Oct. 17 was the day of the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race. This event is supposed to be for all people to come out and have a good time. But again, it is the same old thing. Thousands of people attended the festival, being 90 percent white and 10 percent black. There were only two black music acts, which were not very known, to attract hundreds of black people.

An event such as the balloon race should be for all people to come, enjoy the music and have a good time.

Maybe it is time that the committee, who books the entertainment, get together with some of the local black music promoters and let them help choose the black entertainer that will bring out the black people, as well as the country and rock entertainment.

Bringing all races of people to the festival will only help the festival take in bigger profits. But as long as they keep centering this festival around one race of the people, it will continue to keep Natchez divided.

The balloons from last year, 2013, and now, 2014, could not fly because of the wind.

That is God almighty, trying to tell you to get it right and make the festival for everybody. With the Tricentennial celebration coming in 2016, let this event be handled differently than the balloon race festival. Please, get music acts for everybody. And for the record, I am not picking or targeting the balloon race event.

But, I have been to festivals all over the world. The ones I have attended, the music is 50 percent white bands and 50 percent black bands.

Crowds of people at these festivals are 50/50 equal. The Tricentennial 2016 (300th Birthday) of Natchez plans are being set.

Please, will you all on that committee have events throughout the City of Natchez that will include all races of people. Let’s not continue to do the same old thing. May God bless Natchez, and hopefully change things.

Prayer does change things.

 

Clarence Anderson

Natchez resident