Vassallo Interviews: Practicing What You Preach

Chris Diggs is not just another Ole Miss alum. This courageous and focused 49-year-old minister has lived a most interesting life.

On his very first day of school in 1972, he witnessed the beating of his 14-year-old cousin. The young girl suffered a broken nose and other injuries as a high school bully objected to her having a seat on the school bus. No one would come to her rescue as the young man delivered his punishment. Chris has ever since devoted a lifetime reconciling the differences between the races in Mississippi.
HottyToddy.com: Chris, although you grew up in rural Monroe County, you would eventually find your way to Oxford and Ole Miss.
Chris Diggs: I am a lifelong Mississippian and for the past 18 years have been engaged in the ministry. I graduated from Ole Miss in 2009 because of many obstacles in my path blocking my way from a more youthful college education. I am currently the Pastor for both Burns United Methodist Church and Hammitt Hill.
HottyToddy.com: What truly motivates you?
Chris Diggs: Poverty. I grew up quite poor on my grandfather’s farm. My grandfather was the greatest influence in my life. He only had one leg, but could do anything. Willie D. Diggs was an individual who would not accept poverty. He also refused to accept a “woe as me” attitude.
HottyToddy.com: What about your family today?
Chris Diggs: I am married with two children. My wife, Lecha, is a registered nurse. I have two daughters, Christina who is 20 and trying to find her way in life in Tupelo, and Madelyn who is a 1-year-old whom we adopted last year when she was 42 hours old.
HottyToddy.com: What inspired you to adopt a baby at this stage in your life?
Chris Diggs: In April, 2013 I was stressed out. I decided to attend a revival and quickly determined that in order to redirect my life, I needed to do what God wants us to do, not what I think I need to do. The minister that day discussed his two adopted children. Shortly thereafter, we applied to an adoption agency in Evansville, IN. On September 22nd Madelyn was born.
HottyToddy.com: Ferguson has been the center of the news recently. How do we prevent similar situations from occurring in the future?
Chris Diggs: We must respect authorities, but not be afraid of them in order to minimize incidents. Respect is a two way street.
HottyToddy.com: Are there similarities between what happened in Ferguson and what recently occurred in NYC?
Chris Diggs: The only one that comes to mind is that you have an African American involved in a dispute with a Caucasian police officer. Both of these incidents could have been prevented if more respect and restraint would have been demonstrated by both parties. Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested over 30 times, but never resisted! A life should never have been lost.
HottyToddy.com: In your viewpoint how are race relations here in Mississippi?
Chris Diggs: Several friends including my brother recently discussed this topic. The six of us have lived in Mississippi our entire lives. Not one of us ever had a single incident involving the police. Mississippi has a history that cannot be denied, but we are now ahead of the curve in the area of race relations. We are setting a positive example. Sex sells, but so does racism. People do not want to hear about positive things about race relations including those here in Oxford. We often see people protesting. The way I protest is getting people educated and finding them jobs. Helping others obtain opportunities is my form of protest.
HottyToddy.com: I’m going to throw out several names. Give me your initial reaction. James Meredith; Martin Luther King Jr.; Al Sharpton; Governor of Missouri; Citizens of NYC; and the University of Mississippi.
Chris Diggs:
James Meredith – Courageous and a trailblazer.
Martin Luther King Jr. – A leader by example. Willing to die for a cause.
Al Sharpton – No comment.
Governor of Missouri – I feel sorry for him.
Citizens of NYC – Sympathy. I understand their grief.
University of Mississippi – Pride. This university changed my life.
HottyToddy.com: While attending Ole Miss did you ever experience prejudice?
Chris Diggs: Never.
HottyToddy.com: Having grown up in Mississippi and based on your personal experiences, on a scale from 1-10 with 10 being excellent, how do we rate now compared to the 1970s in the area of race relations?
Chris Diggs: I would give us a 7 now compared to a 5 then. If we continue on the path we are headed, there will be opportunities for all. Creating a level playing field is critical with God and education being the only way to achieve excellence.
HottyToddy.com: Do you know if the players in the two aforementioned tragedies were Christians?
Chris Diggs: I do not know. However, based upon what I have seen and observed, Christian nor human values were present.
HottyToddy.com: Returning to Ole Miss, what have been the greatest strides made?
Chris Diggs: Chancellor Khayat was instrumental in providing an environment and atmosphere where everyone feels welcome. Anyone can achieve here if the desire is to. The opportunities attained upon graduation far supersede any negativity from the past. Ole Miss embraces its past while promoting its future.
HottyToddy.com: Mississippi today is quite different than the one you experienced in 1972.
Chris Diggs: Trayvon Martin was not killed in Mississippi, nor was Michael Brown or Eric Garner. I feel safe in Mississippi day or night, 24/7.
Chris Diggs is a living example that differences between the races can be best achieved when education; restraint; and Christian values prevail. Utilizing other tactics and theories simply do not work in the real world. The world Chris has experienced is real in every sense.

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Steve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. In addition, he is a certified economic and community developer and currently, a highly successful leader in the real estate business with Premier Properties of Oxford.You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.com or call him at 985-852-7745.