Lest We Forget
Lewis Grizzard
Twenty years ago this month, we lost a man who seemed to be like family to all of us. Lewis Grizzard was that man, a man with an extraordinary gift – he could really communicate with everyone. He treated life with a profound sense of wisdom coupled with humor, and his writings are a legacy that will be remembered and shared for many years to come.
We thank The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for bringing Lewis Grizzard to us, sadly, for his far too few years.
ARTHUR GORMLEY, WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.
INCOME GAP
Consider proven solutions to ease inequality
Jay Bookman’s column (“Ending Atlanta’s cycle of poverty proves difficult,” Opinion, Mar. 5) is a thoughtful analysis of poverty in our urban areas. Jay correctly points to the education gap and calls for strong teachers. Having spent 10 years in education reform myself, I would argue for a more systemic approach to poverty. Strong teachers function best in an environment that supports them.
This is shown by the success of Drew Charter School in East Lake. An inclusive coalition of community leaders working with business, government and foundation leaders brought about systemic neighborhood reform. Competency tests show that Drew’s graduates are East Lake’s best hope for narrowing the income gap.
A next step might be to look at the East Lake model as a way of addressing urban ills of other neighborhoods. We should look at the challenges facing East Lake in the early ‘90s and develop a way of measuring outcomes against dollars invested over time.
Based on news reports, the Falcons and the Blank Foundation are looking at East Lake as a potential blueprint for reform in Vine City, the neighborhood most impacted by the new stadium. As we strive to close the income gap in Atlanta neighborhoods, let’s follow their example and draw inspiration from what already works.
Atlanta has a history of emboldened leadership. The time to call on it is now.
MARY ROSE TAYLOR, ATLANTA
‘12 Years a Slave’
Leonard Pitts has it all wrong
I cannot disagree more with (“Watch ‘12 Years a Slave,’ then healing can begin,” Opinion, Mar. 6). I’m a white man who has worked for a black-owned business, and who mentors homeless black kids trying to finish high school.
Racism will not die until blacks stop identity politics and focus on achievement. Reverse discrimination has been allowed, even encouraged. Witness the black “leaders” pushing to elect people because they are black, and complaining about “too many whites” moving into downtown Atlanta. Witness the shouts of “racism” anytime blacks are asked to be accountable for black-committed crime or births out of wedlock.
You state that “As a nation we have never quite dealt with our African-American history… .” We’ve been dealing with little else my entire adult life, from the “War on Poverty” through President Obama’s expansion of food stamps, and from MLK’s “I Have A Dream” speech through to his children’s war over his mementos. Blacks are still being encouraged to “drag around the chains” after 150 years.
As long as you demand special treatment, you cannot be treated as equal.
MIKE LOWRY, ROSWELL
