‘Jim Crow is dead’
Published: October 11, 2008
I’m writing in response to a front-page article, “Parking Mad,” that appeared in the Dothan Eagle on Oct. 1. The article is about neighbors unhappy with Solomon Park’s popularity.
First of all, I’d like to say you only reported half the story about what really got the neighbors unhappy. The truth of the matter is black people are using the park and the white people in the area find that hard to take.
On Sunday, Sept. 26, Solomon Park was used for a church picnic that was hosted by a prominent black church, Greater Beulah Missionary Baptist Church. Since most of the church members are not from the immediate area of the park, a few whites felt compelled to contact your newspaper to report that the popularity of the park was causing problems in the area.
Solomon Park is a public park that black, tax-paying residents have just as much right as anyone else to use a public facility without being singled out because of the color of their skin.
Some whites need to wake up and smell the coffee. Black people will not be denied our rights to use the parks in the city of Dothan.
There were some cars in the area around the park, but no one blocked anyone’s driveway. The picnic was orderly, and no law enforcement was involved because of the event.
Those who oppose black folks using public parks should be ashamed for themselves, because Jim Crow is dead.
Get over it.
Bobby Bracy
Dothan
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Reader Reactions
Why is it that every time something such as this comes up, it has to become a race issue? When I speak to my black friends, they don’t feel this is the case. What they do tell me is that there are some factions that wish to keep the race issue prominent because they can keep pushing for and getting special treatment, programs, funds, etc. I think we all need to stop looking at each other and seeing colors and instead look into each others eyes and see souls. We have to start looking after each other, all races, because if we don’t, we are not going to make it.
I read that article too, I remember the complaints about after hour usage, which would bother most neighbors. I do remember that parking on both sides of the street made traffic flow tough-which a large church picnic would do. Some of the complaints WERE over the top like the “ambulance couldn’t get through.“ But I don’t recall the race card being thrown down. There are a lot of white people that give every one a fair shot in life regardless whether purple, green or blue skin color. But we also get very tired of hearing the “woe, we are victims again” rhetoric. We had a predominantly black Church that moved down the road from us, and in their doing so some infrastructure improvements were made that helped us all out, and we are thankful. And for those whites that are complaining because of the color of skin using this park, Mr. Bracy is correct, get over it!
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