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![Richard Algernon "Papa" Dent Special](http://chronicle.augusta.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/superphoto/editorial/images/spotted/65/656523.jpg "Richard Algernon "Papa" Dent Special")
Why does everything have to be so divided, so black and white?
Long before the nation elected its first black president, Augustans were blazing the trail for minorities in local politics.
Corey Rogers, a historian for the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History, said he's heartened by how much progress has been made in the political arena for minorities and how more officials, including President-elect Obama, have been turning to the past for guidance.
"I think that this is an exciting time for politics in America and in Augusta as well," he said.
Here's a look back at some of those who broke the political glass ceilings in Augusta:
FIRST BLACK RICHMOND COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND FIRST AUGUSTA MAYOR: Ed McIntyre -- a county commission member during the 1970s, was elected the city's first black mayor in 1981.
"He remained a major figure in Augusta politics during the ('70s) decade and in 1980 was chairman of the Coliseum Authority, a bit of poetic justice since the idea for the Civic Center was attributed to him in the first place," historian Ed Cashin wrote in The Story of Augusta . Mr. McIntyre, who died in 2004, was also credited as the founder of the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials.
FIRST BLACK AUGUSTA CITY COUNCILMAN: B.L. Dent -- elected in 1964. One year later, "Rev. C.S. Hamilton joined B.L. Dent on the City Council," according to Dr. Cashin's book. "A year later, B.L. Dent's brother, R.A. Dent, became the first black Augustan since Thomas Beard (a representative in 1868, during Reconstruction) to be elected to the State Legislature."
FIRST BLACK AUGUSTA CITY COUNCILWOMAN: Carrie J. Mays -- elected in 1970, the year of a downtown riot. Mrs. Mays, the mother of former Augusta commissioner and one-time interim mayor Willie Mays, became the third black and first woman to serve on the city council.
"The year of the riot witnessed other forward steps for black Augustans," Dr. Cashin wrote.
FIRST BLACK RICHMOND COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER: W.C. Ervin -- elected in 1951. He was a business manager at Paine College and was opposed by the Independents and New Crackers parties, according to Dr. Cashin's book.
"May God bless all the citizens of Richmond County and this great Southland," Mr. Ervin was quoted as saying in Dr. Cashin's book.
FIRST BLACK SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT: A.K. Hasan -- He served in that role in 1983 and 1984, said Louis E. Svehla, the public information director for Richmond County Schools.
FIRST BLACK STATE LEGISLATOR FOR AUGUSTA SINCE RECONSTRUCTION: Richard Algernon Dent, who Mr. Rogers said was affectionately known as "Papa."
Comments
Why does everything have to be so divided, so black and white?
I would like to take a moment & say I am very happy that our New President will be Obama. I'm a 52 year old white male & my entire life I have never believed one word a politician said. If their mouth was moving I believed they were lying, this is not the case with Obama. I believe he wants to make America again what our forfathers had in mind & it got lost along the way with greed & power hungry men. The ones who don't like him & all of us here know who they are. If they would listen to what the man says maybe they would not be so negitive. At first I did not know if Obama could be trusted so I listened to the man & the more I listened the more I believed him, I just wish everyone would do the same. I don't want this to sound prejudice but white people can't feel what prejudice is, I try, I really try but I can't really know because I have not walked in the AAmerican's shoes. I believe it has to be awful to be judged by ones skin color, that's has to be horrible. But we will always have prejudice people among us of every color but this is our chance to put a lot of it behind us. The job Obama has will not be an easy one but I know through just listining he is a GOOD MAN.
I would also like to bring this up before the bashers come along & start talking about McIntyre's trouble with the law. He was tried by his peers, served what the law gave him. He has paid his debt to the Augusta Community. Everyone & I mean everyone makes mistakes some larger that others but a mistake does not make one a bad man. Just like the one's before him said & Obama said we have to come together if we want a better America. I want a better AMERICA, I want the one our forfathers had planned for us. I want one where lobbyist DO NOT PURCHASE bills & laws to protect the wealthy. Put all that old Craph behind us & try to make The United States a better place for those children who are babies today!(PS:) Augusta has a rich history of our leaders going to jail & all the others who broke the law were white. So see everybody did it, that's behind us..LEAVE IT THERE, DON'T BRING IT FORWARD!
And it has gone downhill ever since.
I voted for Ed McIntyre in 1981. He was a champion of the people, both black and white, and he sincerely loved our community. I also payed close attention as he was arrested, tried, and sent to prison. He was convicted under the Hobbs Act, a federal statute that focused on graft and corruption concerning elected officials. A city council member went down with him. But out of the ashes rose the Phoenix -- McIntyre returned to Augusta a new man. He once again gave his heart to our city and redeemed himself. Maybe someday Charles Walker will return a new man. Maybe there's even hope for Robin Williams and Linda Shrenko. It is truly time for a change.
To make things better become a member of Christ's family, the chosen race. All men sin and fall short. None of us want to be judged by the content of our hearts. Every man sins and what is important is not our good deeds but our relationship to Jesus. King struggled like everyone else. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. http://marriage.about.com/od/politics/p/martincoretta.htm
"he sincerely loved our community" ------ And one of the few who got anything done downtown, Riverwalk included. Twenty years later, it's still thumb twiddling regardless of color.
sctex, too bad you did not ask that question 6o years ago.
