BS. If anything attitudes have relaxed towards this in Mississippi in the 22 years I have been here.
Two things ~ (1) Yes, they are beginning to "ligthen up" in Mississippi ~ (that's a pun). (2) Way back when I was in the Infantry I served with guys from down there and they ALL got tans. I don't tan. All Mississippi guys got an advantage in the Souf'.
Not that tanning easily proves anything, but it does!