Mississippi Native: Dyamone White
"Mississippi has made me a visionary. I see the state as being a blank canvas. When I travel, I see what other locations offer and think about ways to replicate those offerings in Mississippi."
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 entrepreneur, financier, and arts lover Dyamone White, who recently announced her candidacy for Mississippi House of Representatives, District 63. In her interview, Dyamone explains what motivated her to run for election.
Where are you from?
Between Bolton and Edwards, Mississippi.
How long have you lived in Mississippi?
Since birth—1992; 30 years. I’m a Mississippian, born and raised. My family has lived here for at least four generations. It’s safe to say that Mississippi is in my blood.
What inspired you to run for office here in Mississippi?
I see opportunity. I see opportunity for my district—Western Hinds County—and the state. Opportunity in the sense of increasing the quality of life for residents through policy, lowering the cost of groceries with the elimination of the grocery tax, expanding Medicaid, and providing more access and resources to the people who live and work here.
My platform is centered on providing access to housing, opportunities, creating unity, instilling a sense of safety, and supporting public education. My experience is varied. I have worked as a banker in a local regional commercial bank, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI)—a nonprofit bank. And I have also worked for a federal agency charged with spearheading economic development. I have the skillset and access to the resources needed to change the landscape of my district and attract businesses to meet the needs of our people.
I want to develop affordable housing for families, disabled, seniors, veterans, etc. through the low-income housing tax credit program, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) products, and partnerships through the Mississippi Home Corporation (MHC). Create jobs by luring companies to the district through opportunity zones, another federal tax credit program. Partner with community colleges for workforce development and teaching financial literacy.
Currently, my district is a food desert. Fresh food access is a primary critical need for folk in Western Hinds County where most people have to drive up to 30 miles just to get to a grocery store.
We have our work cut out for us, but we have to make sure our people have access to healthy and affordable food opportunities, whether it comes from the state assisting in the creation of community gardens and farmers markets through grant programs, or creating a state incentive to attract grocery stores.
What are you hoping to accomplish for your community by representing them in office?
Hope! Once hope arrives, electoral collaboration arrives. People will be interested in politics because dollars will be going further, opportunities to build generational wealth through home purchases will be set in motion, increasing the median income average for families. All too often I hear people say they don't vote or are not engaged in politics because they have no reason to be. They feel that nothing has changed locally. I aim to change that apathy to opportunity by working with younger voters to get them to see their strength and their ability to affect change in the political process.
I often whisper to myself that my path home from work has not changed since I took the same path home from school—that's roughly 30 years.
We have had a few things different—a manufacturing plant and lighting on the interstate in that area. But every time I travel to New Orleans, Memphis, Birmingham, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., their landscapes are ever-changing. I want those changes and opportunities for my family, for my community.
What does “home” mean to you?
Being able to drive within 30 minutes to visit the majority of my relatives and friends whom I have known for most, if not the entirety, of my life. After meeting, we enjoy reminiscing about our lives and childhood dreams. We spend hours at our old family homestead.
How does Mississippi fit into that definition?
Mississippi fits into that definition of home because there are millions of undeveloped pockets in the state where you can get away. Mississippi is beautiful in that regard. You have the freedom of enjoying nature right in your own backyard.
How have you cultivated a community in Mississippi?
By organizing social groups of all ages around common interests—like breakfast, book, and supper clubs, etc. Group members are able to remind one another of the overarching theme of making the state better when times are tough, or when members are ready to leave.
A lot of people in the state battle the temptation to leave Mississippi behind for greener pastures. But optimism is at the center of all gatherings of this sort where healthy discussions are had about our state.
Who are the people who have made me feel rooted here?
Ironically, not family, but friends. The friends who attend my gatherings, which are basically Martha Stewart-inspired outdoor pop-up dinners featuring conversations that turn into dialogue and commentary on a variety of subjects. These dinners feature chefs from throughout the state. We have hosted Chef Derrick Wilson, Chef Zacchaeus Golden, Chef Lashante Cox, and others. They help us re-discover food in unique ways. We can safely talk about issues concerning us—it's our safe space.
