I urge you to see the photos from  the Lower 9th Ward.  If you wish to see pictures from other sites in the South, scroll down on this page.  I flew into St. Louis to see my friend Midori.  Suzie and her brother and sister-in-law picked me up and took me to their home in Carbondale, IL,  We then drove down to New Orleans, via Memphis and Little Rock.

Use The Rod, Save Your Children

A large freeway billboard on I-40 in Arkansas reminds parents to do their job. 

The Old Blues Highway from Memphis to Vicksburg was a little two lane highway.  We went through some very small towns, and stopped at my first Piggly Wiggly.  Microsoft spellchecker recognizes “Safeway”, but not “Piggly”.  Yankee bastards.

Our Lonely Planet describes the Mississippi Delta in the following language:

Most Delta residents remain poor, and some shantytown communities look positively Third World…Don’t flaunt valuables here, and don’t stop for strangers on the road.  Guns are prevalent in the region, and encounters with local law enforcement are best avoided; tent camping is not a good option.

Accordingly, we decided against tent camping.  I should relate this conversation at a broken down gas station South of Vicksburg.  All their pumps were out of order.  I asked the middle-aged, generous dispositional woman behind the counter for some advice, which she was quite happy to dispense with a very pleasant tone:

Is there gas further down the road?

In Port Gibson…about 10 miles.

Is there a cheap hotel as well?

Yes, but I wouldn’t advice anyone to stay there or anywhere near Port Gibson.

Why’s that?  Anything I should know before I stop for gas?

[Looks around quickly before answering in a high whispery voice, and a knowing knod] Blacks.