Building racial bridges in Columbus, Ga.

by Ken Crooks

August 19, 2008 | | Columbus, GA 31902

Photo: One Columbus

Residents of Columbus, Ga., take part in a Race Relations Breakfast, sponsored by One Columbus at Ruth Ann's Restaurant.

“One Columbus is a non-profit community service agency whose mission is to create unity and respect within the diverse populations that exist in the Greater Chattahoochee Valley. It has two program thrusts—one in education and the other in bridge building or dialogue groups modeled after Everyday Democracy.

“One Columbus offers two ways for residents to take part in dialogues:

“The first is the Neighborhood Dialogue Groups. We have one neighborhood dialogue group that meets once a week at a down town church in Columbus. The group does film and book reviews and addresses current community issues.

“Participants have taken action such as taking part in the M. L. King Jr. Parade of Excellence held every January, and meeting with the mayor and city officials to address alleged racial and sexual discrimination incidents involving two city employees.”

 “The second way is through the Race Relations Breakfasts. In 1992, the Breakfasts were formalized and led by Columbus State University's Dean of the School of Business, Bill Arthur. Today, the Race Relations Breakfasts are designed to provide a comfortable non-confrontational forum for discussion of race and race issues that affect residents of the Columbus area. Participants are almost 50% African-American and Euro American with Indians, Muslims and other groups occasionally being represented.

“Currently, the Breakfasts are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays at Ruth Ann's Restaurant on Veteran's Parkway from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and cost $6.00. Visitors and first timers are guests. Recent topics of interest for discussion, particularly with respect to race, included the Kenneth Walker shooting, public education, voting rights, immigration, housing discrimination, and the "Latino problem.”

"’My Challenges with Race’" is an ongoing series within the Breakfasts where black and white presenters detail their experiences with discrimination, define how they felt when the event happened, and what they did (or didn't do) as a result of these feelings. Discussion follows each presentation.

“For more information about Race Relations Breakfasts, Neighborhood Dialogue Groups and One Columbus, see our website at www.onecolumbus.org.”

Learn more: Racial Equity