Jackson Free Press

The Commercial Appeal is reporting:

Mississippi's non-Hispanic white population has dipped slightly since 2000, while the number of minority residents has increased a little more than 65,000, recently released census estimates for 2006 show. According to the estimates, released Thursday, the state had 1,726,158 non-Hispanic white residents last July 1 compared to 1,727,908 at the time of the 2000 Census. The combined total of minorities in the state was 1,184,382 last July 1 compared to 1,116,750 in 2000.

The estimates for 2006 are the first to show the impact of Hurricane Katrina, which smashed into Mississippi's Gulf Coast counties and New Orleans on Aug. 29, 2005.

Previous Comments

ID

92624

Comment

build a dang wall?!

Author

cityofjacksonms

Date

2007-05-22T06:54:41-06:00

ID

92625

Comment

Yeah, folks are freaking out right now from those reports because they fear a collapse of the dominant Anglo-Saxon culture. Check out this article: America's Population Growth is Healthy. Here's a quote: Some think that America's changing racial mix will cause problems. They worry that the emergence of a "majority minority" population will see the end traditional Anglo-Saxon values, replaced by pockets of ethnic communities. But the opposite is true - most immigrants want [to] experience "the American dream", not duplicate the conditions they left behind. Studies indicate that most immigrants integrate into the American mainstream, both linguistically and culturally. Indeed, the "eclectic" mix is America's strength. I think I will email him and ask him to expound on that further. I understand wanting to get away from poverty or oppression, but cultural attributes such as food, dress, music and language shouldn't be thrown out the window - you know, the baby with the bathwater. I'm not saying they shouldn't learn English because it would be to their benefit if they did, especially if they want to make it in the marketplace. I'm just saying that they shouldn't forget where they came from and continue to honor and respect their roots.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-05-22T07:15:54-06:00

ID

92626

Comment

Wow, the author replied quickly! Here's his response: I did not mean to imply that cultural attributes (food, dress, music, etc.) should be thrown away or even forgotten - indeed, the mix of the different cultures IS America's strength. Some immigrants want to integrate, but pockets of the original culture remain and contribute to the overall culture. The "eclectic" mix is America's strength. The word "eclectic" is indeed powerful and true here - the MIX of everything that is good. I hope this helps. Thanks for thinking about it. You might wish to read some of my other articles on my website, and sign up for my regular eNews. Cheers: jim Pinto seems to be a pretty nice fellow. I think I will sign up for that newsletter.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-05-22T08:16:44-06:00

ID

92627

Comment

i know what he really means. imagine how different the approach would be if the africa continent was linked to north amerika by a land bridge. then it would be "BUILD A DANG WALL - AND FAST! SPARE NO EXPENSE!!!"

Author

cityofjacksonms

Date

2007-05-22T16:15:45-06:00

ID

92628

Comment

city, you got me thinking about all the times Haitians were intercepted when they tried to come here.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-05-22T16:17:33-06:00

ID

92629

Comment

no doubt. and cubans too. it's absolutely crazy that cubans can be in this country "legally," but only if they are able to set foot on dry U.S. soil before the coast guard can intercept them before they set that foot. absolutely ridiculous.

Author

cityofjacksonms

Date

2007-05-22T16:27:25-06:00

ID

92630

Comment

we all know why that is. Take another policy and the Cubans will riot down there. However, there is the question that if we repatriate them to Cuba, I think everyone knows what will happen to them, unlike the Mexicans that are returned to Mexico. For further support of my claim, look at what happened to the Cossacks we sent back to the Soviet Union at the end of WWII. The POW's we returned to the USSR were killed as well.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-05-22T16:49:43-06:00

ID

92631

Comment

Kingfish, if you weren't banned, I would ask you to present evidence that Cuba executes would-be immigrants we return to that country. Now that you're gone, I don't have to point out that even though Cuba has a repressive regime, that's ridiculous, especially since most Cuban immigrants to the U.S. are economic, not political, refugees. In other words, not worth the government's time.

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2007-05-22T21:49:30-06:00

ID

92632

Comment

Dang it My high school nickname will now continue. As the only white kid on the all African-American basketball team for a 5A public school team in MS I was called Token... )granted I was "afirmative action" until I threw a few elbows) then Towken (it was spelled for me to ease any questions) then a few more elbows and fists and threats then "Nasty Whitey" (we were not PC., we were 14t tru 19) I demand to be knon as Towken even if I was a minority in high school I earned that distinction. Now I really am a Token... Seiously WHO CARES? Majority African American, Hispanic, Asian, Caucasian, what ever majority . .... Vote Liberal I am OK and come to me for business That should be a cry AGamm627

Author

AGamm627

Date

2007-05-29T23:42:30-06:00

ID

92633

Comment

Interesting, AGamm. I was in JPS during the 80's and 90's, so I was a part of the growing majority thanks to white flight. One of my best friends in elementary school was the only white kid in our class by the time we finished sixth grade. I was hoping that she would go to the same junior high school I went to, but that didn't happen. I wonder where she is now... There was a Hispanic boy that was in my sixth grade class, and he was the first one I ever knew in my life. He was in the country temporarily as far as I know. I know he had to go back to Mexico before the school year was out, but he was at my cousin's junior high school the following year. I wonder where he is, too.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-05-30T08:42:57-06:00

ID

92634

Comment

I remember when going to Forest Hill, we had an exchange student from Brazil. From my first year to my senior year, I saw the school go from being mostly white to at least 50/50, if not mostly black.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-05-30T09:47:21-06:00