Project Logic Ga

I needed to read or see something a little positive in the morning paper today after a summer of local drama followed by local mess following by local controversy—“can’t we all just get along.”  The answer is no and our local mess is making other community more appealing to industry and businesses.  I think that Tifton and Valdosta have drama also but their community leaders attempt to resolve issues as gentlemen and ladies first with a courtesy phone call or email rather than providing the fodder for those who love negative energy.  It is that simple. 

So, I looked at the front the of the Albany Herald today and I see kids swimming in a nice pool but not just any pool.  The facility for a swim camp conducted by local private school was the pool at HBCU Albany State University.  Cue the obligatory chant: I love my A.S…I love my A.S….I love my A.S.U.  So the private school kids are on the other side of town swimming while national drama is jumping off at a pool in Pennsylvania.

When I was those kids age, the ASU Swimming Team under legendary coach Obie O’Neal was winning Black College National Championships.  O’Neal was a classic gentleman who always carried himself well.  I might be wrong but was he a coach on the ASU football team that was undefeated, untied and unscored upon. 

Seeing those kids in that pool made me think about that Dorothy Dandridge biopic with Hallie Berry where Dandridge was singing at a Vegas hotel and put her toe in the hotel pool before a swim.  So the hotel management tells her that she was not allow to swim there and they drain the pool….because of a Black toe. 

People would be surprised by number of locals who never stepped foot on a city’s Black college campus but we must remember that all Georgians own that campus as well as UGA and Georgia Tech.  I won’t go into the whole “my folks built Georgia for free” thing but I hope those kids (Black and White) will feel a little more comfortable after a positive experience at their local university.  As a sidenote, my other college, Darton College, hosted a large basketball tournament this weekend so it is good that some locals when across town and got familiar with that school also.  Someone might graduate from D.C. in a few years after being first exposed to the campus while watching a b-ball game.

But, what about the local business that flag UGA and FSU stuff on their walls without consideration to the local economic impact of ASU’s students and faculty—get some Blue and Gold flags. To their credit, the local chamber of commerce is highlighting the benefit of ASU and DC benefit as they should because heaven knows Black college students can spend some money—delayed gratification…please…our kids stay trendy in fashion and live up in Applebees and Ruby Tuesdays.