For decades, the bottom of the nation's barrel of rankings has always seemed to come up with the same state. If you want to know the poorest state, the fattest, least educated, sickest or most
corrupt, the answer is always the same: Mississippi. The state, however, has long chafed at those perceptions, and Rick Looser,COO of the Cirlot advertising agency in Jackson, has set out to counter
them.
A new ad campaign his agency created--called "Mississippi, Believe It!"--attacks the old cliches and tries to turn them to its advantage, spreading a message about some of the
state's accomplishments. Posters in the campaign, sent to schools in Mississippi last year, blast backwoods stereotypes, including monster trucks, hog calling and Klan rallies. Instead, it describes
the achievements of native authors, athletes, scientists and businessmen.
"In Mississippi, we always have our hand out," reads one advertisement, showing an open palm. "But it's
usually to give, not receive. And the last shall be first."
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