WAPT reported tonight on the story of a black woman who recently bought a house in Madison, only to return home and find that someone broke into her home and wrote a racial slur on her wall that said "Don't Let the N----- Go". The homeowner has filed a complaint and the incident is now under investigation.

I'm not going to sit here and say that Madison is a racist community. I believe that an overwhelming number of people who live there welcome all people, regardless of their color. Besides, all communities have their knuckleheads. Since I never lived in Madison, I don't know what it really is like there, but I'll give them the benefit of a doubt. However, this doesn't bode well for a community that has an image of being too "white-bred". You can put up all the facades you want, but like the old Sprite slogan used to say, image is nothing. This will give those who slam Madison more ammunition to do it even more.

No, that does not look good for Madison. The true test will be how the authorities handle this case. This is a major safety issue here. If someone will break into her house when she isn't there and do something like that, Lord knows what this person could do while she's there.

yeah i take a class with the woman.

Actually... its my belief that most people (white) move to Madison to get away from Black people. However, I may be wrong.

Most people move to Madison because Madison is where they build the new houses- not to "get away from Black people"...

i agree with rico...see they dont move out there to get away from anyone...they move to get away from crime...its absolute...see no one wants to get away from black people. its the crime thats the issue...CiJ...

see the schools in jackson are terrible and the academies are much better...then its all that growth thats out there because of the money thats made...lets be real...your belief is flawed...it is not important if your neighbor is black...you just dont want them breaking into your house and writing n***** on the wall...that would never happen in madison...

maybe if you guys fixed crime in jackson, people would develop...but it is safer in madison than it is in jackson...look at the news, read the paper, its fact...its in the NEWS...

I don't doubt there are some narrow minded kids up there who though it'd be a cool prank. Outside of that, the people up there I knew seem to be a fair bunch.

Most people move to Madison because Madison is where they build the new houses- not to "get away from Black people"...

But you can't deny that an underlying motive for suburban growth is because of whites wanting to get away from black people. It may not be the main catalyst now, but suburbs became more popular when desegregation became the norm. They really blossomed after schools became integrated.

But you can't deny that an underlying motive for suburban growth is because of whites wanting to get away from black people.

These days, it's all about abandoning Jackson if you can, since no one left there has the guts or the political power to fix the problems. Studies aren't going to solve the problem.

some whites do want to get away from black people,

Duh. Some blacks want to get away from crime. Some people (of either color) just want to get away from it all. Some people like moving into the city.

Moving isn't a problem. Ancient attitudes towards race are.

We're just the opposite; we're trying to move away from white people.

We're not racists. I know some good white people, but our white people here don't act right. There's a lot of white-on-white crime in my community, white people alcoholism and drug use, white teen pregnancy, the state DOE says the schools are failing and have a 40% dropout rate (because white families don't value education).

Moving isn't a problem. Ancient attitudes towards race are.

I'm a little unclear what you mean, Iron? Do you mean Jim Crow attitudes? Slavery? Could you explain?

One of the main drivers of location decisions for people with children is the quality of public schools. Ironically, poor public schools are correlated with crime. Even if you can't read, you still need to get paid. Some jobs are riskier than others.

Okay, not to be disrespectful to anyone posting above me...but, I really want to point out that a Black woman moved to Madison, purchased a home, and within several days had the word N***** painted on the walls of her living room. Because, I really am not thinking that a few of you guys are "getting" how horrendous this is.

I really can't think of anything more offensive. I REFUSE to make this a suburbia discussion.

This discussion is about what is STILL happening in the State of Mississippi in the year 2008. Although the town has its issues, its not about the town. Its about this entire state. Lord knows I like to give Madison its due, but it ain't the blame for this. In fact, its just another symptom of the same disease.

I cannot IMAGINE what that felt like to that woman.

This is not a "childish prank". IT IS NOT.

It is a hate crime.

People hate Jeremiah Wright for saying this is a racist country; however, as Rumsfeld said (about another subject) --- It is what it is.

To many of US, what happened to her is sad but not a shocking surprise like, "who would have thought this could happen?".

I really can't think of anything more offensive. I REFUSE to make this a suburbia discussion.

