When it comes to strength in numbers, an increasing amount of black people are flocking to cities across the U.S. and becoming the statistical majority.

According to a report published last year by the Brookings Institute, the number of predominantly black towns and cities across America was 460 in 1970.

The Guardian published an article a few months ago about the predominantly black city of Pleasant Grove, Alabama.

Mississippi has not elected a black official to a statewide office in well over 100 years, despite being a state with a growing black population in many cities and counties.

However, since Julie Branch (Sledge’s white mayoral incumbent) has maintained her seat, a number of well-meaning blacks with good economic potential have left Sledge.