be one of these people
To be fair, he thought he was going to be in a music video..
I saw a lot of people like Mike in the south, I loved the people in Mississippi and Louisiana.
@@Willie_Wahzoo
Oh Mike , never mind , youre in a video about how shitty your town is instead.
@@Willie_Wahzoo That is true😆😆
Are the people of Mississippi still active in farming? As shown in this video, I have noticed that many of their farms are not well taken cared of. What are the major crops that they plant on the farms of Mississippi? How about livestock? Cattle? Dairy Cows? Do they tend Goats and Horses? Its sad to see that some of the farms are in very bad shape.
I live in Northern California and while I don't wish to detract from your points, the area you show looks so much cleaner and safer than our poor neighborhoods. No trash along the sides of the road, no tents and boxes, no people sleeping on the sidewalk. Sure, the rural Mississippi houses may be dilapidated, but the people seem more civilized and the roads are cleaner.
My exact thoughts. I don't think it's bad at all as compared to certain parts of the country.
Due to population density. California has at least 3 urban areas each with higher populations than the entire state of Mississippi. California's population is 13.3x larger than Mississippi. California has 24.63% or 33 of the top-134 cities in the list of highest population density cities in the US. Mississippi has zero cities in the top-134 in population density. This is a remarkable feat for California, it is second only to New Jersey in this figure with 36 NJ cities or 26.87% of the top-134, even NY ranks 3rd with just 23 cities & 17.16% of the top-134 cities in population density. By comparison, Florida only has 7 cities(5.22%), the 4th-place state is Pennsylvania with 13 cities(9.7%). Texas has 1 city in the top-134, Mobile City(Dallas) in 74th rank in population density.
GDP per capita:
1. New York: $79,434 (1st, not including DC)
4. California: $73,934
Last. Mississippi: $35,555
Population:
1st(states) California: 39.24 M
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim: 12.1 M
San Francisco-Oakland: 3.28 M
San Diego urban area: 2.956 M
35th(states). Mississippi state: 2.95 M
They're more civilized because they are not brainwashed.
Many of those people sleeping on the sidewalks of California, are probably exports, of the ethic cleaning, of the surplus to requirement, from the Republican, free-market paradise, of Mississippi :-) In California, they get state support, and the Republicans who really hate that, are determined to eliminate the federal spending that makes that possible :-)
There's no trash because they are so poor, they recycle everything. CA has programs on top of programs for homeless, the average homeless in CA would be middle class in Mississippi, per income.
My father grew up in the Delta region and I spent a lot of time there with my grandparents as a child. Basically it is a lack of industry that is the problem. No amount of welfare is going to fix a local economy that is fundamentally broken.
They use welfare money for volleyball arenas.
Totally agree
Yes. The lack of jobs destroyed blue collar cities. All over the US. It's a crying shame
Yes sir, you nailed it!
They sent all the jobs overseas, just shows how important the citizenry is to the government. Big Business and Government is all the same.
Born in Indianola, raised in Belzoni as a child. I went back a few years ago for my uncle’s funeral and I was depressed at how bad it was. We rode around for an hour before the funeral and it made me sad.
makes me sad just looking at it and I've never been there.
"Downtrodden" is not an emotion.
@@alvallac2171 it's a verb , it means schitty
You should move back to your hometown and help bring some prosperity to your community. If not, then people leaving is what is causing it.
Look far more better than Madagascar, there are car and stop signs, Madagascar has no stop signs or red lights.
Came across this informative, and educational channel, has to subscribed. Good work bro, watching from Toronto Canada 🇨🇦
It doesn’t look miserable to me! It’s clean and the people seem nice. Being poor doesn’t make an area horrible.
Just nothing to do there
Exactly!!
It looks terrible, empty falling down houses the streets full of potholes.
All shops re boarded up, houses are boarded up, overgrown or destroyed. How does it not look miserable?
Hey Nick! Its important to understand the mentality of the people of the Delta. Its a community of pride. Yes the problems are there. But the majority of folks there don't feel comfortable speaking negatively about their region. You may see something similar in the depressed small towns of Louisiana. They definitely do know the major issues. But the sense of familiarity is what keeps them there. Your neighbors are an extension of ur family. This is not something u see in big cities. I'm a Texan and it took me a while to understand this.
Speaking with pride is just talking bullshit when you don't have enough pride to work and clean up your neighborhood. The whole delta is lazy, uneducated people who have low standards because of their ignorance and unwillingness to improve themselves. It's disgusting.
