I was watching the evening news on Monday, February 18th, when I heard the most astonishing news: "Mississippi finally ratifies the 13th Amendment banning slavery 148 years late!" I could not believe what I was seeing and hearing.
Dr. Ranjan Batra, a Mississippi resident and neurobiologist professor, saw the Academy Awards nominated film, Lincoln, and decided to learn more about the Amendment and its history after seeing the politcal fight to pass it. The Amendment was ratified with the backing of three-fourths of the states in December 1865; four states eventually ratified it - except Mississippi.
Dr. Batra did some research. He noticed that there was asterick about a note which read"Mississippi ratified the amendment on 1995, but because the state never officially notified the U.S. Archivist, the ratification is not official." He contacted his friend, Ken Sullivan, who contacted Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hoseman about the oversight. Sullivan set out to correct the mistake by filing papers with the Office of the Federal Register 18 years later.
On Febraury 7, 2013, it became official - Missisippi ratifies the 13th Amendment 148 years late! Better late than never.
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