By skyforbes 
by C. Earl Campbell DA 3rd, Black Race Man
In the mid-1960s, the Head Start program emerged as a beacon of hope for underserved communities across America. Initially a grassroots effort, Head Start aimed to provide comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and their families. However, the journey to becoming a federal program was fraught with challenges, particularly in the Southern states where racial segregation and systemic discrimination were rampant.
Community organizers in Mississippi, recognizing the potential impact of Head Start, fervently advocated for its inclusion in the federal agenda. When Southern states rejected the initiative due to its inclusive nature and the empowerment it provided to Black families, these organizers turned to President Lyndon B. Johnson. Their persistent efforts paid off when Johnson, moved by the compelling arguments and the evident need, made Head Start a federal program in 1965 as part of his War on Poverty.
This historical precedent offers a valuable blueprint for addressing another critical issue today: Medicaid expansion. Despite the Affordable Care Act (ACA) providing avenues for states to expand Medicaid, several Southern states, including Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Texas, Georgia, Missouri, North…