DOCUMENT RESUME ED 457 307 UD 034 459 TITLE Racial and Ethnic Tensions in American Communities: Poverty, Inequality, and Discrimination. Volume VII: The Mississippi Delta Report. INSTITUTION Commission on Civil Rights, Washington, DC. PUB DATE 2001-02-00 NOTE 125p.; Initially drafted by Maxine G. Sharpe, Marlissa Briggett, Deborah A. Reid, and Peter Reilly. For Volume I, see ED 359 294; for Volume III, see ED 407 451; and for a related Senate hearing, see ED 407 450. PUB TYPE Reports - Descriptive (141) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC05 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Blacks; Elementary Secondary Education; Employment; Equal Education; Equal Opportunities (Jobs); Family Income; Farmers; Higher Education; Political Issues; *Poverty; Public Education; *Racial Bias; *Racial Discrimination; Socioeconomic Status; *Voting Rights IDENTIFIERS *Mississippi Delta; Small Farms ABSTRACT This report examines underlying causes of racial and ethnic tensions in the Mississippi Delta. It is based on sworn testimony from a public hearing, subpoenaed documents received by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and legal research. Data are provided on: equality of economic opportunity (racial factors and economic opportunity, agriculture, and black Delta farmers); race and public education; and voting rights and political representation. Significant racial disparities exist in the socioeconomic conditions of blacks and whites. Black farmers have unequal access to technical support and financial assistance. Nearly half of the lowest ranking school districts are in the Delta. Minority students are over-represented in special education. Teacher shortages exist throughout Mississippi, particularly in the poorest districts with the most minority students. Since Mississippi adopted new admissions standards by equalizing admissions requirements at four-year institutions, fewer black students have qualified for unconditional admission. Minority political participation in Mississippi has increased substantially since passage of the Voting Rights Act. Black voter registration and voting lag behind that of white citizens. Recommendations for each of the study's findings are presented. Two , appendixes describe Mississippi Delta county supervisors and black elected officials on municipal governing bodies in Mississippi. (Contains 17 tables.) (SM) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. LC) / / 1 a a aI U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office ot Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 5/Thisdocument has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been Made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. February 2001 A Report of the United States Commission on Civil Rights BEST COPY AVAILABLE 0 U.S. Commission on Civii Rights The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is an independent, bipartisan agency first established by Congress in 1957 and reestablished in 1983. It is directed to: a Investigate complaints alleging that citizens are being deprived of their right to vote by reason of their race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or by reason of fraudulent practices. o Study and collect informatiod relating to discrimination or a denial of equal protection of the laws under the Constitution because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or in theadministration of justice. o Appraise Federal laws and phlicies with respect to discrimination or denial of equal protection of the laws becauA of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or in the administration of justice. a Serve as a national clearinghouse for information in respect to discrimination or denial of equal protection of the lawg because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin. Submit reports, findings, and recommendations to the President and Congress. o Issue public service announcements to discourage discrimination or denial of equal protection of the laws. Members of the Commission Mary Frances Berry, Chairperson Cruz Reynoso, Vice Chairperson Christopher F. Edley, Jr. Yvonne Y. Lee Elsie M. Meeks Russell G. Redenbaugh Abigail Thernstrom Victoria Wilson Les Jin, Staff Director This report is available on diskette in ASCII and WordPerfect 5.1 for persons with visual impairments. Please call (202) 376-8110. Racial and Ethnic Tensions in American Communities: Poverty, Inequality, and Discrimination Volume VII: The Mississippi Delta Report 4 Letter of Transmittal The President The President of the Senate The Speaker of the House of Representatives Sirs: The United States Commission on Civil Rights transmits this report to you pursuant to P.L.103-419. It