MLK Day

I hope everyone enjoyed their day off yesterday. It is fitting that we honor Martin Luther King Jr. He helped this country through a very trying time. An era we call the Civil Rights Movement.

My daughter had to have some medical test done yesterday and that reminded me that not everyone got to enjoy the day off. So first off to all of you who had to work, thank you for the jobs you do. From medical, police, fire and the workers in stores and resturants your sacrifice has not gone unnotticed. Now on to Martin Luther King Jr and the reason we celebrate.

I do believe that things are better today than they were years ago. However I also believe that we have a long way to go. But I believe that the biggest thing is how far Mississippi has come. We for all the wrong reasons are still pictured as a backward and racially biased state. And I take offense at that. We have more black elected officials than any other state in the union. We have had many black leaders in the arts and sciences and we continue to improve in many other areas of race relations. So the next time you hear someone on the streets or in the media putting down on Mississippi don't feel ashamed go ahead and be rightfully proud of your state.  Now I am not saying that we are perfect because we are not, we still have improving to do.

Now here is the but. But other states who continue to look down on us are further behind. Look to Massachusetts where they have had bus rioting and racially motivated fights at athletic events. Look to California and Rodney King. There are plenty of other examples as well. Now please don't think I am picking on these states because I am not. What I am trying to get you to see is that we all have room for improvement. weather you are black or white, we can all do more.

My God does not see color. My God sees people created in his image and he loves us all. And my God calls us to love one another. I think we do that here in Monticello, and I think we are still trying to improve.

Remember, "Monticello it just feels like Home."