Life in America's Poorest State

Mississippi always seems to get a bad rap, whether for its education system or lack of high-paying jobs. But we wanted to see what life in America's poorest state is actually like, as told by people who call it home.
About us: we are two college students who are genuinely curious about the wide variety of people and perspectives across the United States. This summer, we are traveling the country to answer the question: what is the current state of America? Follow along to learn as we go.
📸 Instagram: / crossroads.america
🎥 Tiktok: / crossroads_america
🖥️ Our Website: www.crossroads...
📝 Pitch an Idea: forms.gle/RKgr...
❤️ Support Independent Journalism: donorbox.org/c...

[@BIGZOE1804]

Once he said “they tryna teach us A+ B “…. I was like yeah ima watch this 😂😂😂

[@marcolamy]

I don't know if there has been a more authentic insight into everyday American lives. As an Australian living in Singapore with a keen interest in US politics, this series is beyond insightful. I thank you for giving everyday Americans of all stripes a canvass to paint their picture. Fantastic work, thanks a lot.

[@crossroads.america]

Thank you for watching ❤️

[@lightningrocketcreates]

You guys give such an amazing in-depth perspective on life in these fascinating places. It's awesome to see such transparency in what you guys find and how you all prevent bias in your reporting. You are the people who change stereotypes and make the world a better place. Keep doing what you're doing, thank you for your amazing videos. 🙂

[@crossroads.america]

Aw thank you we appreciate it! We’re glad to have you along for the ride!

[@ws00912]

As someone from rural southern Georgia, it's great to see this part of America highlighted. We hear how poor areas are on the news and we picture something based on our beliefs or preconceived biases, but so many of these communities that don't have much financially have so much more in terms of intangibles. My town had plenty of bad people and racism is still more plentiful than it should be in a lot of the South, but damn it was great to see some deep down, love ya through anything kind of folks like who I grew up around. Love this channel guys!

[@janezawadowski905]

I almost made it in this video! That was really cool when you called me, and I am really happy to see you connecting with so many types of people. May we find a way to grow in our abilities to figure out strategies that work for all when there appears to be difference.

[@selvina84]

And here I thought that the last episode was great... keep up that awesome work guys. Love your content.

[@crossroads.america]

Thanks so much 👊🏼

[@zell6108]

2nd video ive watched of yours, the work you guys do is absolutely top tier and real and raw. Subscribed....and congrats on getting an invite to the bbq, thats like the highest prestige honor from a black family lol

[@Kecko2153]

Really loving these videos guys! I just found this page today after work and I have been bingewatching all your videos!

[@crossroads.america]

Thanks we appreciate it 🙌🙌

[@deanlockamy2087]

I live in Mississippi and all I can say is that those guys in the intro with the orange shirts would do anything for anyone with out question and where else do you see folks smiling like that?

[@angelawierda760]

🙏Amen 🙏

[@forgottenworld]

I love your style in making this. I have been making documentaries for 20 years and I just love how you make everything so comfortable.

[@crossroads.america]

Thank you so much! We’re glad that feeling comes across

[@stefanblab274]

I was born and raised in a small town in Texas. Everyone knew eachother and at the end of the day, had only love and respect for eachother. Small town America is the back bone of this country even if you may not see it every election year. Some of the hardest and most deidcated guys ive worked with in construcion and military were those guys from small town America. Life can be extremely tough but we're the people who push through it. Something ive never personally seen in big cities. Of course those types of people in cities are still there, but small town America is always the place that I've seen the entire community be like that. God Bless America and God Bless Small Town Communities.

