“Here we know our neighbors, and in other, larger communities, this is not always the case. The Black Belt has given me life in an environment that has allowed me to see changes in hearts, growth in attitudes and a better realization of who we all are. Life is life within whomever, and we all want to live for as long as we can.”

Richie Jean Sherrod Jackson is a former educator who has seen Selma at its best and at its worst.

She has seen tremendous changes in every element of our society.

But through it all she remains an advocate of the life we all have the chance to enjoy in Alabama’s Black Belt. Thank goodness for people such as Mrs. Jackson.

Her comments — among others — are included in the next edition of Spanish Moss, set to be released next week.

Over the past few weeks, we have seen less than positive stories come out about the Black Belt, whether it be the chronic high unemployment or in-depth studies that rank elements of our community among the lowest in Alabama.

Even with all of that, there are those like Mrs. Jackson who continue to see the potential we have, the future we can make for ourselves. And, it is those people we should hold in high regard and those we should take stock in what they say.

Selma, Dallas County and the Black Belt have a tremendous future, if we can simply get past the hurdles we create for ourselves.

As President John F. Kennedy said, “our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings.”

We must continue to celebrate the passion of those like Mrs. Jackson and move away from those who thrive on further dividing us.

We must make a commitment to capitalize on our potential rather than listening who would rather exploit our weaknesses.