The Delta and Deltans

Upon hearing persons speak in general terms about those who live and work in the Mississippi Delta, that area of fertile land east of the Mississippi River extending 200 miles north and south and 70 miles east and west, I along with my wife decided to traverse this area to come up with a personally satisfying definition and description of Deltans. Who are Deltans? Therefore, we set out to travel the major highways (north and south and east and west) to see where Deltans live and to converse informally with people we, by chance and permission, might meet along the way. To accomplish our investigation, we decided to travel, one day at a time, the highways of the Mississippi Delta (1, 8, 82, 49, 3, 51, and 61). Upon completion of each travel day we wrote an article on the excursion publishing it in "The Bolivar Commercial." We have filed these articles to be used in this book, "The Delta and Deltans." In all of our travels from here to there in the Delta, what impressed us most was the people we met. There is considerable diversity across the region, with European Americans (Italy, Greece and Spain) and African Americans. Asian Americans hail from China and the Middle East. Americans from south of our border have provided labor for our industries and food for our palates. Another outstanding characteristic of the residents of the Delta is hospitality. We never encountered anyone who was less than hospitable. Friendliness was the trademark of our excursions. Having been around the world, having been on all seven continents, and having seen the seven wonders of the world, I am still overwhelmed with the beauty of our own state and the high quality of the residents of our state.