[@stefanblab274]

also, amazing video. no bias, no judgement, just good documentary work

[@crossroads.america]

Thanks :)

[@tiffanydasilva5874]

I LOVE how there is no racism shown here. Everyone loves and cares about each other. I'm from small town alabama but moved to fl when I was ten I just recently went back to.visit and the racism there broke my heart. Alot of these small Bible belt towns were raised on racism and they don't know any better. Going back after living in a place like Florida where there are all walks of ppl and no one thinks twice about it. I was sad for the ppl in my hometown who haven't progressed after all these years. It's us against the gov not us against each other❤

[@HYBRO_MUSCRITIC23]

Love the stories. Being a resident and lifelong Mississippian. Let’s get some docs of the middle class that’s concentrated in Madison County/Central MS (Canton, Camden, Farmhaven, Flora, Ridgeland, Madison) AND along the coast. And let’s not forget the historic Mississippi Delta.

[@Nightcrawler77]

I just discovered this channel and holy smokes the content feels more high quality than most of the documentaries presented on TV. Will you come to Wyoming?

[@crossroads.america]

Thanks so much! We unfortunately weren’t able to film there, but we spent some time in the national parks and they were so beautiful!

[@oldfarmsawmill3098]

And again, thank you for keeping it up. If you come to Maine, I would be happy to meet you guys.

[@taffy9034]

I'm from Mississippi and that kid in the beginning wasn't lying about the schools being bad! I went to one of the best public highschools in Mississippi, Mississippi School of the Arts, and I still witnessed corrupt administration, racism, negligence on mental health, transphobia, and homophobia. This school is about as liberal as you can get and they still integrated religious doctrine into the school subtly.

[@OrangeCatIntellect]

This series is amazing. Subbed. If you ever come to Cleveland, Ohio I would love to meet ya

[@crossroads.america]

Thanks so much we’ll have to make it out there someday!!

[@Bulletguy07]

BB Kings birthplace! I am from UK and would love to have visited Mississippi, but did the next best thing and watched this which was great! Fortunately BB King came to the UK a number of times when touring Europe and I saw him twice when he was in his 80s, the memory of which will be with me forever.

[@TheJacali]

This was awesome thank you so much 😊

[@realSethMeyers]

I stan booboo and bubba

[@Andrew_Erickson]

1 month!

[@realSethMeyers]

@@Andrew_Erickson 1 month?

[@realSethMeyers]

@@Andrew_Erickson oh, yeah haha

[@andyphuong3102]

You guys got a new subscriber ! i look foward to seeing more of your content :)

[@meggrotte4760]

I think when you live in a small town.There's a sense of community to help one another

[@mississippigunner]

30 min from my little home town! All true and love it

[@crossroads.america]

That’s so cool!!

[@sglliberty]

I kayak at Canoe and Trail a few times a year. It’s a great place to be!

[@RaiZawadowski]

another great video ❤

[@crossroads.america]

Thanks Rai!

[@jeep19]

Asked the black folks about racism, and they pointed out the subtle racist incidents, school , and traditions 😂 cause that's the way it's always been 😂

[@1stTnetix]

🤔 and it’s funny to you….. 👍🏿

[@terrellpotter2645]

Mississippi is good people.

[@Dudesaidthat]

I completely agree with his view on racism, ppl think the white ppl here treat us like scum 😂 man we all cool

[@ArtisanVaquero]

🎉🎉🎉

[@philmoody5888]

They got invited to the BBQ 💯

[@Dave-zl2ky]

As my parents figured out in the 1940's, you can move.

[@averycollins3343]

What if you have elderly, sick parents that refuse to leave where they were both born and raised?

[@Chounubis]

If "the meek inherit the earth," Mississippi inherits it all. *God Bless these people* (lot of the blacks are awfully based; think for yourselves, break from blind political dogmatism and ideology). And p.s: nothing wrong with keeping your kids *FAR* from schools laden with all kinds of really bad stuff.

[@lindabrown0]

A+B must be algebra (lol) 1:49..............

[@shyrelrandle6283]

I was listening until you said Trump put money 💰 in our pockets my question 🙋🏾‍♀️ is when did this happen??? And where was I ??????

[@mrstrini2]

Same.