I've had my attention elsewhere the last couple days (ironically dealing with a related issue outside of Mississippi), but I'm with Lori. Stop makin' frickin' bullsh!t excuses and trying to change the subject. This is about racism, folks. Racism in Mississippi. It exists. What are we going to do about it?

Are the rest of us going to tiptoe around the issue, or take it head on? Choose.

Hate crime, indeed.

In my opinion, this is a hate crime and should be prosecuted as such. I hope that you guys aren't of the opinion that I was the one trying to make it a suburbia discussion...

"I cannot IMAGINE what that felt like to that woman." Lori G

The first time something like that happens, you're shocked and stunned out of your wits. Your baseline reality changes. Then you get used to it as a kind of normal, and tell yourself that's what people are like.

Will, Whitely, et al-Its not that I'm shocked. Hell, I grew up in the Delta. I'm not even surprised.

What you guys are seeing is severe disappointment. And maybe just a little bit of a broken heart.

The day I don't react that strongly to this sort of event is the day I tell myself that "they" have won.

Did the mayor of Madison ever speak out against this?

If not, that's kinda reason enough not to live there. There are some things that so basic that there is no excuse.

Oh, and this gives new meaning to media phrase, "home invasion," doesn't it?

And will, with due respect, I can agree with you that there is still a lot of racism around us. But there is something pretty extra special about someone breaking into your home and scrawling an epithet on your wall. I think a little additional shock at the sheer hubris is not out of line.

Also, Iron, it's rather bizarre that you would immediately write this off as a bunch of kids who thought it would be a "cool prank." Where is the outrage that someone invaded this woman's private space with a racial epithet? I know people in Fondren who get outraged if someone drives a boom car down the street, or a guy in baggy pants is walking through.

Please, people, think about how you're reacting to this (or not reacting to this) and why. How has society screwed us all up so badly? In one week, a high-ranking alternative newspaper executive has called his deceased white buddy in Arizona "my n*gger" and up in Madison people are breaking into a home to terrorize a black woman in an extra special way.

Good Lord, what a week.

Also, I can't wait to see the big Northside Sun coverage and outrage about this.

As if.

I haven't heard the mayor speak out. In fact, I haven't kept up with any follow-ups after WAPT's initial report. I don't know if WLBT or WJTV ever did a report on the incident.

"And will, with due respect, I can agree with you that there is still a lot of racism around us. But there is something pretty extra special about someone breaking into your home and scrawling an epithet on your wall. I think a little additional shock at the sheer hubris is not out of line." ladd

You be shocked for me, laddie. I'm all shocked out from so much of that kind of s*** up front and personal.

"severe disappointment. And... a broken heart." Lori G
I can relate to this; and I can make art with it.

Also, I can't wait to see the big Northside Sun coverage and outrage about this.

I checked their website a moment ago; I saw no story on it. I also checked the Madison County Herald and Madison County Journal--no luck either.

I have enough outrage to share, will. ;-)

It all breaks my heart. Life does not have to be so hard; it amazes me that people go to such lengths to offend. Choose love. Really.

From what I know of it, Mary said "no comment". Which is just as good as condoning the behavior as far as I am concerned. She can open her mouth about anything else and chooses to be quiet about this?

Can you imagine if it had been a couple of blacks fighting in front of her Wal-Mart and they started shooting? Or a rash of home invasions in one of her whitebred neighborhoods? She'd be jumping up and down anxious to comment on how that sort of thing won't be tolerated in Madison.

Isn't this where the anti-bias rally was held and people were arrested (including a pregnant woman)? Isn't this where black people are stopped for no reason and questioned about where they're going and why?

Will, you're cracking me up, just by saying the truth.

What part of Madison did this happen in?

Other than on this board, I sure haven't seen much publicity about this incident, though I haven't watched the news for the last few days.

Could it be that if this were publicized a little more then there would be more outrage at the event coming out of the area? Just a thought...

Again, the only place I even heard about the incident was on WAPT. If anybody else has reported on it, it's not to my knowledge. I checked the other area papers online, but saw no story. I do think there would be more outrage if there were more publicity. There should be just as much outrage over the fact that someone broke into this woman's home to begin with. That alone would not make this a childish prank, as Iron eluded to earlier.

Isn't this where the anti-bias rally was held and people were arrested (including a pregnant woman)? Isn't this where black people are stopped for no reason and questioned about where they're going and why?

That was in Canton.