In the wake of the murder of George Floyd and countless other people of color at the hands of the police, I really had to question how do we get here? Why does this keep happening? So I decided to research the origins of policing, particularly in Mississippi and the deep South. What I discovered was shocking, but not surprising. As we see protests around the country against police brutality, this history is more relevant now than it has ever been. The origins of American law enforcement, particularly in the deep South, has its roots in what is now known as slave patrols.

I guess many of you have asked what happened to the podcast. The MS Born Delta Raised team - all two of us - recorded what we thought were several solid episodes. In 2019, we were even finalists in the PRX, Google podcast creator program. Then I had an accident. It's a long story, and I'll tell you about it sometime, but for now, let's just say I broke both my ankles and my left leg. As of this recording, I'm just starting to feel almost normal. So, I decided it was time to reset this podcast.

In this week's episode of MBDR, I spoke with Anne Martin Vetrano, an award-winning writer and journalist, who spent 30 years in broadcast news with WXVT and WABG television stations in Greenville, Mississippi. Anne is the author of Delta Hot Tamales: History, Stories, and Recipes. She has written for such magazines as Life in the Delta, Eat. Drink. Mississippi, The Sip, and Delta Magazine. In our conversation, we compare our experiences as students in the public and private school systems in the Delta. I think you'll enjoy the discussion.

For more about Anne and a link to purchase her book, please check out our website at mississippiborndeltaraised.com or email me at daphne.robinson.jd@gmail.com and I will add you to our email list. Please join me in welcoming Anne to this week's episode of MBDR.