The Deep South: My Summer in Mississippi
Arriving in Mississippi
I arrived in Jackson, Mississippi eager to meet people and see everything. I was filled with excitement, but also quite aware of the racial disparities that resonated in these parts. As a young Latina who also happens to be a lesbian (and a feminist too for what its worth), I just knew that I was in for a treat.
In the South, you are greeted with: “Hi, what’s your name and what religion are you?” At first, I laughed for a couple seconds, but quickly realized that it was a serious question. I didn’t know what to say except, “My name is Monica!” And that’s all I felt like saying. Aside from football, religion is a big deal here in Mississippi.
Another big thing here is Misogyny. It’s alive and well here folks. There are times when you know that there are certain battles you will not win…and this is one of them! With nicknames like “Sweetheart” and “Darling,” women are expected to smile like good girls and stick to looking pretty.
Most days, I just count to 10!!!
The Death Penalty
I had been selected as one of ten law students to intern in the ‘Deep South,’ but more specifically, I was to work on Death Penalty cases for the Office of Capital Defense. I knew that the legal work would be quite difficult, but I had no idea how meaningful my service would actually be. Although I am bound by confidentiality through the ‘Attorney-Client Privilege Doctrine,’ the only thing that I can wholeheartedly say is that this experience has been like no other and that I will leave Mississippi with a greater understanding of what it means to fight for a life that’s not your own.
The Color Line
Apart from helping clients on death row fight for their life, I have come to realize that in many ways, certain Mississipians are also fighting for something real – perpetual. Something that deepens the very existence of the flagrant color line here in the Deep South. In speaking with community members in various parts of Mississippi, it became quite daunting to see that minorities are not only systematically targeted by law enforcement departments, but also condemned by our American judicial system. It is clear that the very legal system that should protect us is saturated with racism and bigotry and those affected just happen to be black men.
Let us ask ourselves then….who are the real criminals?
In Jackson, there is a stark distinction between the communities of the “poor” and the communities of the “well-off.” I should know, my summer quarters lay in the community of Belhaven, where the grass is green and the houses shimmer with architectural majesty. Across the road down Fortification St., the homes are planted on their foundation seeming desolate to the average visitor, with graffiti adorning the exteriors and families departing the City with Soul.
What then is the remedy?
The Basics: The Death Penalty in Mississippi
Following the U.S. Supreme Court case of Furman v. Georgia, the Death Penalty was reinstated in the State of Mississippi on April 23, 1974. Male inmates are housed at the Mississippi State Penitentiary also known as “Parchman,” located in the Mississippi Delta, while female inmates are housed at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility. The Mississippi legislature began using lethal injection in 1984, but prior to this date, the state used hanging, electrocution and lethal gas as execution methods. Mississippi was one of two states to use a portable electric chair when executing persons through electrocution and moved the chair from county to county up until 1952.
There are currently 47 persons on death row in Mississippi, one of which is a female named Lisa Jo Chamberlain. The gender ratio is 46:1. The cost associated per year to house a death row inmate in Mississippi is unclear at this time. However, the cost to house a normal inmate per year in Mississippi is approximately $19,118.
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Source: http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/
For the original post, visit: https://mvalencia00.wordpress.com/2015/07/18/hello-world/
