Mississippi God Damn… ms. nina simone

Pascagoula, Mississippi.

A day and a half ago I drove the 14 hours from Athens, Ohio to Pascagoula, Mississippi in one stint. Over night. My mind was hazy and I was visibly physically tired by the time I arrived at hot noon. I hadn’t shaved in days. I smelled. But my appearance was not really an indication of what my trip was like, more a representation of me, right now, and how I felt. One day later and I have changed. I am in Pascagoula. Mississippi.

Am I on pilgrimage? Well, kind of, but not really. I am working on a documentary project in conjunction with a TCOM class from OU. Our goal is to open people’s consciences again to the needs of this area, and to some of the aftershocks still reverberating through many of the Gulf communities. The focus of my work will be with a group called 100 houses in 100 days. They take care of the people hardest hit and deepest in need. They are picking up the ball which the state, local and federal governments have dropped. Many of the people who are having their homes rebuilt are older and have disabilities. No one is paying attention to them except 100 Homes and an army of good-hearted volunteers. I will be focusing on the people who are moving into these homes and where they are living now, and the volunteers and their effects on the rehabilitation process. These are some of the pictures I took today and last night. Much more to come, with more about the process and experience. AH, I can’t seem to post pictures today, maybe wordpress is down. I will try again soon.