I will not be a basher this week. The inaugeration of President Elect Obama ia truly an historical occasion. I pray that he will be a good leader and good for all Americans. He certainly has a tough job ahead of him. I would also ask that we join in prayer & well wishing for President Bush. None of us agreed with everything he did but what president ever will. Enjoy this week, especially tomorrow, the difficult task begins on Wednesday. Good luck
sctex I think the answer is because people like hypo08 still dwell in and use the past as a crutch for their own failures.
How about Charles Larke, first black school Superintendent? Marion Williams, first black fireman? :)
Hypo....What a stupid question... Most of us wasn't even here 60 years ago, much less had anything to do with it. Let it go.
My aunt was on the city council and the first woman to run for mayor in Augusta. She always told me, even though they didn't always agree, McIntyre was the best mayor we had. She said it was a shame that DeVaney road in on his coat tail and took the credit for the riverwalk. As far as his criminal dealings she said he made his mistakes and he paid for them. She had a lot of respect for him. Inez Wylds was a smart and decent woman and she loved Augusta. God rest her soul.
No he was not set up. He made some mistakes. Not everything in the world is the white man after the black man. It must be sad to be filled with all that hate for a race of people, a majority of them that have never done you harm. Your way of thinking is really bizarre.
"No he was not set up." ------ Oh, yes he was, as he's not the only corrupt politician in the area. It was a political coup. Today, any White mayor has to do some serious campaigning with church leaders to get elected. That "scare them" tactic back fired (and thus, the crying over race that wasn't the main topic in local politics until then --- that artificial divide). Now it's all about payback, on both sides of the color divide they both setup. Personally, both nitpickers need to be thrown into the river, as they're not helping Augusta progress.
dissman, I do not dwell on anything. I was taught that hard work and a can do attitude will get you everything you need in life. However people like you that paint everyone that skin color is different than yours with the broad brush is the problem. I am very content with the life I have. You seem to be the one that's miserable and worried about what anyone else is getting.
Georgia# 1, same thing to you. I do not have anything to let go of. I have a beautiful wife, three grown off springs. One at Princeton, who was a top graduate from Wesleyan College, one graduated U.G.A and a son that will be going into the Navy soon. I own two houses and believe it or not have a spoiled dog at home. What more can one ask for? You all however love to live in the past. Worrying about who may or may not be getting something free. I work, pay my taxes and enjoy the life I have with my family and friends. I do not have enough time to try and live someone else life for them.
SandyK2005, all I'm going to say is that the bait was thrown, and Ed took it. That's not being set up, that's falling to greed. i understand he was a great mayor, but unfortunately, his own greed brought him down. Walker went down because he is an arrogant. The people that voted for and supported Walker are the ones who should have seen it coming.
Yep, that's being setup, That folks see nothing wrong in it, is the problem. No wonder why the area is slithering down the hole.
"Didn't "they" use some tricky police work to send this guy to jail"-absolutely. He was recorded by a tape recorder. Tricky, all right. And he was not set up. Remember "I'm not a greedy man"? He was 100% guilty of what he was charged with, and he sent himself to jail, just like all criminals do.
No Sandy, that is not being set up. Mr. McIntyre made overtures that he would make a land sale go a certain way for some money. When the person he made the overtures told the FBI or GBI (I do not remember which) the money was made availabe and he took the bait. He made the first suggestion. I believe the man he made the overtures to was a Mr. Waters who was developing land on the river.
Which is a classic setup. As they sure didn't go after the other corrupt city officials (and you know darn right there's plenty --- anywhere from using prisoners to help pave their lot, onwards).
From what I remember, WW1949 is correct based on what happened with McIntyre......McIntyre wanted money and a condo to ensure that Waters got a prime piece of land along the river for a condo development.
McIntyre was set up, however he was the one that got himself into that mess. Does not erase all the good he did but he had no one else to blame. He was a great friend of my family and we talked a lot. I told him the same thing to his face and deep down inside, he was very remorseful.
State the names then, SandyK. I guess J.B. Dykes, Bill Anderson, Linda Schrenko, Robin Williams, and the two that went down with McIntyre don't count. You need to look at the difference between a set-up and an opportunist.
Well said Putt, politically correct, hypo, Sandy and a few others. Now, is the time our nation take a break from partisan and racial bickering and work together to solve the many crisis we face. It should be noted, that if Obama fails, our nation will suffer and all of us will pay for it.I read this and I'm not sure who the author is.But here it is," We must overcome hate,we must overcome violence, we must overcome greed, we must overcome fighting, we must overcome cruelty. We must overcome all that tears people apart and concentrate on all that brings us together"!!! HAPPY MLK DAY AUGUSTA !!!!!!!!
Anyone ever heard of T.A. Bowman, 1st black city councilman of Augusta Georgia and owner of a hardware store at the corner of 12th and Gwennett streets? Get history right?
And neither of the six served with any distinction either--all they represent is being "the first" black to take their respective positions. The worst of the six is McIntyre; the second worst, who isn't mentioned in the article, is Charles Walker. Taking advantage of one's elected position to serve one's own self-interest rather than the people who elected them to office is called corruption. McIntyre and Walker got what they so richly deserved.
Where have you served with distinction? Sure some of theses people messed up, but if you think that they did not contribute some positive things to this area , then I rather not say what I am thinking.
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