Poverty and the Economy of Clean Water in Mississippi
Are the solutions too little too late?
America: home of the brave, land of the free—and the land of great disparity. Nowhere is this more evident than in Mississippi. Almost half of the state’s residents live in poverty, and shockingly, its capital city, Jackson, doesn’t have reliable access to clean running water. How did we get here? The answer is as unsettling as it is clear: systemic racism and economic neglect.
A State of Poverty
Did you know? Nearly 48% of people in Mississippi—approximately 1.3 million residents—are considered poor or low-income. That includes:
58% of children (417,000)
52% of women (792,000)
65% of Black people (708,000)
66% of Latinx people (54,000)
39% of White people (649,000)
These numbers reveal an undeniable truth: poverty in Mississippi is pervasive, and it disproportionately impacts Black and Brown communities. The Jackson water crisis is one stark example of how systemic neglect harms the most vulnerable.
The Water Crisis in Jackson
For years, Jackson’s aging water infrastructure has been in a state of collapse. Boil-water notices and extended outages have become the norm, and residents have been forced to rely on bottled water for basic needs like drinking, cooking, and bathing. In some neighborhoods, the water that flows from the tap is brown and contaminated—unsafe for consumption or use.
This crisis reached a breaking point in 2022 when flooding caused catastrophic damage to the city’s already failing water treatment system. Tens of thousands of residents were left without clean water for weeks. Despite the urgency, state leadership has been slow to act, and funding to address the crisis has been woefully inadequate.
Why Is This Happening?
The Jackson water crisis didn’t happen overnight. It is the result of decades of disinvestment and systemic racism. Mississippi’s political leadership, dominated by Republicans, has repeatedly failed to allocate sufficient resources to Jackson—a city that is more than 80% Black. This neglect is no accident.
Governor Tate Reeves, for example, has been criticized for prioritizing tax cuts for the wealthy over addressing critical infrastructure needs. Some have accused him of weaponizing racial resentment to justify his inaction, reinforcing a long-standing pattern in which predominantly Black cities and communities are left to fend for themselves. As one observer put it, “The White governor of Mississippi would rather the water system collapse than do anything that would benefit Black citizens.”
(Jackson, Mississippi Went Without Clean Water for Over a Month)
This is more than neglect; it’s a form of environmental racism. By failing to provide clean water to its capital city, Mississippi is upholding a system that marginalizes and endangers its Black residents.
The Human Cost
For the residents of Jackson, the water crisis is not just an inconvenience—it’s a daily struggle with life-altering consequences. Consider the health impacts of prolonged exposure to contaminated water, including increased risks of lead poisoning, gastrointestinal illnesses, and skin conditions. Families are forced to spend money they don’t have on bottled water, adding to the financial strain of already living in poverty. Children miss school when the water system fails, and businesses struggle to operate without reliable water access.
This crisis also takes an emotional toll. Imagine the psychological burden of knowing your government has abandoned you, that the system meant to protect you is indifferent to your suffering. This is the reality for thousands of Jackson residents.
Political Choices, Political Consequences
The Jackson water crisis is a political failure as much as it is an infrastructure one. It’s a direct result of leadership that prioritizes short-term political gains over the well-being of its citizens. Republican leaders in Mississippi have chosen to ignore the needs of Jackson, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and disenfranchisement that keeps the state’s most vulnerable communities in crisis.
But this neglect comes at a cost. By disenfranchising poor and minority communities, these leaders are alienating a significant portion of their electorate. If Republicans truly cared for all their citizens, they might find that more people of color would be willing to vote for them. Instead, they have doubled down on policies that exclude and marginalize, ensuring that the cycle of distrust and division continues.
A Call to Action
Clean water is a right, not a privilege. Jackson’s water crisis is a wake-up call for all of us. It’s a reminder that systemic racism and economic inequality are not relics of the past; they are alive and well, shaping the lives of millions of Americans today.
Here’s how we can help:
Support local and national organizations fighting for clean water and environmental justice, such as the Poor People’s Campaign.
Demand accountability from political leaders who have failed to address this crisis.
Advocate for federal investment in infrastructure to ensure that every community, regardless of race or income, has access to safe, clean water.
The Jackson water crisis is about more than one city. It’s a test of our national commitment to justice and equity. Will we rise to meet it? Or will we allow neglect and indifference to prevail?
America has a choice to make. Let’s make the right one.
Note: After loads of media attention federal monies were released to Jackson, Mississippi. Since the problem has been growing for decades, it will take years to resolve. Politics sanitizes how the problem developed and why it persists.
The reality is it never should've happened in the first place. America is a first world nation with a third world infrastructure. This is not an anomaly; it is a norm in many communities across the country. And sadly, the current administration under the 47th president will not improve things, instead things will get increasingly worse. That's where you come in. You decide which kind of America you want to live in: An America where everyone thrives, or an America that turns back the clock to a period in history with massive disparities and a wealthy minority.