[@lilshawty2605]

Are they talking about stimulus checks?

[@Rednek3833]

Look at me cook them veagan burgers! 🤣 We had a good time with yall! Be safe! FJB!

[@Takyomi]

Would your team consider cutting the music out of these? As well placed as they are, I think the people's words can stand on their own.

[@Takyomi]

Its not distracting, I just wish I could solely focus on what they're saying.

[@crossroads.america]

Would it be helpful to add subtitles?

[@Takyomi]

@@crossroads.america To be honest, its not hearing the subjects that's the problem, I feel like the music's trying to get me to feel emotions for me like TV reality shows do it when I don't need it to. It's unnecessary, not to be rude. The people's words are enough on their own to make me sympathize with them.

[@coreyallison1811]

As a mississippian, thank you for doing a honest non-biased documentary on my state. We are portrayed as a very racist state with alot of hate here and ignorance, which as you witnessed couldn't be further from the truth. Yes we have some bad folk which you do everywhere, however it's definitely not the majority of us.

[@SlugSage]

Yeah, the white school just happened to have more resources. It’s just traditional…..😅

[@winxtra2892]

no critical thinking & no curiosity.. hmm!

[@paulyjones3966]

Geometry, angles.......kinda need to know that shit when it comes to guns big boy 😂

[@Tangerinetaco]

Wow, these people seem wonderful. 🥰 They’re really sticking to Christian values!

[@Roadtripmik]

Subscribing

[@crossroads.america]

🙌

[@Roadtripmik]

@@crossroads.america Why did you pick that random county.. walthall cnty

[@crossroads.america]

@@Roadtripmik It was perfectly along the way from where we were coming from in Florida and has both democrat and republican voters, so it seemed like the perfect place to stop for a variety of perspectives!

[@QuackSecX]

"we're deeply religious people, we are god fearing and god loving people and we love god" so odd to me that her top 3 things that make up her identity is all god related.

[@jeep19]

All aligned with the old school racism...

[@Leon-bt7gw]

@@jeep19im from mississippi and my ggma (black ofc) acts just like her, some people are just that religious and nothing to do with racism lol

[@Flomockia]

​@@jeep19Christianity is the opposite of racism maybe you should do some studying before saying things

[@ericmckinney4607]

@@Flomockia Oh please Christianity was used to justify racism. Besides religion is just part of Southern culture. People cherry-pick from the Bible what they want and leave the rest.

[@Flomockia]

@@ericmckinney4607 Christianity isn't for slavery but it sets rules for the master and the slave so it's not a abuse situation Your excuse to say it's what inspired it is simply false as why would rich people who hardly ever have any self regulations care about what others say Infact Christianity was against governments to begin with against tyrannical ownership You'd be surprised how many freedoms were led by Christian ideals

[@Invincibletro]

A good friend of mine said, "The first mistake I made was getting my first job." This statement was made because of the handouts that our government was giving. He wasn't being serious, but he was simply pointing out a flaw in the system. Feed stray cats, they all will come.

[@ericmckinney4607]

LOL. A lot of people who work still qualify for so-called handouts especially if you work at a big box store like WalMart.

[@dnserror89]

Wear a seatbelt fellas

[@reallife7506]

Why did you pick tylertown to go too. You really just trying to make Mississippi look bad. You could have picked way nicer and wealthy towns than that.

[@sh_ngawan]

Worst video i came across. SLN

[@wolfman597]

If you keep people uneducated they will vote exactly how you want them to vote. Prime example this video

[@Techcensorshipbot]

That rhetoric works both ways. There are all black counties in west MS that have been under democrat rule that are absolutely crumbling with crime, government corruption, and poverty. I do find it odd though how most schools in most big cities in states are just indoctrination centers for unamerican policies.

[@LUC66631]

2:19 Goals in life for you ? First learn to wear youre seatbelt boy 🙄🙄👎👎