WTH?! Mississippi Stuck in a Time Warp

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SharonL

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I read this story and though how on earth did this go unnoticed for so long? This is unbelievable that in 2010 this kind of racism would be acceptable. If I lived in Mississippi I would be embarrassed.

Miss. Middle School Bars Black Students From Running For Class President

After 30 years of barring black students from running for class president, a Mississippi public middle school, reversed a Jim Crow era policy today and announced students of all races would be allowed to run for student government.

Students at Nettleton Middle School looking to run for class president, previously needed to maintain a B average, obtain 10 signatures from their classmates – and be white.

Rules issued last week outlined the school's rules for seeking office. Students could run for president, vice president, secretary-treasurer and reporter, but some positions were off-limits depending on race.

In all three grades, only white students could run for president. In eighth grade black students could run for vice president and reporter. In seventh grade blacks could only run for secretary-treasurer, and in sixth grade only for reporter.

There were no assigned positions for students of other races and no mention of students who are mixed race.

The policy, a holdover from late 1960s desegregation orders, is one of several school district policies that smack of Jim Crow, including crowning separate black and white homecoming and prom queens in high school.

After a story ran on ABCNews.com and repeated calls to the school board and administrators, Nettleton superintendent Russell Taylor issued a statement revoking the policy.
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Miss. Middle School Reverses Policy Barring Blacks From Running For Class President - ABC News

Class Officer rules
Mississippi Middle School Segregates Class Elections by Race - ABC News
 
Was it just 'on the books' but never enforced? It's hard to believe that a policy such as that would be enforced within the last 2 decades.
 
precocious said:
Was it just 'on the books' but never enforced? It's hard to believe that a policy such as that would be enforced within the last 2 decades.
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It was currently in practice as you can see from the image I posted in the 2nd link, it clearly shows 2010-2011 on which race can run for which position.
It was only changed after a mother brought it to the attention of the media after her distraught daughter who recently moved to the area was not allowed to run for reporter.
 
diGriz said:
No...its Mississippi.

The South still has not accepted that they lost the "Was of Northern Aggression "
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What's a 'was'? :hmmmm:

Oh, I heard you spelling "m-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i" as you typed.....and then run to the bathroom. I noticed that anytime anyone verbally spells Mississippi within your earshot, you run to the bathroom. What's up with that? :noidea:
 
OK, let's get the story straight. The school alternated from year to year the race allowed to run for a particular office. It was liked forced bussing in the 60s, it forced an integrated student government. Yeah, it looks stupid now, but at the time it was instituted, it was probably borderline genius. If you weren't in the south in the 50s and 60s, you would have a hard time understanding. Funny, no one has mentioned that there's no place in the scheme for Hispanic or Asian students.
What's interesting to me in the present era is this: living in and working all over the State of Florida, I encounter people from all over the US. I seldom hear derogatory racial comments from Southerners. The same cannot be said for those from New England and the Midwest.
 
DanC said:
OK, let's get the story straight. The school alternated from year to year the race allowed to run for a particular office. It was liked forced bussing in the 60s, it forced an integrated student government. Yeah, it looks stupid now, but at the time it was instituted, it was probably borderline genius. If you weren't in the south in the 50s and 60s, you would have a hard time understanding. Funny, no one has mentioned that there's no place in the scheme for Hispanic or Asian students.
What's interesting to me in the present era is this: living in and working all over the State of Florida, I encounter people from all over the US. I seldom hear derogatory racial comments from Southerners. The same cannot be said for those from New England and the Midwest.
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I can understand the mentality at the time if they 'rotated' the schedule, but that should have been done away with a long time ago. :yesnod:

I guess the South just whispers it between the sheets.....BTW....Where is the KKK headquaters? :hmmmm:
 
DanC said:
OK, let's get the story straight. The school alternated from year to year the race allowed to run for a particular office.
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From what I see, they didn't rotate the office of President at all.
 
I read this story several days ago, The actual complaint of the girl in question is that the President's position wasn't open to her this year. It will be next year.
 
DanC said:
I read this story several days ago, The actual complaint of the girl in question is that the President's position wasn't open to her this year. It will be next year.
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Did you even read the story? She can run now because they reversed the policy after media attention. Student government will be available to all students this year. Hopefully that includes Asians and Hispanics.
I am a little floored that anyone would defend this policy in 2010, even you.
 
DanC said:
I read this story several days ago, The actual complaint of the girl in question is that the President's position wasn't open to her this year. It will be next year.
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I'm curious Dan what's your position on the KKK? Member? Or are they too diverse for you?
 
SharonL said:
I am a little floored that anyone would defend this policy in 2010, even you.
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SharonL said:
I'm curious Dan what's your position on the KKK? Member? Or are they too diverse for you?
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I'm a bit floored that you would even think to ask that question of Dan.:eek:

I think Dan was trying to get the facts, not necessarily defend them.
 
I'm shocked, SHOCKED, to find that gambling is going on in here!
 
For the record, I agree w/Preco about Dan's comment. I didn't take it as a supportive comment, just a clarification.
 
precocious said:
What's a 'was'? :hmmmm:

Oh, I heard you spelling "m-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i" as you typed.....and then run to the bathroom. I noticed that anytime anyone verbally spells Mississippi within your earshot, you run to the bathroom. What's up with that? :noidea:
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Yep - you caught me - I was singing and its the War of Northern Aggression
 
Yes, Sharon, I read the story. The ORIGINAL story, not the sensationalized version.
I never defended the policy, I was attempting to give insight as to how well meaning people would have ever come up with such a policy. I was surprised that it was still in effect, but then I also understand rural inertia. There are lists of archaic laws from every state published periodically for amusement. This one involved race, so it naturally becomes an OUTRAGE!!
The rest of your comments do not warrant a response.
 
Actually, diGriz, it was the War of Southern Independence.

Remember, in any war, the history books are written by the winners.
 
servantofone said:
From what I see, they didn't rotate the office of President at all.
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I've googled and can't see either way if all offices were rotated or only specific ones. :noidea:

Not saying that it is right....just observing what the policies were. :noidea:
 
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