“Your neighbors are an extension of your family.” Yeah inbred- they are family!
You'd think "the bible belt" would know that "pride" is a sin. 🤔
@@AlAllerton going to church is a social thing for many southerners. They grow up going to church. They dont necessarily follow everything. HIV rates are higher in the South. Which means drug use and sex is taking place, in and out welock. 🙂
@@AlAllerton move on dude
The level of extreme poverty in America is staggering. When a country can spend billions on its military, it just shows you where America prioritizes.
It gets those billions from people who actually do something and want their nation secured, which means the poor benefit from that as well. It's actually a pretty good deal.
@@whipivy secured from what??? That the iraqis, afghanis, libyans etc. take revenge by attacking the US?
@@whipivy Nonsense!
@@whipivy - Secured from what? You'd think with a military budget approaching $1T a year - more than the rest of the world combined - the U.S. would be "secure" by now. It's not about security, its about transferring wealth to the 1%. Not a pretty good deal at all.
trillions not billions on the military. 😤😖🫡
No it's another example on how the Governor is misusing funds that's supposed to go to their state. They take the funds and improve their areas and ignore the poor areas. These Governor are repeatedly vote in office over and over again without any consequences of their actions. They need to be held Accountable and investigated and charged for misuse of Funds.
The amount of poverty throughout the whole country is astonishing! But the delta in Mississippi has always been poverty stricken!
When companies have moved into the area, not enough people wanted to give up their government support to work them. A lot of the educated young people have moved out, because it's a very hot, humid place and the coast offers more options. Also, if this is the worst he has ever seen, then he needs to travel to California
For such a rich and lush environment there especially near the river, it would be nice for some folks with a tractor to help clean up some of the yards. The old dilapidated buildings could also be fixed up or torn down.
People love gardens and to grow things, to sustain themselves a bit, too. It makes them healthier.
In California, we have many programs that offer fresh fruits and vegetables for the elderly etc. Communities can help each other. It just takes planning and having generous donors etc who care.
It breaks my heart to watch stories like this about our neighbors in the South.
🙏🙏🙏🙏💔💔We will pray for all of you. It has to get better.....
How many more times are we gonna say this- Wheres the sense in trawlin up and down the streets in these towns photgraphing peoples misery or advantage taking others. Go AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT It. GO N SEE THE LOCAL POLITICIANS AND FIND OUT WHAT SWANKY PLACES THEY LIVE IN.What does it take to motivate the people in that country. Not that UK is any differerent. If you want us to run that place the military will have to be re trained first because corruption is rife.People all over the planet have gone along with the antics at Google. F-BK Twitter. for yrs thats how trusable joe public is. Give em art sport drama and you have compliance just likie 1920-1945 Germany and Soviets. donr just do something. sit there.
@@tinyvr7036 why is your heart breaking...these people are happy. Many of the old people have gardens in their backyards. They live a quiet simple life, what's wrong with that? Not everyone wants to run on a hamster wheel to get more material things that have zero meaning.
@@TheSwissChalet Many but not all.
I've met some with dire health conditions who left.
At least, some get help. But not all.
Thanks for your personal perspective. You must live there?
Peace to you.
I was an ICU nurse in the Delta for a long time. My family still doesn’t believe me when I tell them how different the delta is from the rest of Mississippi.
Lived in Jackson Mississippi, we struggled for basic nourishment but I was thankful my mom made it happen everyday. I didn't realize how poor we was because everyone around me was struggling.
I felt that in my soul. Thanks
*were
@@eustab.anas-mann9510 shut up
I live in Vicksburg, Mississippi, the beginning of the delta. Vicksburg doesn't look quite like this though. I've lived here my whole life, and I love Mississippi. But the last few years I've come to realize this is caused from a poverty mentality. It's sad really. But there are some good things about Mississippi. Think you could ever do a video about some good things about Mississippi?
I live near the delta on Arkansas side. Town square was never the gathering for social events. In my opinion it’s always been the school and the church that bring people together. What you see may look sad to you, but inside some of those run down places are people who know a love so deep for others, passed down from generations. You will also find people grateful for what they have, although it may not seem like a lot. Community, love, generational connection, gratefulness. Sounds like contentment to me. That can’t be bought.
❤
Well writ....
The problem is the government spends 100s of billions on the military knowing the US holds nukes that no one dear to attack so why waste while people are living in poverty? only half of that money can take every homeless out of the street and give him a job, why people are grateful for being robbed?
