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Uommentary
Lead Editorial
Austin Rhodes and Chronicle: Purveyors of hate?
For a young man to experi
ence what Champ Walker has
had to endure — despite his hav
ing promoted racial unity for
the last fifteen years — one
would think that he would har
bor bitterness and rancor
toward whites. Instead, he takes
pleasure in the challenge of
encouraging an amicable dia
logue and healthy respgct
between the races. He estab
lished a talk show called “The
Other Side of the Story” with
the explicit intention of con
veying his message of unity to
the masses. Many may not be
aware that Champ is passionate
Sl 7%
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THE OUTSIDER.......LOOKING INSIDE
° &
Counting on Columbia County.....
Let me introduce you to your newest member of congress..... Congressman Jim
Whitchead. Wait, excuse me, there scems to be a little mix-up.....Y0u newest congressman
from the 10th District is Congressman Paul Broun. Who is this guy?
Yeah, the people in Columbia County kind of let their own down this past Tuesday in
the race for the 10th District scat. However, some are saying this is only the beginning of
what is to come. Sources dlose to “The Qursider,” say this allegedly is a direct result of
Austin's influence. ‘People are getting tired of what is becoming the status qu0.....50 o
speak. Sources dose to “The Outsider” say that Jim Whitehead had his bags all packed
and thought he was on his way to Washington. However, before he could even get his oil
checked and some new tires put on (Jim owns a tire shop), he was putting that truck back
in park. chasmnnh\gbad(hd\dmomcmsecdmhismn—rightdncthumbh
County~lahimdawnax\dnndeitwhachcwiflbeamundibralitd:bitbngu.
Hey Jim, look at it like this, maybe they just really like your company.
about race relations and pro
moting this city.
Anyone who dares to lambaste
him and assassinate his charac
ter by labeling him as a crook
and a liar are doing what some
hloggers and overzealous right
wingers did when they referred
to him as a ‘Chimp’. Upon
examination of the atrocious
statements posted on the
Chronicle’s web log, it is evi
dent that they are driven by fear
of Champ Walker running for
office. I find it funny and heart
breaking all together.
The ‘funny’ sentiment speaks
to their greatest worry! Champ
AUGUSTA FOCUS
is revered by those in the com
munity who have worked along
side him and witnessed his
integrity. Others have seen his
altruistic commitment to fortify
ALL of Augusta. He has numer
ous supporters, of all races, who
will rally in support of electing
him to office.
The ‘heartbreaking’ sentiment
addresses the overt illustration of
how the Chronicle, and more
concertedly Austin Rhodes, have
tried virtually everything within
their power to demean and
degrade Champ Walker.
Nonetheless, after all the
name-calling, direct insults,
Oufitesszfififihltezuprefi;clst Justice
Reality Check
When first hearing about the then 17-
year old Black male teenager being sen
tenced to 10 years in prison for a non
forced sexual encounter with a 15-year
old girl, my first reaction was that the
girl must be White. It doesn’t take a
rocket scientist to know that there is no
way that a Georgia court would give
someone that kind of time for non
forced sex with a 15-year old black girl.
Don't get me wrong, | have a 15-year
old granddaughter and would be
extremely angry at a 17-year old male
having non-forced sex with her but it
would be near criminal for me to push
for a ten-year prison sentence for the
teenager. The lesson to be learned from
this is that we Black folks had better
wake up and smell the collard greens
and come out of the delusional trance
that too many of us have been operating
under during the past 35 plus years. Old
insinuations and blatant lies
Austin told during the JBMF —
to include calling Champ a
crook and telling his listeners
that Champ tried to start a riot —
Champ, as usual, thoughtfully
and without venom, corrected
Austin. Champ asked him to
disavow his agenda of divisive
ness and recant the purveyor of
hatred schemes in an effort to
move the city forward. Austin
has refused repeatedly. In fact,
the blogs are full of Austin
fueled tomments such as,
“Chimp the Chump needs to go
to jail like his daddy.” Despite
any evidence or appearance of
July 19, 2007
misconduct (real or imagined)
in any of his dealings, hate mon
gers pray for Champ’s demise.
Conversely, the Black communi
ty didnt appreciate Champ'’s
earnest attempts to reach out to
those who had labored ferventy
to put his family behind bars. It
amazes me that no matter how
much acrimony is hurled at
Champ Walker, his initial
objective of unifying the
Garden City is not tainted.
Perceptibly, he is aware of his
higher calling and knows that
“to much is given, much is
required.”
schoolers had better warn young Black
men that though they may have their
interracial flings in major metropolitan
areas with some degree of safety, they
put their lives in jeopardy when they
have these flings in small cities and
towns, especially in the South.
Meanwhile whatever is necessary must
be done to get that now 20-year old
young man released from jail immedi
ately.
Over 25,000 librarians poured into
Washington D.C. for the annual con
vention of The American Library
Association. It was enlightening to see
several Black book publishers and one
black distributor displaying their books
in the huge Exhibit Hall of the D.C.
Convention Center. These included
Brand Nu Words (www.brandnu-
See Justice, page 8
Page7