is the product of a three-day fact-finding hearing, sworn testimonies of nu- merous witnesses, subpoenaed data, and research. The Mississippi Delta Report is the seventh volume in a series of Commission reports on Racial and Ethnic Tensions in American Communities: Poverty, Inequality, and Discrimina- tion. The report examines underlying causes of racial and ethnic tensions in the Mississippi Delta, focusing on the areas of equality of economic opportunity, public education, and voting rights. Our recommendations are directed to the states of Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas, and the federal government. With respect to matters under federal jurisdiction, the Commis- sion recommends that the U.S. Department of Agricultare should thoroughly investigate and resolve outstanding complaints of discriminatory treatment at local FSA offices. The agency should also work with other governmental entities to examine lending practices at area banks in rural areas to determine, document, and alleviate discriminatory lending practices, as well as institutional barriers that contribute to lengthy loan approvalmethods. Further, the agency should examine legislative initiatives which currently exist that contribute to farm foreclosure and prevent farmers from reducing their farm loan debt. The Commission also strongly recommends that the USDA resolve the backlog of civil rights complaints through the most expedient, equitable, and efficient mechanisms. The institutional factors that created the backlog should be investigated and eliminated. Finally, the Commission recommends that the USDA fully act upon its February 27, 1997, commitment to ensure that its staff is adequately trained and its complaint processing pro- cedures are adequately implemented. The Commission further recommends that the U.S. Department of Education increase its scrutiny of educational disparities in the Delta and provide adequate avenues for parents, teachers, and other concerned parties to participate in monitoring and evaluation processes. The Department should specifically ensure that nondiscriminatory polices and procedures are followed with regard to assignments to special educationclasses and disciplinary actions. The Department should require all school districts to provide civil rights compliance data on these assignments and actions. Among other recommendations, the Commission urges the Congress to increase funding for the civil rights enforcement activities for the federal agencies investigating discrimina- tion in the Mississippi Delta, to enact legislation to increase economic development in the Delta, and amend the Census Act to allow the use of statistical sampling for apportionment ia 5 purposes. We urge the executive and legislative branches of government to act upon and im- plement the recommendations in this report, and to move forward with policies designed to meet the changing needs of America's ethnically and racially diverse communities. The Com- mission hopes that this report will be a useful reference in the formulation of that strategy. Respectfully, For the Commissioners, Mary Frances Berry Chairperson iv Acknowledgments The hearing was organized by attorney-advisors Conner Ball,* Marlissa Briggett,* Deb- orah A. Reid, Peter Reilly, Miguel A. Sapp,* Maxine G. Sharpe,* and Michelle Yu,* under the general supervision of General Counsel Stephanie Y. Moore and Deputy General Counsel Edward A. Hai les, Jr. The Commission also appreciates the assistance provided by Eileen Rudert, S. Bernice Rhodes,* and Pamela Moye in preparing for the hearing. The report was initially drafted by team leader Maxine G. Sharpe and attorney-advisors Marlissa Briggett, Deborah A. Reid, and Peter Reilly under the general supervision of Gen- eral Counsel Stephanie Y. Moore. Additional assistance was provided in the final stages of the project by Kim Ball, Erik Brown,* Sicilia Chinn,* Joseph Manalili,* Joyce Smith, and Christopher Yianilos,* under the general supervision of Acting General Counsel Edward A. Hai les, Jr. Editorial policy review was performed by Robert G. Anthony, Ki-Taek Chun, and Betty Edmiston. The report was prepared for publication by Dawn Sweet. * No longer with the Commission v Contents Preface 1. Equality of Economic Opportunity 1 Race and the Economy of the Delta 1 Socioeconomic Conditions 1 Mississippi 1 Arkansas 2 Louisiana 3 Employment 4 Housing 9 Strategies to Improve Economic Opportunities 10 Local Business and Commercial Interests 10 Community-Based Nonprofit and Self-Help Organizations 12 National Programs and Policies 13 The New Markets Initiative 16 Economic Opportunity, Agriculture, and Black Delta Farmers 17 USDA's Role in Civil Rights Enforcement