Pearl is a suburb of Jackson, MS, the state capital, and has a population of about 22,000. It is notable for being one of the few places in the entire US (it seems) where you can still smoke in bars legally.

I was drinking some Michelob Amber Ale at just such a joint earlier in the evening. They were showing the only football currently on TV, the NCAA Division I championship between Villanova (which I grew up near) and Montana. The middle-aged white gentlemen next to me were watching the game, smoking, and seemed to be rooting for Montana. I asked them why and they replied with two reasons: They rolled through Philadelphia once and didn't like it much, and Montana's football team "looks more Caucasian."

Pearl, according to Wikipedia, is about 81% white. Jackson itself is about 70% black.

Considerin' I had just spent the afternoon touring the Vicksburg battlefield, home to a military cemetery with a section full of "United States Colored Troops," it was a thought-provoking experience.

PS. Nova is currently over Montana 23-14. :')