It is not every day that a Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient arrives in Columbus. But when Sister Simone Campbell visited Friendly City Books on Friday afternoon, she came not to lecture, but to learn.
“Having been involved in the political reality, I know the most important thing for democracy is that we engage in conversation,” Campbell said. “ … What I see is people drifting further and further apart and not connecting. And I said, well, what can I do? … I had to do something else and go out and talk to people I don’t know. And where do I not know people? The South.”
Campbell is a California native and a member of the Sisters of Social Service. She spent 17 years as the executive director of NETWORK, Lobby for Catholic Social Justice and as the leader of Nuns on the Bus, both of which are political advocacy groups. Campbell received the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the highest civilian honor – in 2022.
Campbell previously wrote the books “A Nun on the Bus” in 2014 and “Hunger for Hope” in 2020. With the publicity tour for her new book, “Hope in Turbulent Times,” she decided to take the opportunity to learn.
As she has toured across South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas and now Mississippi, Campbell has used each stop to start conversations with local residents and leaders on what it is like to live in the South.
“I think there’s also a way in which someone admits not knowing that it makes everyone in the room an expert,” Campbell said. “They don’t feel as nervous about their opinion, and then I can’t criticize them, because I don’t know nothing.”
On Friday afternoon, surrounded by about 20 Columbus residents, Campbell started the conversation with a few simple questions: What do you think I would get wrong about the South? What is truth that is hidden too often? What do I need to know?
The questions led to conversations about southern hospitality, poverty, struggles in education and housing and economic movements in the state of Mississippi.
One local resident, Chuck Yarbrough, commented that growing up in the South often comes with a proximity to poverty.
“There’s a power and a knowing in proximity, which is connected to the rural nature of our community,” Yarbrough said. “It adds to a community memory. It may be that nobody in this room has ever been poor, but we are in close proximity to intense poverty, both this community and any community in Mississippi.”
Mayor Keith Gaskin, who was also in attendance, answered a question from Campbell about housing, and whether zoning is prevalent in the South.
“What you will find in most small southern towns like Columbus, it’s almost like a fruit basket turnover when driving through the city,” Gaskin said. “As the mayor of a city like this, your goal is to have it become a seamless city, where all the communities are getting equal justice and support and what they need in their neighborhoods, but that’s very difficult to do in the deep South.”
These comments were followed by other group members explaining wealth disparities in the
South, ranging from race, economic status, educational inequalities and the intersection of each of those issues. Campbell encouraged the group to continue to stay engaged in these issues following the end of the conversation.
“It sounds like this group really wrestles with these issues and stays engaged,” Campbell said. “For me, that engagement is where hope is. … Hope is a communal virtue.”
Emily Liner, owner of Friendly City Books, said she hopes to continue hosting conversational gatherings like this one going forward, possibly led by authors with different faith backgrounds.
“The conversation gave me a deep appreciation for the old friends I have and the new friends I’m making in Columbus who are working hard to make this community a better place,” Liner said. “ … If you have a vision and an idea, there are lots of people who want to work with you to make it happen.”
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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