In March, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves had said that he was taking a “wait and see” approach to the unfolding coronavirus crisis. Photograph by Rogelio V. Solis / AP / Shutterstock

On the final Saturday of a confounding March in Mississippi, the young mayor of Moss Point, Mario King, went on Facebook Live to update his constituents on the latest measures that the small, predominantly black Gulf Coast city was taking to fight the spread of covid-19. Sitting alone in his home office, in a tan polo shirt emblazoned with the city’s emblem, King broke down what’s meant by “shelter in place” (“Stay at home”), explained why Moss Point has a strict new curfew (“Because, as we’ve trusted everybody, our numbers are still increasing”), gave a live demonstration of different methods by which restaurants and stores can keep people six feet apart when they’re in line for takeout, and pleaded with folks to practice social distancing. “We are a very close-knit community,” King said. “But, at this point, I need you to step away from each other, six feet away from each other.”

Near the end of his forty-minute talk, King walked toward the porch of his apartment building, which looks out over the small area that constitutes downtown Moss Point. “I want to show all you churchgoing people that got upset about closing the churches some faith in action,” he said. Across the street, in a sandy parking lot, a preacher was standing on a makeshift platform, sermonizing loudly into a microphone for around fifteen carloads of worshippers. “You see that? That’s our Pastor Bolden. He’s outside—he’s doing it!” King said, gesturing across the way. “You see? It can be done! Look at that. Do y’all see a building? No. That is church. Church!”