Episode one of Don't Look Around examines the history of the state of Mississippi during the "King Cotton" era, through Reconstruction, and how decisions made almost 170 years ago affect the state, today. This episode also explores the different regions of Mississippi and how Brain Drain impacts all of them.

Music Provided by Blue Dot Sessions

Sources for Episode:

Mississippi History

• https://www.history.com/articles/mississippi
• https://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?page=mississippi62&redirected=true
• https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/lane-kiffin-explains-himself?srsltid=AU7gw4VsR2IEi9k1NW_npukVhs2qDsajXkb2CkU-K08Z2kBAF3-ZOFzx
• https://www.britannica.com/event/King-Cotton
• https://emergingcivilwar.com/2021/01/09/the-secession-of-mississippi/

Reconstruction:

• https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/historic-document-library/detail/carl-schurz-report-on-the-condition-of-the-south-december-181865
• https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/report-on-the-condition-of-the-south/

Brain Drain:

• https://mississippitoday.org/2025/07/15/faq-mississippi-brain-drain-crisis/?_gl=1*1ijmk5e*_up*MQ..*_ga*NDI1MDc1OTY5LjE3OTE4NTA5MDY.*_ga_2N4B00YMDS*czE3OTE4NTA5MDUkbzEkZzAkdDE3OTE4NTA5MDUkajYwJGwwJGgxNzM4ODMxNTM5