It’s 2006, and the citizens of Fayette County STILL haven’t progressed past defining themselves beyond race. Fayette citizens want representation, but want to define that representation as either black representation or white representation.

Each week I read your paper from page to page, not so much for its poorly proofed articles, but to see what slanted remarks the editors, its staff and other readers will make.

I’m not surprised that many of Fayette County’s residents still consider themselves “better than or superior to” their neighbors in bordering counties, or for that matter within the county itself (think Peachtree City vs. the City of Fayetteville); and I’ve heard tell it is because of the number of African Americans and Latinos moving into Fayetteville versus the number of whites living in Peachtree City that “intra-county racism” exists.

My husband and I have lived in Fayette County for three years, and I shopped in the county for years prior to that. Not because there are more blacks or white public officials here, but because of the small-town atmosphere.

As a “black” woman, my “green money” doesn’t seem to matter to Fayette’s “white elected officials or residents” when it comes to spending in our county. But God forbid that we should also want an active part in determining the political and economic atmosphere here as well.

When are the citizens of Fayette County going to see and accept one another for who we are, rather than continuing to define one another by the color of our skin? On Dr. King’s birthday, wouldn’t he have expected that in 2006 we as a county, and certainly as a nation, would have gotten past defining our elected officials and candidates by the color of their skin, but rather, as Dr. King himself said, “by the content of their character”?

Who cares what color a candidate is whose running for a Commission seat? I just want fair and impartial representation.

I agree with one of your readers who wrote that other candidates are not defined by their race (could that be because it is “expected” that they will be white?) when you write about them in your publication.

For that matter, you as an editor (and staff) make it clear what you think of your own readership when you print articles and clearly NEVER define the subject of the article as a white person or white restaurant or business, but you’re quick to do so when the same is an African American.

If I’m going to shop somewhere, it’s because of the quality of service I get. If the service is poor in a white establishment, I won’t return there. If it is poor in a black establishment, I won’t return there either. I want the service that’s best and most economical for my family and me.

My final question is this: Where are all the whites going to go where African Americans and others don’t have access to that community as well? How far are whites going to move where they can’t move to?

Perhaps we should just stop the world and let everyone of a different color get off because where on Earth is anyone going to live where someone else’s economic dollars, services or political clout aren’t needed, regardless of the color of their skin?

When you find that place, I guarantee that before long some other African American, Asian, Latino, or other ethnic group who just wants (and can afford) a better life and political representation for themselves and their family will be there, too.

Karen R. Bradfield
Fayetteville, Ga.

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