Students learned about civil rights in Mississippi as they visited historical sites in Noxubee County, Miss., and studied the historical relationship and general histories of Mennonites, African-Americans, and Choctaws there. During their week in Mississippi, students stayed at the Mashulaville Dormitory, operated by Larry and Maxine (Kauffman ’64) Miller—see related story—where they interacted with people in the community.

Topping students’ lists of what stood out the most for them was the racial segregation that still exists at all levels of community life—in schools, churches, and economic opportunities. African-Americans, Caucasians, and Choctaws live alongside each other, but many have little interaction with people outside their own race. When visiting a Choctaw high school, a Choctaw youth told Bethany students that people of different races will often ignore each other and avoid eye contact when meeting in community places such as a store.

Students also met with, and heard stories of, people who, like the Millers, are working proactively for improved race relations. One such example is James Young, who in 2009 became the first African-American mayor of Philadelphia, Miss., a town remembered for the 1964 murder of three civil rights workers by white supremacists that inspired the 1988 movie Mississippi Burning.

Mayor Young met with the Bethany students and shared how he and others have crossed racial lines to work together at building trust among ethnic groups in the area. At the same time he told the students that just because the lion doesn’t run with the leopards, doesn’t mean the lion is racist—it is human nature to gravitate toward people most like you.

Likewise, sophomore Tyler Brenneman noted some similarity to what he saw in Mississippi and relationships between Hispanics and Caucasians in Goshen. Even though he and his family enjoy relating with people of other races, including several Hispanic families in Goshen, most of his friends are Caucasian. He reflected, “We don’t necessarily mean for it to be that way, but it is.”

Witnessing segregation and racism, as well as those who are working for change, has caused Brenneman and his classmates to consider their own attitudes and actions. Junior Megan Schmucker says, “Being in Mississippi has forced me to see my world from a different perspective. Many stereotypes that I held have disintegrated. I began to see beyond race, to individuals with unique personalities. When I return to Bethany, I hope to see people there in a different way.”