Going down the drain - 1/10/2007

Just like my home in Jackson of 28 years. Due to poor and crumbling infastructure/maintenance, my family lost almost everything we owned due to a City sewer backup that left my home floating in ankle deep sewer water and feces. Not to mention all of our belongings in reach were soaked in this crap as well as the damage to our home. The City of Jackson denied all responsibilty. 2yrs from being debt free I almost had to pay someone to take this crap hole off my hands, with no equity coming back to me. Jackson broke my family physically and in my pocket book. This loss we will never fully recover from. After living my entire life in Jackson (50yrs) I ran as fast as I could from Jackson over to Rankin County, a place I said I'd never live. After settling here, I wish I had left Jackson 20yrs ago...maybe I wouldn't be broke now. Run,run,run and don't look back...the Jackson of 20yrs ago is gone and will never be the same again. Red

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Jackson, MS - 7/17/2006

As with any city, there are good and bad parts of Jackson. Be sure to find the good areas and don't venture to the bad.

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regarding class and money.... - 6/27/2006

I noticed while living in Jackson that the class structure is east to fit into. There is the underclass, lower class, and middle class, that is all. That is, compared to other cities. People think that they very powerful and wealthy when they have mediocre incomes here. Old money just means that their family has lived in the south for a long time and someone in the family tree held down a full time job. The state universities are a great example of this. It is a place where "elites"* go to meet other "elites"* (graduated from one). Granted there have been some, but it is more like "blowing out all the credit cards to appear rich, in hopes of furthering the allusion, attracting a spouse, etc.." My University had 65% females at it, yet a fraction of them make to their senior year. They came to meet their spouses and that is it. It is somewhat ridiculous, but, if you are middle class and want to take an easy step up, move to Jackson. * elite in Mississippi terms

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Outside looking in - Former resident- there for 3 - 6/20/2006

Jackson is still very segregated. Locals can't seem to realize that. Blacks rarely hang out with whites and vice versa. The public school system is horrible (I went to the "best one" the city had to offer) and segregated as well. The textbooks were outdated, gang fights a lot, teachers passing out drunk at their desks (several, not one). I even graduated a year early to go ahead and go to college because I felt I was wasting my time. Even our real estate agent told us upon moving to the city that I should go to a private school, because that is where the whites go. I soon learned that that is how they keep African Americans out of the private schools was by extortionate tuitions. A lot of people simply can't afford them, but there is hardly any white kids in public schools. From my private school experience there (two years), the education was good. But nothing compared to regular public schools in the midwest and mid Atlantic. The outer suburb schools are better but very white and inner city Jackson was very black. The town is seperated into where the "whites live" and where the "blacks live". Rare occasion is it to see both colors in the same place. If you are white, you get to know the other whites pretty fast because Jackson is predominantly black. The community leaders are corrupt and caught all the time doing something illegal. Crime is completely out of control. I have lived in Chicago, DC and Miami. I have never once have been robbed till I moved to Jackson (3x). I noticed why a lot of natives like it there: They have never lived anywhere else to compare it to and don't know that it is weird to see this community separation, poverty, etc... I am from the midwest, east coast and Florida and I am a causacian. However, some of my family members from South America refused to some back after some negative incidents that have happened. Most everyone I associated with in school there has left the state. Sorry to be so negative, but it really is not that great. Some positive things. Lemuria is a great bookstore and Keifers is a decent Greek restaurant. Reservoir is nice. Good good, people are friendly. Awesome fishing.

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New and Improved Jackson???? - 11/18/2005

I am an educated young black woman and although to some Jackson may be "new and improved" there are still no jobs there other than in education and nursing for many MINORITIES. Amazing. I lived in Atlanta for 8 years (where I went to college and graduated) and have met so many foreigners who have heard not just about Jackson, MS but Mississippi as a whole. They look at you "If you are a minority" and from MS like they can't believe Minorities still "willingly" live there. It is still very segregated and unfortunately many of the same perceptions and ideals that were prevalent "BEFORE" the civil war still exist there. My first 2 years in ATL I was "ashamed" to tell people I was even from MS especially after hearing so many sarcastic remarks from my professors and students from other cities. Mississippi by many is still considered to be such a backward place. You know when news about a state's history becomes a teaching lesson on values in other countries classrooms around the world then something is amiss. Anyway, Jackson is not as improved as it should be. Just look at the super high incarceration, jobless and pregnancy rate of its inhabitants.

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The New and Improved Jackson - 11/14/2005

Even with its problems, I love living in the Jackson Metro area! Most crime is limited within the Jackson city limits which is why I, and the majority of Jacksonians, have moved to the suburbs leaving inner Jackson to fend for itself. The New Jackson consist of the suburbs: Flowood, Madison, Brandon, Byram and Clinton. Because most of these areas are in neighboring counties, taxes are cheaper and services are higher quality. Good shopping environments and many businesses have also moved to Flowood and Madison which is where you will find a higher cost of living including higher restaurant and sales taxes. What you will find in Jackson Metro: A tight sense of community along with good and hardworking people who will give you the shirt off their back even if they don't like you. What you will not find in Jackson Metro: Major outdoor activity. Because of the muggy summers, most people spend time indoors. You learn to be very thankful for the beautiful spring and fall weather. The exception to this rule... High School Football and Hunting. Looking to move here for a job? You must educate yourself when living here. I have many friends who love Jackson, but the long and short... education is key to enjoying your time in Jackson. Unlike most cities where middle class is the majority population, Jackson seems to be a city of those that are wealthy and those that are not. Most of the people who dislike living here are usually lazy or not willing to work for the high paying jobs. Unemployment is high and competition for jobs is great. I think this makes you a better person in the long run, but I tend to be an optimist as well.

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Don't Move to Jackson, its "WORSE" than Memphis, T - 10/7/2005

I grew up in Mississippi and went to College two years in Jackson, MS before I transferred out ot Jackson and moved to Atlanta. One reason I moved is because there did not seem to be any opportunities for minorities other than in Nursing or Education. If you were a business major or any other major you were out of luck when it came to jobs. There is of course a lot of poverty. Many of the residents in Jackson MS are uneducated, illiterate and are living on Welfare. I have 4 cousins, a brother and 3 male friends who moved to Jackson and believe it or not they are now ALL in prison. It is certainly NOT an environment that is conducive to fostering family values, a respect for religion and hardwork. It is even more depressing than Memphis, TN. IT is HIGHLY segregated. But then again, you can't blame the folks. I don't want to live around poverty and crime either. I would say there is racial tension but everyone is so segregated you really can't tell other than looking at how 1 half of the city lives as opposed to the other side. (get my drift?). America really needs to focus more on its southern inner cities becasuse their is a LOT of deprivation. New ORleans isn't the worse of it. Trust Me.

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