I would imagine this community is happier than many of their wealthy counterparts. Love of money is the root of all evil.
knowing people and knowing they care about you is really being rich, having things can be more of a headache than not
This is completely alien to me as an Australian. I cannot believe how bad some places are in the US. We don't have poverty and run down homes and towns like this. I'm completely shocked about the state America is in. All that wealth and all that poverty. It makes no sense.
Are you being serious now? Have you acquainted yourself with the Aboriginal communities destroyed by poverty, crime, alcohol and drugs in SEVERAL Australian towns? Ignorance isn't bliss, it's fatal.
@@DictumMeumPactum Exactly ignorance is bliss, I have been to townships and regional areas all over Australia, and yes we have issues effecting aboriginal groups. Again, it doesn't even compare to what is in the US, of entire cities with millions living in absolute and extreme poverty. We don't have ghettos, we don't have school shootings on daily basis, we don't have shantytowns with hundreds of thousands of people living in tents and rubbish dumps. We support Aboriginal people with $34 billion a year in welfare and health services. It's a problem we are actively solving. Literally the opposite of what is going on in the US. Nice try though.
Australia has alot of poverty Idk where you've been
@@DictumMeumPactum your right
@@a.garcia8086 Where? Where are the ghettos and tent cities? Since there's a lot of it. Should be easy to prove it.
I am willing to bet most people would gladly live their remaining years in the Delta than crime-ridden urban Philadelphia. Most people don't need much to be content: shelter, water, food, electricity, and cable/internet. The best thing for states to plan for is to shrink the number of habitable cities they have as that will reduce the infrastructure the tax base must support.
Mike looks healthy, friendly, well-spoken, and not bitter. A smaller city/region is easier to defend and people start knowing the people around them (and the ones who are problems). The old American Dream is dying and it is time to go back to basics. A $50K house in these areas is do-able as we don't need these oversized housing debt traps.
The world is not crumbling around around Mike. Mike is proof you don't need a big house, debt, new car, and a lot of Chinese junk in your home. My grandmother lived near Jackson and grew all her vegetables and fruit.
Shrink the number of habitable cities? Interesting thought. But do you really want the crime and drugs to move to the peaceful countrysides? Because I can tell you, big-city problems come with big-city people. And they have an outsized impact on their new localities. Example: Chicago and its impact on the formerly-great city of Madison, WI, over the past 25 years. (And really, all of Southeast Wisconsin.) Families move there to escape violence and drugs, but the atavistic mindset cannot be left behind. Not to mention, their friends road-trip from the big city to visit, and scope new opportunities. ANYWAY, loved your comments. Very thought provoking :) We could go right into urban design, sprawling/unsustainable suburbs, and much more.
Crime-ridden urban Philadelphia has plentiful healthcare access not to mention the violent crime rate per 100k in the Delta is most likely higher than it is in Philadelphia since the actual dangerous cities tend to be in the south and not so much the usual large city punching bags.
@@ericandbeethoven but that doesn’t confirm my world view about places I’ve never been too!
I bet mike is lazy. He never left because he is content living in filth. It's sad, and pathetic.
@@ericandbeethoven "plentiful healthcare access" what a load of crap that people value going to the petrochemical pill pushing pimps in the white coats....and act like that's some sort of valuable thing...bullcrap!
I LOVE THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING !! God help us !!
I lived in Mississippi for 4 years as a student at Mississippi State University in Starkville. I love Mississippi, a great state with great people. Beautiful scenery and landscape. I am a Malaysian, greetings from Malaysia. Would love to visit Mississippi again.
Mississippi has the lowest homeless rate of all states.
THTS why the government wants it
It's beautiful and natural there
You're considered white that's why...LOL
Если хочешь увидеть красивые города и красивые пейзажи езжай в Россию !.....
@@Стас-в3ч5щ bri can you suggest me some cheap universities for international students, i am planning on moving to Russia.
I so appreciate many that have had heartwarming post about my home, the Delta. It may be hard for some to understand our lives, our culture, very rich beautiful culture, if they haven’t spent real time in our communities. “Don’t judge a book by its cover” is all I can say.
my sentiments exatly Liza!!! I doubt very seriously if Mr Johnson did any interviews with city officials - I am guessing that his "sources" were mainly "GOOGLE" and no fact checking! Many times "wealth" equates to security, familiarity, Love & Community I am headed back to the South - high-dollar City Life is Waaaaay over-rated!!!
Do you wonder what it is he thinks people are missing by living there? I don't understand city folk. What more do you need beyond Yashua, family, community, a roof over your head and enough to eat? An increasing number of Americans everywhere don't have any of the most important things and are struggling to not end up homeless and hungry.
