Letter: Film should bring more than just revenue to city

I am writing in response to the comments that were made by our mayor in the Statesville R&L concerning the making of the movie “Blood Done Sign My Name” in our town yesterday.

Could it possibly be that we, as citizens of Statesville, should have taken away far more from this happening in our town than the fact that it “could lead to bigger productions in the city” or that it “keeps us on the radar for bigger projects”?

Could it be that we are to never forget and to forever be reminded of the hatred and devisiveness that separated us as Americans during that time in our history? Could it be that we, as citizens of this town, are never to forget that things such as happened in Oxford can happen and have happened in our town, and that we must work very hard in our churches, and in our civic groups, and even in our charitable organizations, to make sure we never go back and never let hate and racial differences rule our actions or our opinions?

Mayor Kutteh, I wish you could have heard your Statesvilel High School classmate, Skip McCall, last year describe to the audience at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration at Mitchell Community College what it was like to grow up in Statesville as a black person.

The pain and heartache that we extended our black brothers and sisters during that time was so very sad, and we, who sat in the audience that day, were reminded of how much work we all have to do personally and corporately.

So, as we appreciate the notoriety and the extra revenue that comes with films being made in Statesville, along with that comes a responsibility to be willing to learn from those who are in our midst who can teach us a thing or two about how to live together, appreciating all our differences.

Barbara Garrison
Statesville