I have lived in Mississippi my entire life and have had the opportunity to travel throughout the state. In doing so, I observed several things that will be important in this discussion. It's the music, the people and the resources. First, it's important to know some facts about state resources. The state is named for the Mississippi River, which flows along the state's western border. Mississippi is heavily forested, with the exception of the Delta area, which is predominantly agricultural. The major crops in the Delta are cotton beans, rice, potatoes, peanuts, and catfish. Its aquaculture farms produce the majority of farmed catfish in the United States. Belzoni, Mississippi is widely known as the "Catfish Capital of the World." Mississippi has a wide variety of landforms. Its numerous lakes and streams make it conducive to attracting tourists interested in hunting and fishing. Lakes and parks attract people looking for good vacation spots. The thriving coastal area creates a perfect place to live with numerous opportunities along the coast for shrimp, lobster and deep sea fishing. Over the past 20 years, Mississippi has become a major tourist area, especially along the Mississippi coast. There are casinos in Biloxi, Gulfport, Natchez, Vicksburg and all along the Mississippi River from Tunica to Natchez. Many Civil War battles were fought in Mississippi. Some are Battle of Vicksburg, Battle of Clinton, Battle of Natchez, Battle of Jackson and thus now serve as a memorial area which attracts many tourists every year. Secondly, it is important to discuss the people of the state. According to Wikipedia, the 2010 U.S. Census stated: “Mississippi is an ethnically diverse state with 59% White residents, 37% African Americans, 0.5% American Indians, 0.9% Asian Americans, and 2% others. With this large ethnic group, the area is full of cultural activities to promote their ethnic origins. Before 1830 there were many tribes of Indians in Mississippi. However, in 1830, with the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, most of the Indian population was relocated to Oklahoma. Now, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is found in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and surrounding counties.” According to the same census, “Mississippi has the highest percentage of African Americans in the nation.