For the first time, I finally took some time off from my busy schedule to attend the sixth annual Sibley Zydeco Festival.

I have been to a lot of music festivals, but never in my life have I witnessed such a festival like this one.

There was something for the adults and something for the children.

But there was one thing that puzzled me: there was not one sponsor from any of the local businesses, such as the sponsors who write the big checks for events such as the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race, the Adams County Sheriff’s Deputy Rodeo, country music concerts and the list goes on.

Let’s be reminded that African-American people pay taxes in Adams County and spend their money out in the same local businesses that sponsor these other events.

This Jim Crow mentality is still around in 2014.

If you are a white organization, you can get the sponsorship.
But, if you are a black organization, they will not sponsor. This is a clear case of racial discrimination at its highest.

And until this community can come together and get past what color a person is, Natchez will continue to go backwards and not forward. I applaud Jerry Lyles and his family for doing a good job for bringing people of all races together.

And most of all, the Zydeco Festival stands alone without any local businesses contributing to the cost and the cause.

See you next year Zydeco Festival.

It is only going to get better.

 

Clarence Anderson

Natchez resident