The ugly truth is many of Natchez&8217;s beautiful, antebellum houses, which provide the city with character and charm, were built with slave labor.

Our city, once home to more millionaires per capita than any other city in the country at the time, made its riches through the evils of slavery.

Today, Natchez has an incredible chance to tell the often untold history, a history that was played out in the houses, streets and cotton fields of the Miss-Lou through the development of the Forks of the Road site. The site was once one of the South&8217;s largest slave markets.

A study is under way to determine if the site would be eligible to be included into the Natchez National Historical Park. A public hearing on the matter will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Natchez Community Center.

Lots of folks have expressed a desire to &8220;do something&8221; to the site. And something should be done.

We fear, however, that some people may jump the gun in an effort to create something tangible at the site. In doing so, their work might circumvent the work to involve the National Park Service.

The NPS&8217; work to restore and develop the William Johnson House in Natchez is well known. The quality of workmanship and historical accuracy presented at it and the other sites of the Natchez National Historical Park are superb.

The Forks site needs to be developed, but we hope everyone involved can agree that the site&8217;s future is too valuable to rush.

Speed isn&8217;t nearly as important as doing justice to this often overlooked, but critically important piece of our history.