Mississippi Native: Tiara Jackson
"Don’t get me wrong, I love my state...I just know that in order for me to become the person I know I can be, I have to leave."
As we approach Election Day on November 7, Rooted is bringing you into the minds of candidates and young voters across the state. What does “home” mean to Mississippians who are working to affect political change this election season, or who have the most to lose or gain from elected officials’ actions? This week Tiara Jackson, a student at Tougaloo College, tells us how she’s feeling about the upcoming elections and her hopes for Mississippi’s future.
Where are you from?
Terry, Mississippi
How long have you lived in Mississippi? Where are you in school now?
I’ve lived in Mississippi all my life, since December of 2002. I first attended Hinds Community College in Utica and graduated from there in May, and I now attend Tougaloo College.
What does “home” mean to you? How does Mississippi fit into that definition?
Home to me means having an actual safe space. A space where I can go to and relax. Mississippi has a lot of hidden gems, whether that’s an art festival, Soulé Coffee & Bubble Tea, or hiking at Red Bluff. It’s all about finding the little things in life that keep you going.
Truthfully, I’ve never been one to keep up with candidates because they would come to my church when elections were coming up and then never come back.
How have you cultivated community in Mississippi? Who are the people who have made you feel rooted here?
When I was in high school, I didn’t think that I would find a community. It wasn’t until I found Amanda Furdge back in January of 2022 at the Two Mississippi Museums and we exchanged information. Ever since then, she has been a part of my life (come to find out she basically knows half my family). She has supported me in so many ways along with a bunch of other artists like Monica Hill, Sarah J., Vitamin Cea, Kim Shadey, Sharon Jimerson, Azia Wiggins, Juju (Mama Sana Jewels Owner), the list goes on. I don’t know if they know this or not, but they introduced me to a world of Jackson that I probably wouldn’t have known about otherwise. They bring me a sense of community, a safety net of being free. These women are creating the blueprint of the Mississippi I know we can live in. The Mississippi I know we can be.
What issues are most important to you as a young voter that Mississippi candidates are or aren’t talking about?
Being a native of Hinds County, I hear a lot about stopping crime in the area. But along with stopping crime, there has to be some kind of in-depth community outreach. Truthfully, I’ve never been one to keep up with candidates because they would come to my church when elections were coming up and then never come back. I believe we need more local candidates who are big believers in community service and family connection. We need someone who is willing to put in place a standard of community.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my state. I will be a die hard Mississippi southern girl until I die! I just know that in order for me to become the person I know I can be, I have to leave.
Do you plan on staying in Mississippi after you graduate?
Absolutely not. Don’t get me wrong, I love my state. I will be a die hard Mississippi southern girl until I die! I just know that in order for me to become the person I know I can be, I have to leave. I just have to because Mississippi is forever my home. I have to leave and explore what else is out there, to do what I have and love to do, and then bringing those resources back home.
What role do state politics play in your decision to stay in or leave the state?
I tell people all the time, Mississippi could be like Georgia, California, Florida, New York, we could be like these developed states—heck, even Alabama is more developed than we are! The big picture is, we have elected officials who are trying to keep us back and elected officials who are too caught up in their pride. So, it’s up to young voters and young changemakers like me to get those resources and bring them back here and create something that will be geared towards a developing audience.
I tell people all the time, Mississippi could be like Georgia, California, Florida, New York, we could be like these developed states—heck, even Alabama is more developed than we are!
What do you wish older Mississippians understood about what it’s like to be a young person living in this state?
I wish they understood that Mississippi is changing and that we as young people aren’t going to tolerate disrespect and we aren’t going to tolerate any mistreatment. Because we are in a Bible Belt state, respect is a huge thing down here. However, if people constantly stay in a closed mindset they will never understand that everyone is not the same and societal norms have changed. Stop trying to keep everything the same or go back to olden times because the results will only hurt the entire state.
Do you have a favorite Mississippi changemaker who you think everyone needs to know about?
Not too many people know about her, but she is actually my favorite author. Anne Moody. She attended Tougaloo College in the ‘60’s. When I was an intern at the Eudora Welty House and Garden, I found out that she was able to meet Eudora Welty and she enjoyed listening to Welty read. Moody is an underrated Mississippi author and her book (I first read it in 4th grade, but probably shouldn’t have, oh well) Coming of Age in Mississippi is sooooo good. From how she grew up in Wilkerson County to coming to Tougaloo and then ending up with her going to the March in Washington. She really wrote down all the pain, suffering, trails, triumphs, anything you can imagine a black, southern woman could go through and she prevailed.
Anne Moody had seen it all and she went through it all, but she continued the fight for Civil Rights. Her goal was to defy the odds of being a black woman in the South. If you read her book (and I still read it, my daddy has two or three copies at our house), she goes into every single detail of her life from when she was five years old to her college years. Anne Moody was an exceptional woman whose story tells the real truth of being a black Mississippian and it’s still relevant to this day.
Andre 3000 said it best when he said, “The South got something to say.” Mississippi has something to say, it’s just who all is willing to listen to our voices.
If you had one billion dollars to invest in Mississippi, how would you spend your money?
I would give back to public schools, especially rural and urban schools. I have been fortunate enough to be a recruiter for Hinds Utica Campus and I’ve visited many schools. One school in particular was in Woodville, MS and the high school was connected to the elementary school; they didn’t have a choir/music teacher, and their district was moving to a lower classification. Listening to the students, faculty, and staff, I realized that most Mississippi leaders don’t care about schools that their children aren’t attending. As a matter of fact, most of their children go to private schools. They may not want to admit it, but they put more money into the private schools and SEC football.
My wish is to give back to those in need. Seeing these underfunded schools made me realize that I am very fortunate to receive the education I deserve. Although sports may be our main source of entertainment, what about those students who aren’t as athletic, what about their interests and hobbies? At the end of the day, not everyone is going to make it into the league and we need to teach our children that there are other opportunities out there for them to make a living. The way we can do that is to fund these schools and invest in multiple different activities and organizations that go beyond sports.
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.)
Right now (if I stop procrastinating) I’m coming up with a plan to create a short docu-series called Dear Mississippi. It’s basically a love/hate letter to our wonderful state that has given me a voice and a completely different outlook on life. A state that also has a history of the pain and suffering not only of black people, but other people of color, women, LGBTQ+ communities, and the list goes on and on. We have such a unique state that too many people on the outside don’t know what all is actually happening. I’ve been a part of organizations, talked to people from different walks of life, and I’ve come to find out that not only am I a curious person, but I’m also someone who can use their talent and voice to help those in need. So being at Tougaloo, I’m creating more opportunities not only for myself, but for others. I love to give back to my community and pour more knowledge into others. Being a Mississippian means that I come from a legacy of creatives, activist, thinkers, and more. Andre 3000 said it best when he said, “The South got something to say.” Mississippi has something to say, it’s just who all is willing to listen to our voices.