I guess it is politically correct to apologize for being born white. Well if being born to a family that were sharecroppers and farmers, I guess that I have white privilege? My father probably never made more than $10,000 a year during his lifetime. I remember him painting houses or anything else to make ends meet growing up when laid off from his regular job at the Railway Express. I lived in a two bedroom home my dad built with my two siblings. I wore hand me downs from older cousins and on rare occasions would get a new pair of Roebuck or J.C. Penney jeans. I never had Levi jeans until I married. My dad never bought a new car in his life. I painted for my dad for 25 cents an hour. My first real job was for Mr. L.E. Gibson at Military Cleaners for 75 cents an hour. I joined the Army out of high school, served three years, went to EMCC for one year and then married. I had two jobs making payment on a ‘59 Chevy. White privilege?
One of my dad’s good friends growing up was a Black man. I was taught to respect the individual. I know race-baiting is in vogue today, pitting races against each other. Well I, for one, am sick and tired of it. All you have to do is go on Facebook to see some local folk of color spouting hateful statements about the new mayor. I personally have been on the receiving end of hateful statements, accusing me of being a racist. I am a former “redhead” and am left-handed, but I am far from being a racist. As a city and nation, we will never grow in harmony, unless this racism issue is laid to rest.
Let me thank Bob Raymond for his letter about voting on the docket at the council meeting before reading it. That has been a pet peeve of mine for years. I have seen dockets approved on items that were in error before. But it’s not their money! I’ve had questions on items before but no answers. The gallery cannot question the docket and unless you look at it online, the public is in the dark. Mayor Gaskin you are off to a great start, and I applaud your transparency but where the public’s money is spent, there needs to be more transparency.
God Bless Columbus and America!
Lee Roy Lollar
Columbus
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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