The Savannah tribune. (Savannah, Ga.) 1973-current, February 16, 2011, Image 7

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The Savannah tribune., February 16, 2011, Image 7

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Newspaper Page TextThe Savannah Tribune • Wednesday, February 16, 2011-7 EDITORIALS AND COMMUNITY NEWS Letter to the Editor Councilmembers Suffering From Severe Shock Letter to The Editor Minister Calls For Dialogue on Race m arver SI B Fmc www.carverstaiebank.com H iutR Thommi Odum As we celebrate Black History Month this year the Family of Thommi Odum is casting a congratulatory Spotlight on her many accom plishments. Thommi (Tommy) as she is known to her family attended the Public School System right here in Savannah (Chatham Co.) Ga., she is a graduate of Jenkins High School. Her family is casting this Spotlight not just to congratu late her but to encourage and remind our community and especially our young people that we can accomplish and become whatever we desire. The color of our skin, how much or how little money we have is not an indi cator of our success. Education however; is a key factor and Thommi has cer tainly proven that. Thommi has been fea tured in the September 2010 Publication of Career Magazine in an article Titled “Movers and Shakers” Under Age 40. She has also been fea tured in a publication of “Career Spa” which featured Atlanta-based Career Guidance Coaches. (Portions of the article(s) are shared here by a very proud family about a very present day Black History Moment that started right here in Savannah) Thommi earned her B.S. in Accounting from Mercer University and an MBA in Information Systems from Kennesaw State University. She is also a certified Project Manager, PMP, and a certified HR Professional, PHR. A life-long learner, Thommi is continually read ing, attending workshops and studying personal and team development. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Professional Counseling. Thommi’s 15-year corporate career path reflects a wide range of experience, encompassing project man agement, talent management, consulting, coaching, and training and development. This has given her a unique perspective in facilitat ing teams in removing blocks and taking action proactively in meeting their objectives. Thommi provides her clients a unique individualized approach to accessing what is stunting their growth person ally or professionally and designing a GROWTH action plan to revitalization. During construction, the temporary Main Office is at the rear of 701 Martin Luther king, Jr. Bh cl. Dear Editor, The white race really is a racist group of people. For some reason, they feel they are superior to every race on this planet; especially the Black race. They always want everything to go their way and when it don't they brings out the Calvary (The State Attorney General). The White members of City Council became terroristic when the Mayor and other Black Council members chose Mr. Alfred Lott and Ms. Rochelle Toney for their finalists. It is obvious that the White coun cilmembers wanted Mr. DiGiovanni as one of the finalists, but his qualities did not hold up against the final two people. There were other quali fied people who were not cho sen as finalists, but the White Councilmembers did not get mad because they ah were Black. The ironic side of this situation is the white Councilmembers are contend ing that Mr. Lott is not quali fied and he comes with bag gage. I remember when this same Council approved Mr. Berkow for Chief of Police despite his misconduct of sex ual harassment. In addition, he had an on the job training mistress and he was involved with rapper Biggy Small's death. As long as the city was operat ing under the “good ole boy” system, these Councilmember's were fine but as soon as the Mayor and the other Black Councilmembers stood up and began to act as equals, they began to holler racism. How could any white person in Savannah ever cry reverse racism? Let's see what racism mean. In order for a person or a group of people to be a racist, you must first have a deep hatred for a certain race and view that race as inferior to your race. In addition, you must have an overwhelming love for your race and will do anything to protect your race, such as cry like Mary Ellen Sprague or get fired up like JefFFelsher and run for Mayor so the Black woman Edna Jackson won't be elected, or call in the GB1 like Tony Thomas. Once this is estab lished, the so-called superior race must use its power and money to lockout the inferior race from good jobs, housing, complete freedom, equality and the American dream. The city of Savannah was established by racist white people in 1733 and in 1754, the city became a Royal Colony. Savannah partnered with other countries to steal Black people from Africa. Once the Africans unwillingly landed on the soils of this blood drip ping city, they were worked from can't see morning till can't see night. As a result of 100% free labor, Savannah became a wealthy and pros perous city. The University of Georgia, the Juliette Gordon Low, and the Savannah Golf Club was established and became rich off of the blood and tears of Black people. You see, Tony Thomas, Mary Ellen Sprague, Larry Stueber, and Jeff Felser are suffering from severe shock. They can't believe that the children of the slaves are finally taken their rightful seat at the white man's table but this time the role has changed, the slave's children are in con trol. This is a prime example of chicken coming home to roost- The bad deeds of your ancestors have rebounded and the white city councilmem ber's and their kind are running scared. I think it is a good thing to see white people squirming at the short end of their mental rope. Thank God, Chickens Do Come Home to Roost!! Marilyn Jackson Black History Month Spotlight on Ms. Thommi Odum In addition to her career Thommi is an avid runner and volunteers with several non profits. Dear Savannah, It is time to have a community wide discus sion. If a dirty wall is paint ed, is it clean, dirty or just painted over? When the wall is disagreement of any type, it all depends on your perspective, what you know about the wall and if the wall is blocking your way. My read of the op-ed pieces and the online dis cussions over the past month leads me to assess that the wall of race/racism is still standing in our great City of Savannah. What troubles me is that the words 'race' and 'racism' are being used decisively. Can we admit that not every White person is racist and not every Black person is devoid of racist thoughts and statements and that civility is a gift that every one could use for more rational discourse? As a relative newcom er, my assessment is that the issues surrounding the City Manger search are far more political than racial yet race and racism are quickly used in excess instead of looking deeper. To that end, the citi zens have spoken at Town Hall last week: we expect our politicians to work things out - my only hope is that it is grace filled for everyone. But because race keeps coming up, Savannah, perhaps it is time to once again sit together and reason with one another along the matters of race and racism in our communi ty. Rev. Cheryl Parris These conversations needs to be two fold, reach ing both the natural opinion leaders of our community and the general public, all who have experiences and insights to share in ways that ensure growth, affirma tion and mutual respect. Dialogues are a lot of work. No one can gain every insight in their reli gious books in just one reading. Likewise, dia logues need to occur over and over, in new and differ ent ways. Trust is a process and it begins in this situa tion by taking a look at the walls of disagreement that stand between all of us, pre venting us from moving forward. See Community, pg. 16 hi Memory Of /if £&<97 In memory of the one who is missed by young and old, lar and near because he was so loved by all races, and genders. Ronald B. Thomas was a very thoughtful, giving, and helpful person lo nil who knew him. Ron is misled very, very much by us all. His family mother Rachel, brother Anthimy, and Kevin, (kmghlcrs Mira mm. Nicole, mid Rachel - grand * daughters Nikiyah, NyAmui, arid Hayden. Audi Rtbwei and L Fide Norman Vliichdl, Uncle Kugcnc and Aunt Vinotn Thomas, Uncle David, and Aunl Gladys Thomas, L ride Bernard Thomas, and Many, Many Cousins. We all loved y ou Ron. Imi God hived you best. Ton are in a better place now in the Arms of God. 7110 Skid aw a v Road Front view of tbe new Carver Main Office to be completed during the spring of 201L H 701 Martin Lather King, Jr, BN On -July 22.2010. officials of Carver Statu Bank and St, Philip AME Church lusted a ground breaking ceremony for Carver Common*, a development that will include a new main office for the bank and a Food Lion supermarket.