I was born poor, had a corporate career, got cheated out of my pension and benefits, and choose to live very rurally in a state considered almost as poor as those in the Delta. City people would consider me poor, but I don't. To me, they are missing what it most important. I could make more money if I were willing to focus only on work.
@@grandacres427 ❤️👍
@@Growmap 💯🫶
@@Growmap Theocrat. You're the problem with this nation.
my father was a doctor, had a clinic in Belzoni for years. It's a Mississippi delta town, and people there are so nice.
The people from Israel could transform this fine land and grow the community, with good healthy organic food.. Mississippi is a treasure waiting to be discovered. Go Mississippi Go.
The Promised land.
I think its a mix of people in denial but also people just being content. Honestly as I've gotten older I make more money than I ever have, however, I live simpler and simpler and it really helps my mental health. Our house is small I stay debt free the best I can, that brings peace of mind, simple living as a sacrifice to keep your bills low shouldn't be considered a sacrifice.
I am from Mississippi and I will tell you this, they may be poor and may be behind on standards of things but I am proud to say that they know how to treat others with respect and they are helpful and loving. In fact they will give you the short off their back. I say that the rest of the country need to take note and learn from the people of Mississippi on how to treat each other. They are number one in that folks.
They will also short your herd off😂😂😂😂
@@Dale-ei4sm lol... that's right
I agree with you
Yeah. Your capitol is number one in treating people right.
So beautiful. Worth saving.
My parents migrated from the deep south. I enjoyed and relished my yearly 2 week visits to rural Georgia growing up. I'd rather be around good souls like Mike in the Mississippi Delta than the lost souls in places like NYC any day.
Eu entendo você 😮
Not all of NYC is like that. But I get your point. Ironically, when NY was "dangerous and dirty" back in like the 1970s, most people in the city were likely more friendly (at least that's what my dad said. He liked the old NY for that very reason).
Have you ever been to Nyc?
@@masaielectro1
Yes. Several times. Nice place to visit, wouldn't want to live there.
You are so right. You wouldn't be able to even talk to someone on Skidd row or a homeless encampment in San Francisco. They would be too impaired from mental health and drug addiction problems.
A very good video. Liked the guy you interviewed. He gave alot of history about Mississippi and background. Cities towns writers music 🎶. Very informative. Also about the land etc. Excellent information. 😊😊😊
I wouldn't mind living around people like that Mike, such a friendly positive guy.
Let’s all relocate there one day! 😊
Yep good guy
99% of Mississippians share Mike's pride and enthusiasm. That's why people don't leave. You won't find better people anywhere in this country.
Agree, Mike is clearly content and happy. A great guy
Less is more that’s why everyone in big city’s like where I’m from Philadelphia is miserable and angry and negative I hate it here rather live down there around people who appreciate the little things in life that actually matter
My oldest son lives in Mississippi and he loves it. I never could understand why because all I hear about is the poverty. But watching this I think I understand why he likes it there. I grew up in rural Oregon in the 60's before the Californians took over and before they shut everything down with the spotted owl. None of us had much money. Most people didn't work all year round, the woods would shut down in the winter and sometimes in the summer due to fire risks. In the summer a lot of moms and kids worked in the fields. I voluntarily started working in 4th grade. We didn't have big fancy homes or fancy cars or the latest style clothes or exotic vacations, mostly no vacation at all except maybe camping. We were poor but we didn't know we were poor. We had enough to eat and our homes were warm in summer. We had fun doing simple things, fishing, going in the woods on horses or dirt bikes, sports, and a lot of the guys built up old cars. We could go to town and see people we knew, we helped each other, we were a big family and we were safe. When your loved there is no place like home. We were richer then anyone living in a fancy gated community today. I can't help but wonder though if the dirt is so good why I didn't see anyone growing a garden at their home?
My gramm lives in Greenville and she has a garden in her backyard. Lots of ppl have them and grow food but not everyone.
@@TEWMUCH Thats good. If the stores are a long ways off she will have acess to good food- better then found in the stores no doubt. I just wondered because some places won't let people grow gardens in town. They won't let them collect rain water either. It's insane.
@1Coke ToGo yeah that's messed up.
Not all of Mississippi looks like this. This guy needs to do better research. A lot of the things he's told aren't correct. At all. I've lived in Mississippi all my life and no we're not the richest people in the world but we have good people. I'm not saying we don't have bad people here because we do. Some of these places he has shown are a lot of what was left after a tornado/tornadoes. No our state government doesn't take care of us like they should but I assure they are taken care of.
