Mississippi’s first Black senator since Reconstruction is making a statement. Just look at his sweatshirts
Scott Colom is a fan of sweatshirts and hoodies. That is itself a fashion statement from Mississippi’s first Black U.S. senator-elect since post-Civil War Reconstruction.
But Colom, a 43-year-old Democrat, goes further with what’s printed on his attire. There’s nearly always a message, usually expressing pride in Mississippi and Black America. Colom stumps for Mississippi as a whole, but he also embraces its civil rights history and Black residents — the largest proportion of the population and electorate of any U.S. state.
“I’m just glad that the media is getting the opportunity to see our state,” he told reporters during the post-Election Day extended ballot count. “Go out and talk to our Mississippians. They’re very proud of this moment.”
That day he sported the distinctive “A” logo of one of Mississippi’s historically Black universities.
“Today, I’m proud to have my Alcorn State gear on,” he said, crediting his political director, Theresa Kennedy, an Alcorn alum who’d noticed his Jackson State University sweatshirt the day before.
Throughout the campaign, Colom has touted Mississippi HBCUs. But ever the egalitarian politician, Colom promised Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Southern Miss alumni and fans, “I’ll get to all of y’all.”
On the day he found out The Associated Press had called the race in his favor, Colom was wearing a hoodie with a photo of the late comedian Richard Pryor, whose repertoire includes searing commentary on racism and classism in America.
He’s also worked in a sweatshirt with the most famous quote from Bob Moses, an early civil rights organizer in Mississippi: “When you’re in Mississippi, the rest of America doesn’t seem real. And when you’re in the rest of America, Mississippi doesn’t seem real.”
And, of course, Colom has his own sweatshirt merch with his campaign motto: “Mississippi matters.”
