What is the importance of Mississippi in the nonfiction book, How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America?

Mississippi is where most of the events of Laymon's childhood and young adult life took place. Laymon was raised in Mississippi and is where his "Southern Black Boy" identity was formed. Througout the collection, Laymon describes that not only was his identity was formed in Mississippi, but many of his ideas regarding race were as well, including his views on white Americans discussed in "The Worst of White Folks."