@Beth Allen agreed. In Greenville, he could've gone down main st, there's very big, pretty houses over there. Also there's nice neighborhoods on the other side of town. I just think he was focusing on poverty being that that was the title of the video. And we certainly have alot of that. Also he was focusing on the Delta. The delta IS pretty terrible. Be honest compared to Hattiesburg or the coast.
Some of things the white man said in my opinion may have been exagerrated in a positive way like when he spoke of racial tensions of the PAST he may have left out some important information.
I live in a very similar community in a hidden pocket of GA. The poverty rate is high, the area is super run down, our options for food and other shopping is limited without driving 20+ miles. Many of the nearby towns are the same. Yet we all still make up a lovely, connected community. Those with money know what it's like to be without and that bridges most of the gap. Volunteering opportunities are in abundance and the community really rallies together to help. We still have many street fairs and community gatherings all the time. You don't go anywhere where you don't see someone you know. Get into trouble and help is but a phone call away. I love it.
I've noticed a trend. I've been watching a lot of videos about different states and ways of life. I noticed that in Appalachia and in some of the South, where people are considered to be in poverty, you find some of the happiest people with some of the most connected communities. Very interesting. I'm looking to move out of the northeast because of the cold weather and some of these so called "run down" places seem to be the warmest and most welcoming to be in! All those fancy looking suburbs with perfect lawns and houses make me feel uncomfortable anyway, something about it, I can't put my finger on it, it just seems so artificial, or like their values are in the wrong place, like looking good instead of actually being good.
That must be a very hidden pocket of GA you’re in.
@@GenZealous Belzoni is 70 miles away from the next biggest town of Jackson. That’s very isolated. I don’t think you’ll find anyplace like that in Georgia anymore.
20 miles is far ?
@@El_Chompo Yup. This is true in other countries too. I have a house in the Philippines and it's very similar there to many of the poorer places in the US (happy people and very connected communities).
Are you a history major. Because you are very good at it. Best narration hands down🎉🎉🎉
they are happy there because you don't miss what they never had. I had a very happy childhood for that reason. some poor kids are happier than rich ones.
Very true. My wife grew up very poor in a developing country and she always says things like this. She speaks more fondly of her childhood than I (a middle class guy from the US) speak of mine.
Thomas - you can explain that to a child that died at birth because of the lousy pre-natal care.
Love to hear Mike's pride for his hometown ❤️
Mike is a gem, as radiant as his yellow jersey ! He is content with being alive and we can feel he is participating to keep the world nice, full if dignity.
You can see there are some good people still there.
I'd be friends with Mike. He has a great attitude and hypes the area up even though it is a depressing area. I can only imagine how he would be with a big turnaround in the area?
He truly is! God bless Him.
I wish I was a Billionaire. I would move to Mississippi and work to getting it a thriving state again. I feel for these angels having to live in poverty. It breaks my heart.
You can begin by just giving to the people directly, and encourage others to do this too.
Offer to pay for groceries, that's $100, not billions. Maybe pay their rent, that's $1000, not billions. Start there
Maybe Elon Musk and Bill Gates and Mr. Buffet should loan them some money!
@@economicdevelopmentplannin8715but how does that end the cycle and how does that change policies?
@@crescentprincekronos2518 policy doesn't change without a change in politics. Politics is mathematically controlled by the majority. Frankly, the majority in this country aren't of the same racial background as the majority population in the Mississippi Delta. This is why Obama constantly said it would be politically impossible to do anything to help black American families.
Basically bud, if you want to help, you'll have to directly without government or political or policy based intervention. Sadly...
@@economicdevelopmentplannin8715 I agree because the government can't, that's democracy unfortunately. As far as grass roots, jobs, mate prospects, and stability (a future) is far more valuable than just giving money. The goals should be to get as many educated and into a "productive" job as possible. Sort of like give someone a fish or teach them to fish. Not simple but similar philosophy.
I’ve been in rural India, rural Texas, rural Kansas , and there is so much that can be done. Some of Mississippi looked comparable to buildings dying in Uttar Pradesh(eastern part) on the way to Agra.
There is much that can be done. Wood from the houses falling down can be repurposed, same with old doors and windows. There is much that can be made whole again. Gardens can be planted to vitality the community, and so much more.
