The City of Natchez unveiled a new plan Monday that realigns some of the city’s aldermen wards.

One of the aims of the plan is to more properly realign the city’s wards to better reflect the city’s racial makeup, based on 2010 census data.

Politics and race often make for ugly conversations and this is no different. The matter, which should have been resolved prior to the last city election, has caused a federal lawsuit to be filed by a few citizens, who clearly feel involving the federal government is necessary to get fair treatment from the city.

City leaders seem to be waiting now for a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” from the local chapter of the NAACP before voting on the matter. Sadly, such a step shouldn’t be necessary, and neither should a federal lawsuit.

That’s water under the bridge right now.

But we all need to ask ourselves, why do matters of race continue to separate our community so?

If you wonder the answer to that question, we hope you’ll consider investing half a day’s time to help find the answer.

Mission Mississippi will host a “Day of Dialog” from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday. The goal is simple: begin conversations that will help us all understand one another better. Our differences can be solved one relationship at a time, but only if enough people are willing to talk, openly, honestly and civilly.