I have lived in Mississippi my entire life and have had the opportunity to travel throughout the state. In doing so, I observed several things that will be important in this discussion. It’s the music, the people and the resources. First, it's important to know some facts about state resources. The state gets its name from the Mississippi River, which flows along the state's western border. The Mississippi is heavily forested, except for the Delta region, which is primarily agricultural. Its main crops in the Delta are cotton beans, rice, potatoes, peanuts and catfish. Its aquaculture farms produce the majority of the catfish raised in the United States. Belzoni, Mississippi is widely known as the "Catfish Capital of the World." The Mississippi has a wide variety of landforms. Its numerous lakes and streams make it suitable for attracting tourists interested in hunting and fishing. Lakes and parks attract people looking for good vacation spots. The thriving coastal area creates an ideal place to live with a wealth of opportunities along the coastline for shrimp, lobster and deep water fishing. Over the past 20 years, Mississippi has become a major tourist destination, particularly along the Mississippi Coast. There are casinos in Biloxi, Gulfport, Natchez, Vicksburg and all along the Mississippi River from Tunica to Natchez. Many Civil War battles took place in Mississippi. Some are the Battle of Vicksburg, the Battle of Clinton, the Battle of Natchez, the Battle of Jackson and therefore now serve as a memorial area which attracts many tourists every year. Second, it is important to discuss the people of the state. According to Wikipedia, the 2010 U.S. Census stated: "Mississippi is an ethnically diverse state with residents 59% white, 37% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.9% Asian American, and 2% others. With these many ethnic groups, the region is full of cultural activities aimed at promoting their ethnic origins. Before the 1830s, there were many Indian tribes in Mississippi. However, in the 1830s, with the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, most of the Indian population was moved to Oklahoma. Today, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is located in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and surrounding counties.” According to the same census, “Mississippi has the highest proportion of African Americans in the country »..