I see stuff that can be done locally, and maybe because I was born abroad. My dad was military, and I’ve seen what can be done, and only with a small amount of effort. We don’t have to let jobs shipped overseas destroy us. We can abandon those companies, and we can make our own. They are all owned by a huge conglomerate anyways. Most people are unaware. Much of the decay is engineered, but you can take back your life. You teach yourself skills, reinvent the wheel so to speak, and you keep your home, family, and friends where they are meant to be.
Love it!!!
U can plant community gardens
Get motivated *& rehab homes
Looks like no crime
Stop comparing apples and oranges. American is supposed to be a developed country and gives lectures to other countries. While small towns all over America are dilapidated, morally, culturally and economically ruined. US policy makers need a wake up call.
I see two resources that are massively underused. Derelict buildings and land....and derelict people.
Put them together and amazing thngs could happen
My family is from Leland, Mississippi and have owned land since slavery ended. They are very decent, hardworking, educated people. It's unfortunate you only shared the negative. My family are AWESOME people. Who have not asked the government for anything.
It's always the negative that sells, well to many people's minds. It's a shame.
U are right they are the most down to earth people
Right! If he isn't going to help! Stay out of black communities!
thats awesome! But theres also nothing wrong with welfare, we pay into that as taxpayers as a social safety net for folks who struggle. Nothing wrong accepting help when its needed, nothing wrong with helping others who need it.
@@artsymarxist I am not against a help up. I am against enabling. Not necessarily meaning that is the fault of individuals, but a fault of many many politicians & other enablers. What we need is great people, making this a great place (world), but that hasn't been happening. They have been purposely keeping people down, jobs out of reach, people divided on things no one would even spend their days thinking about, if it wasn't shoved in their face, everyday. We are ruined by design & we help them in that endeavor. Welfare is a trap. Almost no one knows how to self sustain if they needed to, which further makes you "dependent" on those who don't want you to exist anyway. Anything they (Gov.) giveth, they can taketh away, when they need to bring people to heel.
Farm subsidies tend to encourage and subsidize large farms at the expense of small farms.
The Mississippi Delta might be the future of America. The number of billionaires is increasing, and the middle class is shrinking. As one recent saying goes, “You will own nothing and be happy.”
If they'd said, "We will all own nothing and be happy," I'd be fine with it.
But when they say "You will own nothing" it's because they plan to own everything, and rent it to us. 😑🤦🏾♀️
Yep
@@zxyatiywariii8 that's corporates plan. Own all rent to the rest.
Would you choose being rich and not happy or poor and happy? Happiness is a state of mind while rich/poor is defined by others
@@zxyatiywariii8 BINGO
I'm from Clarksdale, the delta not changing. The people there like it. You saw how up beat that first guy was. Most people there are like that. Money and flashing sparkling light don't bring happiness. I like it too. I'm happy here.
Excep for Greenville, that place sucks.
@@jrodger4 😂😂😂
@@jrodger4 that is just fascinating how it was once a cultural, literary meeting place. This video makes me want to visit someday bc of its legends and history.
I love all these people because I'm southern and I understand them. I wish the state government would help more but that old way of thinking still has a stranglehold. No damn person in this country is getting too much welfare. The pentagon gets 800 billon a year and we can't take care of our own damn people. Call me a bleeding heart because my heart does break seeing this.
Maybe Brett Favre can help them out?
@@whiskeykilmer1866 Yes , so funny 😀
Did you miss the part at 19:20 where he mentions the state government turns away hundreds of millions of dollars in aid from the federal government?
@@PelosiStockPortfolio Yes, that's why it breaks my heart.
just spend it Ukrainian a lot Beter idea. i don't think .
People have big smiles on their faces, are welcoming and friendly. They seem happy. I think we can learn from them.
is that why alcohol use and deaths are so high there?
Great interview at the end. Best one that I’ve heard on your channel. He was very well spoken and really knows his stuff.
Yeah but he’s in a bit of denial also😅
Love how everybody demonizes welfare recipients but no body saying these things ever demonizes corporate welfare. I’m from a high welfare region and of course some people abuse it but let’s be sure to include all the welfare abusers in this country when we say these things
100% i make sure to drop that bomb 💣 on any conversation I see or hear, we need to say it loud and over and over again
Well said! End corporate welfare!!
Did Brett farve and the other criminals who stole federal funds intended for Mississippi public assistance ever end up in jail?
BINGO…. I know plenty of young strapping guys who REFUSE to do manual labor and instead bounce from woman to woman living off of her and her children’s welfare benefits /food stamps. She gives him a place to lay his head and he gives her another baby to collect benefits for. The system is broken.
