Ask anyone in Americus and they can tell you that Mathis Kearse Wright is the local NAACP branch president. But what the average citizen in Americus does not know is that Matt, as he is affectionately called, interviews and assists hundreds of their neighbors with racial discrimination complaints. These complaints can range from discrimination in the workplace to the highest boardrooms. Matt told the staff at The AmericUSumter Observer that the complaints coming in to the branch have increased tenfold, which has become a full time job. Matt believes that most of the complainants coming to the branch office on Forrest Street lately are related to unfair practices in the workplace. Matt smiles when he says that his present "job" is vastly different from his normal routine of enjoying life, raising his children and operating his restaurant and catering businesses. Matt is well known for his behind the scenes operating style; but he knows when to come out in the open and deal with situations.

Matt has been president of the branch since February, 2007. His investigative experiences at Textron Automotives in Americus has served Matt well in this position. As a supervisor at Textron supervising over 100 workers along with seven other plant supervisors, Matt had to listen to and take action on complaints lodged by fellow employees under his supervision. He was very methodical in his interviews and information gathering at Textron as he practices now at the NAACP.

President Wright have received numerous unfair work practices complaints from complainants who work for leading companies and organizations such as the Georgia Department of Labor, local Probation Program, Sumter County School System, Americus Police Department, the City Court, Habitat for Humanity. This group is an unfortunate source to receive complaints from since they are large employers and organizations in the community. And the NAACP's efforts against some of these employers and organizations have resulted in financial compensation for complainants from these institution's unfair work place practices. Although Mr. Wright and his branch continue to assist the community with a myriad of discrimination issues, he wonders for how much longer the branch can shoulder the burden alone. Wright is disheartened with the lack of support from the local ministers, sororities, fraternities and other social organizations. The membership files of the branch should have most of their church and organization members. Wright welcomes their help so that as a team they can tackle the injustices and inequalities here in Americus.

Wright laments about how uncaring and callous Habitat for Humanity has become with Black citizens. Habitat for Humanity is our lead newspaper story this month. The mission of Habitat, Wright notes, is to house people who are homeless or live in squalid conditions and need shelter. Currently, Habitat is cruel and abusive to the tenants living in the homes of Habitat. What ruffles Wright is the Christianlike image the organization painstakingly tries to portray as one of brotherhood and fellowship to the public.

The NAACP is the lead organization representing Eddie Bridges' brutal beating by a city policeman, Officer Michael Middleton. The case is in litigation now, even as more complaints against Officer Middleton are being reported to the NAACP office, according to Wright. And, his complaints to Police Chief James Green fall on deaf ears, Wright said. Under Wright's leadership, the NAACP has exposed the misconduct at the GA Department of Labor with some of their hearing officers, Appeals Tribunals personnel, all the way up to the governor appointed Board of Review, which resolves labor disputes. Two cases now in Superior  Court are challenging the decisions made by the Board of Review. Wright expects many of the pending cases with the Department of Labor to be resolved favorably for his complainants. A major victory for Wright since becoming branch president was winning a verdict in the wrongful indictment of four Black City Councilmen in Unadilla, Georgia. District Attorney (DA) Denise Fachini of Dooly County, who sits on the Crisp County Circuit, indicted the four on what was seen as weak and frivolous, with race as the primary motive.

It became clear to Blacks and the jury that Fachini indictments were done solely to remove the Black councilmen so that the White power structure would gain control. Councilman Dexter Whittaker, the main defendant targeted by Fachini, case ended in a hung jury this summer. Whittaker has been reelected to the city council. Fachini made one last desperate attempt to bring Whittaker back to court before the November 2009 election but failed.