This is my home

She has called the Delta of Mississippi her home her entire life. She, like many residents, like the slower pace of life compared to larger cities. However, she confirmed that jobs are scarce.

As far as change of the years, she said little is different. Farm jobs were lost years ago with new technology. Retail stores are scarce along with restaurants these days.

An article about the Delta in The Economist stated (2013):

“You can’t out-poor the Delta,” says Christopher Masingill, joint head of the Delta Regional Authority, a development agency. In parts of it, he says, people have a lower life expectancy than in Tanzania; other areas do not yet have proper sanitation.

Fatherless or the wrong kind of father?

He told me that he has been in and out of prison, jail and juvenile detention for the past 17-years. Today, he is only about 35-year old. “Assault, mainly for assault on my dad,” he said. “We don’t get along,” he said while looking to the side. He then described how he hit his dad with a sledge hammer once. "Always fighting," he said. 

Despite the fact that he had a father, he was usually jailed so he had little time with Dad. The time with him turned into fights, according to his memories. 

Many theories have come to light over the years that without a proper father figure, the majority are doomed for unsuccessful life events. Now I will say, I have known plenty of successful people who grew up fatherless and plenty of people who grew up with a father and still failed and ended up homeless, but statistics are quite strong showing that a father makes a huge difference in the lives of children growing up. 

According to a report filed by the Homes for the Homeless & Institute for Children and Poverty, “Numerous studies have shown that children benefit from a two-parent family, yet nearly one in four children in the United States (23%) is being raised without a father present. Among homeless children, 77 percent grow up in families headed by single mothers” The report was released in year 2000 and the numbers are said to be even greater in year 2015. 

A report filed by the National Federation of Families showed that 63% of youth who grow up without a father are more likely to commit suicide, 70% of children who are in a state operated institution come from homes without fathers and 85% of youths sitting in prisons grew up without a resident father. 

In the United Kingdom similar studies show similar results. The Institute for the Study on Civil Society reported in 2002 that children who do not live with their biological father have more problems in school, have a higher risk of health problems, are more likely to drink alcohol and use drugs and are more likely to suffer from long term emotional and psychological problems. 

Jim Valvano, a former American college basketball player, coach, and broadcaster once stated, “My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.”