Welfare abusers like BRETT FAVRE ?
True
I had a very dear friend who lived west of Tupelo. Didnt have much but she was always a happy, loving person. Almost always, very upbeat. She told me once that "when you don't have much, you dont dont have much to worry about."
Thanks Nick for your educational tours and your kindness for the people of these places. ❤🙏
It's MUCH easier to live in poverty when everybody around you is just as poor, than it is to live in poverty surrounded by people who are NOT poor.
That makes sense.
Poor people are very generous with what little they have to neighbors and friend. A big pot of soup beans and a tub of rice go a long way.
I’ve seen much worse. Poverty in America sucks, but these people are rich compared to what I’ve seen in Haiti, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, etc.
All courtesy of ? Begins with a C and ends with an A ? Three letters ? 🥸 Follow the money trail .
I'm glad you did a documentary on this. I was born in Cleveland and raised in Rosedale. I was down there just about 6 months ago. Really sad, but my family and friends are always happy down there.
If you grow up there, you understand the place and look at it differently... outsiders will never understand.. childhood was incredible, literally went to school with the same ppl from head start to high school, fortunate enough to have real childhood friends.. when it's time to go, leave.. I left Rosedale in 2004, but I'll always be an Eagle
@Marquez Smith Absolutely! Go Eagles! It's hard to believe I've been gone for 21 years, but I wouldn't change anything. Had lots of fun growing up there.
I lived in Rosewood apartments as a little one in Rosedale 😢 I visit Greenville ever so often but have yet to visit Rosedale. I love it in the Delta and I don't care how poor it is, I would love to move back and take it slow. This city life is exhausting
@Winfrey Nenette yeah, the delta is something else... I left Rosedale a long time ago, live in Washington DC now... my children love going down to visit, it's almost like a culture shock to them... they can't believe a whole town is that small 😂 but they love the love and how close everyone is...
Can someone explain how "happy" someone can be in such sad, desperate circumstances?
The closing interview with Mr. Burdine was the highlight of your video. His well rounded knowledge and presentation was perfect.
I am seeing dilapidated homes, lots of poverty, but I see no trash piled up around houses, on streets, etc. Everything looks very clean. Says something very profound. These people, as poor as they may be, have dignity. They care about
Having traveled a bit, it doesn't look that bad to me. Michael seems like he'd be a great neighbor, there's no hipsters or small plate restaurants, nor anything else that annoys me about most cities. Might consider moving there if I wasn't opposed to humidity, flat land, and tornados.
“You’ll own nothing and be happy”- turning the world into this nightmare is the plan.
How many more times are we gonna say this- Wheres the sense in trawlin up and down the streets in these towns photgraphing peoples misery or advantage taking others. Go AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT It. GO N SEE THE LOCAL POLITICIANS AND FIND OUT WHAT SWANKY PLACES THEY LIVE IN.What does it take to motivate the people in that country. Not that UK is any differerent. If you want us to run that place the military will have to be re trained first because corruption is rife.People all over the planet have gone along with the antics at Google. F-BK Twitter. for yrs thats how trusable joe public is. Give em art sport drama and you have compliance just likie 1920-1945 Germany and Soviets. donr just do something. sit there.
They are upbeat because they're content. ❤🙏🏾 More money, more stress and problems.💯 -- that said, shame on the wealthiest country on the planet for letting this happen to our own. 😔
Man your videos are getting better & better each time, well done 👏
Me too. My Favourite TH-camr hands down!
Nick, you will always meet the friendliest and kindest folks in MS! Love Mississippi!
If I was given a choice between the Mississippi Delta and the Kensington area of Philadelphia, I wouldn't even think twice and immediately choose the Delta.
I just watched a documentary on the Kensington area of Philadelphia, and it's gut wrenching how that area has been ruined by drug use.
I really love your videos bro, I am an immigrant who live in this beautiful country and damn……is increíble to see the things that u show in your videos, the some ones reality in the most richest and powerful country in the world!!
What does surprise me about these places is just how clean they are, the houses are in a terrible state, but very little litter, except for the piles of mattresses and stuff people have thrown out. Even the grass seems healthy.
They’re doing their best with what little resources they have
One of the things I've learned from traveling the world is that everyone does not see decay in the same way.
Is that true?
@@assassin8636 Yes. Humans do not view the world all in the same way. Humans do not think in the same way. There is no such thing as equality. Humans are all very different.
@@cassandraelliot7878Very true. Two sons or daughters growing up in the same household have different perspectives.
