Mississippi Native: Danielle Buckingham
"I cherish all the ways Mississippi shows up in how I talk, how I physically move through the world, and even how I love."
What does it mean to call Mississippi home? Why do people choose to leave or live in this weird, wonderful, and sometimes infuriating place? Today we hear from writer, journalist, and podcaster Danielle Buckingham.
Where are you from?
Louisville, MS
How long have you lived in Mississippi?
I was born in Chicago, and moved here when I was eight years old. So I’ve lived here for 22 years.
What does “home” mean to you? How does Mississippi fit into that definition?
I always tell people home is anywhere my grandma lives (which is here), but that also sort of means wherever I feel the safest and cared for. And while that extends to some of my friends outside of Mississippi, I think what makes Mississippi specifically feel most like home is the people, who are often very community-oriented. So many people here have looked out for me, fed me, welcomed me into their homes when I didn’t have any other place to go. And I don’t know if I’ll ever experience that in the same way outside of this place.
How have you cultivated community in Mississippi? Who are the people who have made you feel rooted here?
I think during my time in Jackson when I was attending college, I really began to understand the importance of community and what it should look and feel like. This is when I really began to cultivate a community with mostly Black Queer folks and Black women. These are the people who have lovingly expanded my view of myself, of Mississippi and of the world. Being in community with them has really saved my life in more ways than one, and I think that really keeps me rooted not just in Mississippi, but on the actual Earth as a whole.
So many people here have looked out for me, fed me, welcomed me into their homes when I didn’t have any other place to go. And I don’t know if I’ll ever experience that in the same way outside of this place.
What’s the weirdest question or assumption you’ve encountered about Mississippi (or about you as a Mississippian) by someone who’s never been here?
I think the wildest assumptions I’ve encountered have been on social media, especially when Mississippi is in the news. I’ve seen people say: How could Black people live there? And why aren’t Black people voting these people out of office? And so there are really several different assumptions with statements like that. The first being that some people have a choice in the matter. I always want to ask people who tell us to leave if they are willing to fund our mass exodus from this place. Will you provide us with housing? Employment? Food?
The other thing is voting which is really a sore spot for me. Especially given all the blatant voter suppression. I think it’s really convenient to blame marginalized folks for conditions they didn’t create. I also think it’s easy to live in cities that are liberal on paper and yet still are inhabitable for the poorest among us. They have Black people in their own cities who can’t take care of themselves, who can’t walk down the street without getting harassed by the police, who are being pushed out of their homes and communities. I say all that to say, people deserve to feel safe and cared for wherever they call home. And our time is much better spent working towards that future.
How has living in Mississippi affected your identity and your life’s path?
I think growing up in a small, fairly rural town has shaped how I exist in the world. I don’t experience time the same as someone who lives in a major city. I also think over time I’ve become more proud of my roots here. My family on both my maternal and paternal side are from Mississippi and so even before I moved here permanently, I was surrounded by Mississippians and the traditions they brought along with them when they migrated from the state. And leaning into that has really helped me navigate the shame that I internalized early on from living here. At this point, I cherish all the ways Mississippi shows up in how I talk, how I physically move through the world, and even how I love.
I always want to ask people who tell us to leave if they are willing to fund our mass exodus from this place. Will you provide us with housing? Employment? Food?
What is something that you’ve learned about Mississippi only by living here? In what ways has Mississippi lived up to your expectations?
This was only in the last several years, but this place is beautiful in terms of the landscape. And it’s unfortunate that I don’t think I saw it that way as a kid. Even when I go back home, I’ve grown an immense admiration for how green it is, how hilly it is in certain parts of the state and how flat it is in other parts. I think back to my childhood and the way me, my siblings and younger cousins experienced the land. We didn’t even know at the time what a gift it was to safely exist outside, touching the grass and breathing in fresh air.
Younger me had imagined myself moving away and never coming back. Now I can’t imagine not ever coming back home. But right now home can not nurture the person I’m becoming.
Do you ever consider moving away someday? Does a sense of duty keep you rooted here? Do you have a “tipping point”?
I am actually moving in the fall. But what I will say, I don’t think I’m running away in the same way I was years ago. I think that I’m at a point in my life where I need to move away for a while, and the truth is there are certain parts of my identity beyond just being a Black person that I’m not able to fully exist in. Do I feel guilty about leaving? Yes. I think as Mississippians we want desperately to prove to people we are proudly living here and vowing to make it a better place. And I think that’s necessary, but I also think if you get to a point where being alive here is becoming difficult and you have a choice to leave, I think it's okay to leave. And the thing is I’m not leaving forever. Younger me had imagined myself moving away and never coming back. Now I can’t imagine not ever coming back home. But right now home can not nurture the person I’m becoming.
What do you wish the rest of the country understood about Mississippi?
I used to be very passionate about trying to get the rest of the country to understand Mississippi, but now a part of me doesn’t care. At this point, I find it laughable that anyone could live through the past two decades in this country (or longer) and still not understand how interconnected our struggles are, even on a global level. What I do wish is that people would begin to see the humanity of people living here, especially the people they accuse of just “letting” things happen here. Or worse, saying we should be excommunicated from the US altogether. The people saying this really believe they are good “social justice” oriented people. But there is nothing good or loving or noble about not being able to see or acknowledge the humanity of folks who live in the states you want to throw away.
Do you have a favorite Mississippi writer, artist, or musician who you think everyone needs to know about?
My favorite Mississippi writer is Jesmyn Ward. Her books were the first time I saw literary depictions of rural Mississippi. Her books always feel like home.
There is nothing good or loving or noble about not being able to see or acknowledge the humanity of folks who live in the states you want to throw away.
If you had one billion dollars to invest in Mississippi, how would you spend your money?
This is a big question. Obviously education. But also housing, childcare, LGBTQ+ health services, pro-choice reproductive care. And LGBTQ+ youth safe havens across the state. I think those things would be my first priority.
What or who do you want to shamelessly promote? (It can absolutely be a project you’re working on, or something you are involved in.)
This is my least favorite thing to do, but I have a podcast that I co-host with my friend Leah Whitcomb called Hoodoo Plant Mamas where we discuss Black spiritual traditions, community and culture. Listen to us wherever you get your podcasts. We are currently on a hiatus , but have 41 episodes you can catch up on until we drop season 7. You can find us on IG: @hoodooplantmamas & Twitter: @hoodooplants.