Why is Mississippi behind every state in so many metrics?
Mississippi's problems can be traced to the Delta [1]. The Delta was the headquarter of American slavery [1]. The slaves that were freed after the Civil War stayed in that region, and their descendants still live there today [1]. The region has a large black population that can trace their roots back to the slave plantations [2, 3]. 

Mississippi also has the nation's highest unemployment rate, highest poverty rate, and lowest life expectancy [4]. Numerous other studies have also found Mississippi to be the worst state in the U.S. in which to live [5].
There are many reasons that Mississippi is behind every state in so many metrics. One of the main reasons is the state's history rooted in racism and violence [1]. Mississippi has the highest rate of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and mortality for infants and adults [1]. This is especially true for black residents, who have a 43.2 percent obesity rate and 44 percent live at or below the poverty line, compared with a 30.2 percent obesity rate and 16 percent poverty rate for whites [1]. Another factor is the Delta, the area around the Mississippi River that was the headquarters of American slavery [4]. The Delta has an extensive history, and descendants of former slaves still live there today [4]. As a result, agriculture, which dominates the rural areas of the Delta, doesn't make a lot of money and is poorer than other areas of the state [4]. Lastly, the state's school systems remain near the bottom rankings, with Mississippi public schools ranked as poor in quality and safety [3].