@@cassandraelliot7878 Yes, humans can only progress through self-determination. Some races understand/understood that better than others but as it stands no race is free since the controllers of money bought control everywhere
@@assassin8636 Go to Italy & there's hundreds of abandoned tiny villages in rural areas. Times change, people move to where jobs & opportunties are. The history of America is riddled with places that boomed, then went bust. I think Nick can be a bit overdramatic in his despair of certain areas in his videos. For every place like this, there is a counter example of a place that is building up & investing in itself.
My best friend is from Jackson Mississippi. The whole family moved here (Texas) back in the mid nineties due to the lack of jobs there. I've been there several times with her and the people are very friendly with plenty Southern hospitality. Best catfish I ever ate!
No such thing as good catfish....as bad as carp!!
Great video, I liked Michael and glad to hear from Mappy!!!
Ya it looks bad but clearly Mike was thankful for the room over his head some people just have joy in their hearts. They care about feeling safe, having people that care for them and just being able to pay the bills. Mike clearly feels blessed I wish I have friends like him again the kinda people who'd sit out back by a BBQ have a beer and just enjoy life not needing a Lambo in the drive wa,y not being ragged on by their boss to misery. Just a simple happy guy who enjoys life I wish I could by him a beer
what surprises a lot of people is that a lot of people don't need everything they see and want to be happy, from my experience of 81 years is that some of the so-called poorest are really the richest and the richest are the poorest, like my granddad said years ago, " I didn't know I was poor until the government told me I was"
Corporations love to trash the government. Because without governmental regulations (consumer protections) they can do anything they want with no repercussions.
Poison the air, water, land with complete abandon. Who will stop them? THE GOVERNMENT!
I wish there were more people like Mike , He’s a good solid person
I'm poverty too so if I move there I might be able to afford rent or a house. Costs at least a quarter of a million dollars and up ⬆️ to buy a regular 3 bedroom ranch style house in Ohio. That's why the growing number of homeless are going up all across the USA.
Most seniors looking for peace and quiet also want health care. You did not mention the backroad, rural towns' hospital situation, but I bet once retirees look the scarcity of healthcare options, that would be a big deterrent to moving. A place that cannot lure teachers certainly would not be able to lure doctors and nurses. That is one of the reasons why churches have such a hold on people's lives, I wager.
Excellent points.
That's right, Keith. Something has to shake people up down there so that they stop electing the same kind of people to government year after year. The South has known forever it has a problem with too many churches and not enough health care centers and high quality schools. They must all be waiting on the Second Coming or something. And when people go down there to try to get change coming, it goes nowhere. Sick loyalty to the families that keep them down, I think, and the demonization of federal government programs. And that comes from churches, all of them. "We can't let women and girls think for themselves, and we can't let young men question the system." Why not, I ask?
Unacceptable! Residents in all states need to start holding ever single elected official up and down for homelessness, decaying bridges, streets etc. don’t wait!!
And there lies your future. Vote them out for change. Continue to vote them in and stagnate
@@psycharol who are you talking about voting for? They rigged the election rules after Ross Perot got too close, so it is literally impossible to get a third party candidate. And the last two presidents had control of congress for at least half their term, so we know 'I'd fix everything, but the OTHER party won't let me' is a very nice scam so they don't have to do anything.
Maybe we need to figure out a big enough carrot to bribe big corp to work for we the people, though I am not sure how.
But what about Ukraine? Aren’t the Ukrainians important too??? They need more money and weapons to fight off those damn Ruskies!!! 😹😹😹 Can’t believe how much money has been diverted to fight that war the UN provoked.
200 billion dollars down the toilet in Ukraine. Amazing.
As far as I can see, the only things politicians throughout the world care about is re-election and donations
That man you interviewed in the truck said it best about the cities. You didn't get assaulted did you? The high mortality rate of babies and mothers goes back to the poor nutrition. Fix the Welfare where the fruits and vegetables and fresh meat are paid for not candy, chips, soda and prepackaged food. Free garden seeds and starts should be apart of the food stamp program, but the government wants to keep us sick.
Seeds are covered by foodstamps plus any fruit bearing plant
I'll never forget the time I got stuck on the sude of the road and a random gentleman stopped and pulled me out of the ditch. Granted, as a southerner with a 4x4, I'm normally the one who pulls people out, but his help was truly a life-saver. Even with the race trouble, he stopped to help a white guy who was in need in the middle of nowhere. I truly feel bad for their economic situation, but damn, those are some good people.