Why I Started the AmericUSumter Observer Newspaper

This month, the AmericUSumter Observer (ASO) Newspaper turns 10 years old. ASO was established out of the necessity to report balance and objective coverage of Sumter's minority citizens. The Americus Times Recorder Newspaper, the main newspaper for Sumter County's citizens, lacked balance news coverage to its readers about Sumter's minority citizens. In addition, I saw how Times Recorder used certain tactics to quiet voices of dissent against their paper. Rather the Times Recorder's coverage involved black leaders, elections, voting rights and crimes-the coverage was always reported negatively than when it does coverage of white citizens on the same subjects. Sumter's minorities were usually reported as corrupted, stupid, and overly exaggerated regardless of the circumstances.

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CAST THE FIRST STONE

Americus Times Recorder

Dear Americus Times Recorder,
This is an open letter to your entire staff which I gladly welcome any public rebuttal from your newspaper to be printed in the next issue of the Americus Sumter Observer. With so much unreported news to cover in our community, why do you feel the necessity to continuously print articles about me in your headlines? I recently did a search of my name in your online newspaper archives and the results showed that my name has appeared in your newspaper over 100 times in the last year and a half!

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UNITE AND USE YOUR WEAPON

As I listened and observed the many events celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday locally and nationally, I realized how much we have progressed and how much we have digressed. Dr. King recognized the way to succeed was through non-violence and unity for all mankind.

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2007 Ministry of Agriculture Conference:

 "Fighting poisons in our home and food"

On Saturday, January 20th a stream of out of town cars flowed into the little village of Bronwood, GA to attend our Annual Ministry of Agriculture Conference. We say in the Nation of Islam that Allah (God) promised us "money, good homes and friendships in all walks of life". Well in the Ministry of Agriculture we are always in need of money. Sister Anne Muhammad through her magnificent home making skills has turned the double wide mobile home at Muhammad Farms into a great home. Now, in the spirit of the Millions More Movement

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Dr. King and the Garbage Workers of Americus

In the last speech Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave on April 3, 1968, he spoke before a gathering of organized garbage workers in Memphis, Tennessee. His words were prophetic. He said, “I have been to the mountaintop, and I have seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you, but mine eyes have seen the Glory of the Coming of the Lord.”

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Apologizing for Slavery Isn’t Enough

by George E. Curry
A Virginia legislator created a stir recently when said Whites living today shouldn’t apologize for slavery. If subjugation of African-Americans had ended with slavery, that would be one thing. But the rancid stench of state-sponsored racism extended well into the 1960s. So, if there is to be an apology in Virginia or any other state, it should not be limited to slavery.

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