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?
While traveling and presenting for work, people are impressed by my intellect and education, how cultured I seem. I am also constantly asked if I had a grandparent in civil rights movement, or if things have changed since the movement.
One time at the airport, I was telling someone I was from Mississippi, and they were stunned at my dental health and the whiteness of my smile. They assumed residents of the state lacked teeth or prioritized dental healthcare.
At another airport, someone asked how I could be from Mississippi and not have visible scars. I should have responded by saying that our trauma is internal.
For me, it’s the idea that some around the country think we live as barbarians. When in fact, we have a proud list of notable people from the state. (Although, we do have a few folks we are ashamed of.)
How has living in Mississippi affected your identity and your life’s path?
Mississippi has made me a visionary. I see the state as being a blank canvas. When I travel, I see what other locations offer and think about ways to replicate those offerings in Mississippi. In essence, being from and living in Mississippi has made me an entrepreneur.
What is something that you’ve learned about Mississippi only by living here? In what ways has Mississippi lived up to your expectations?
Our culture and history are extremely rich. Everywhere you turn, something historical is present. You can be riding and see an historical trail marker for the Blues Trail, civil rights movement, or the Civil War.
Mississippi has lived up to my expectations by having nothing in life come easy.
Do you ever consider moving away someday? Does a sense of duty keep you rooted here? Do you have a “tipping point”?
Yes, everyday—24/7. I’m a lover of the fine arts and a financier and banker by trade, so my ideal location for residency is New York City. I most definitely have a goal of having a second home in the city.
A sense of duty and guilt keeps me in Mississippi. I care about my family and friends’ quality of life. I care about my race's quality of life, but I also truly care about the quality of life for all the good humans in the state.
Do I have a “tipping point”? That’s funny because the “tipping point” bar is forever moving. I have said that the “tipping point” was abortion rights and now we’re here. However, honestly, my “tipping point” for the state is the same for the country. So now I’m eyeing Costa Rica. Ha!
What do you wish the rest of the country understood about Mississippi?
We want better. Don’t assume that the conditions here, even in the poorest areas, are the conditions we are comfortable with. Every citizen in the state wants a better Mississippi.
Recently, we have not been able to find a plan and path forward for the better in the state and that’s on every level—state, county, city, and town. Leadership on all levels has let us down.
Our state is strange in that we have periods of growth and progression, and then we have periods where we are stagnated. Our stagnant periods seem to last longer than our growth periods, unfortunately.
Do you have a favorite Mississippi writer, artist, or musician who you think everyone needs to know about?
Some of my favorite Mississippi writers are Richard Wright, Margaret Walker, Tennessee Williams, and William Faulkner, from a classics standpoint.
Of late, I have been reading the new crop of writers the state has birthed such as Angie Thompson and Kiese Laymon.
My list of musicians is entirely too long, but as far as a more modern musician everyone needs to know about—Jarekus Singleton. He is also from Western Hinds County, “wink-wink.”
If you had one billion dollars to invest in Mississippi, how would you spend your money?
I would spend every cent on the creative economy here—music, art, theater, dance, food, and literature. Our state’s creative economy is our not so hidden treasure. State cultural institutions like the Blue Front Cafe in Bentonia and Po’ Monkey’s in Merigold need support.
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.)
My business venture, the High Horse: Bite & Beverage Barn of Bolton. The High Horse: Bite & Beverage Barn of Bolton is a limited-service restaurant and live entertainment venue that will showcase everything Mississippi has to offer culturally. Converting state classics into simpler gourmet street food dishes while using local ingredients and historical techniques that highlight our state's rich food heritage. The High Horse: Bite & Beverage Barn of Bolton, is a premier tourist attraction and destination concept.
If you want to support my campaign, you can do so here.