Selma is growing again.

I think that’s good news, considering things have been stagnant for quite some time.

When my family first moved here in 2000, it was a culture shock for me. Coming from a progressive and upwardly mobile town such as Shelbyville, Ky., it appeared as though I had time traveled back to the 1960s. Things seemed a little slower, and there was a thick atmosphere of the “have’s and have not’s” and in most cases, the separation of blacks and whites at community and church events.

However, this seems to no longer be the case.

Things are finally beginning to bloom in Selma. Selma is now becoming the economic engine of progressive development across the Black Belt with the addition of the new Walton Theatre, the revamping of the Phoenix and Riverfront parks and the unveiling of new downtown projects, businesses and venues. Selma is no longer a place of scorn but one of positivity.

I am happy to see that businesses and tourists are seeing Selma as more than a place to celebrate history. Sure the annual Selma Pilgrimage, Civil War reenactment and Bridge Crossing Jubilee are what make Selma stand out from other places across the globe, but Selma is so much more than these.

I’m glad that people are finally seeing Selma’s potential — a potential of being a place that people want to raise their families, shop and open a business.

The have’s and have not’s have finally come together as a unit to make Selma move forward as a community and city. The black and the whites, and even Latino population are no longer afraid to “break bread” together and are looking past socioeconomic and ethnic differences to make the town a place we all can be proud of. Whether you’re from Selma, moved here due to a relative or are just passing through, no one can deny that Selma is a beautiful place. The rich history and architectural heritage is incomparable, and the southern hospitality and charm is appreciable.

I’ve seen and heard many stories of Selma natives coming back to enrich and impact their communities. Pastors and community leaders on both sides of the spectrum are choosing to collaborate ideas and lead with compassion and integrity to better the community.

Selma is finally moving toward unity, just how the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and so many others wanted, and for that, I’m thankful.