Dear New York: A Love Letter From Jackson, Mississippi

We join the world in celebrating your election of Zoran Mamdani as mayor. Congratulations! Many of you showed up and showed yourselves. Some of you have been working toward this victory for decades—organizing, talking to your people, and building the trust they need to believe their voice matters. No matter how experts try to erase your work, and even though the government persecutes your groups for work that the public does not see, We See you. Thank you for your vision and tenacity. You did it – for New York, for all of us.

We remember the radiance, unbridled hope, joy and well-wishers from all over the world. It is very exciting to overcome long-standing political barriers; confront coordinated hatred and powerful opposition and… win. As two Jacksonians with deep ties to the city, we encourage you and wish you the best.

We have little experience working with a “socialist mayor.” In 2017, the first year of Trump I, Jackson elected his young “socialist” mayor. He was also 34 years old, and people had difficulty pronouncing the name – Chokwe Antar Lumumba. Back then, Jackson was a beacon of hope as people wondered aloud what else would be possible if Mississippi, of all places, could elect a socialist mayor. So, looking back over eight years, we offer three wishes as you begin your management journey.

We wish you continued solidarity and cooperation. High hopes can quickly be dashed. Change takes time. A lot of time. People new to the process need support to understand how confusing management can be and why it is important to continue to stand together in the face of changing deadlines and attacks. May their inevitable disappointment never become a weapon against what you have built. May the veteran politicians who supported you remain true to the values ​​of the movement and never undermine your hard work with cynical, transactional politics. May the optimism and faith that inspired you continue through the difficult times ahead.

We wish you space to manage And organize. We know that the population of New York is about 50 times the population of Jackson. You have a lot of brilliant people with the skills and ideas to hit the ground running. However, there is always a tension between the “inner” and “outer” play. Crises happen. They can refocus our best efforts. We are all under the rule of an administration that delights in creating crises and chaos in “urban” places like ours. May you always rely on what brought you to this place – the people – and the critical importance of ever building the strength you need to continue to hold the power you have gained.

We wish you love. The media is fickle. They can distort history, ignore your existence (yes, even if you're the mayor), and fuel the wildest ideas. Thank you for outsmarting them, but we both know they are relentless. They work with our opponents to create all kinds of spectacles because they know that if they can break our hearts, they can break our movements. Like any relationship, we all need a little wooing, a little attention that reminds us why we chose each other in the first place. May you always know love, despite rumors, evil bots and rumors. Continue to choose change, even when it is hard and inconvenient, because you know that true democracy is worth it.

So there you have it, New York. We can't wait to see the amazing work you do.

Love,

Your friends are in Jackson, Mississippi.