A
Night for Heroes
MARIETTA DAILY JOURNAL
JUNE 30, 2003
By Matt Schafer
Marietta Daily
Journal Staff Writer
MARIETTA —
The Cobb County branch of the NAACP held an
informal, energetic gathering Sunday to honor five
men who are working to improve their communities. |
Douglas Martin is standing, third from the left.
Staff photos by Damien A. Guarnieri The Cobb County
Branch of the NAACP honor |
Charles Walker, Doug Martin, the Rev. Clarence
Elsbee Jr., Sammy Foster and Nathan Wade were all
given plaques certifying their status as heroes for
their roles in the black community during the
‘Salute to our Heroes’ event. Souls in Motion, a
youth mime group, was given a plaque honoring them
as future heroes.
“About five years ago, we were very dismayed with
how our black men were being portrayed in the
media,” said Deane Bonner, president of the Cobb
County branch of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People. “We say that heroes
come in all shapes, all sizes and all colors.”
The awards, held at at the Jenny T. Anderson Theatre
at the Cobb County Civic Center, were a serious
moment offset by a lighthearted fashion show
narrated by Hot 107.9 radio personality and Cobb
County resident Rashan Ali Smith.
Ms. Bonner said the evening was designed to present
positive images of black males, from children to
older men.
Walker, one of the award recipients, is heavily
involved in south Cobb County as chairman of the
Austell Community Task Force, president of the south
Cobb NAACP and president and associate area director
for the United Way.
“This award means a lot to me because it’s coming
from the Cobb NAACP,” he said. “I know if it wasn’t
for leaders like the NAACP, I wouldn’t be able to do
what I’m doing.”
Martin, a longtime community activist and founder of
People Lovin’ People, made an impassioned plea for
greater outreach in order to keep black
representation on the Marietta City Council.
“The mayor (Bill Dunaway) has said he would like to
see all the poor people move out of Marietta. & We
may have seen the last black city councilman elected
simply because we can put him in office,” Martin
said. “We need to reach out to the Hispanic
community. They have many of the same problems we
do, and if we approach them correctly, they will
support us.”
Elebee is the pastor of Causey Chapel Baptist Church
in Austell and a self-produced recording artist.
“The award was refreshing because sometimes you do
things and you don’t know people are watching,” he
said.
Cobb County native Foster left his job at the
Salvation Army to found Odyssey Production Inc., a
nonprofit child resource program.
“As I stand before you, it feels a little funny
being rewarded for doing something I should be doing
anyway, helping my community,” he said.
mschafer@mdjonline.com |
