Natchez and the Miss-Lou owe much to the work of black Americans living in and around the community.

Their works, particularly the riches it created for others prior to the Civil War, mark nearly every square mile of our community.

Natchez would not be what it is today were it not for the skills, talents and strengths of all of its people — black, white and every shade in between.

This month, our nation celebrates Black History Month.

Perhaps there’s no more fitting place in America to demonstrate the full spectrum of black history than Natchez.

From the earliest and ugliest times when black people were bought and sold like livestock to the modern day when black Natchezians are doctors, lawyers and even professional sports stars, all of our history contains black history.

Wouldn’t it be nice when, one day, it’s unnecessary to label things as “black” or “white?”

With each passing day, we’re getting closer to that goal, we think — and hope.

Black history isn’t “their history” to white citizens. It’s really part of “our history.” The same is true in reverse as well. The history of white people is also intertwined with black history.

Natchez wouldn’t be Natchez any other way.