The Echoes of Slavery Still Reverberates

The Gantt Report

By Guest Columnist Andrea Giggetts, a Jacksonville resident

Words have meanings. Ask me. I should know.

Using football analogy, I am in the fourth quarter of my life. So as a beneficiary of longevity and with decades of hindsight, I have witnessed how words can be radioactive. Heck, I have even been on the receiving end of some words that were so lethal I often debated if life was still worth living.

If left unchecked, words can poison, assassinate, and deliberately sabotage. Words can oppress an already fleeting spirit. Words can harden one’s sensitivity. Words can weaken. Ask me. I should know.

Words can exploit. Words can have you to forfeit your liberty. Words can give you justification for remaining self-imposed. Words can sponsor violence. Words can cause a traffic jam in your heart and collide with unresolved feelings in your mind that keeps jockeying for turmoil, confusion, and spew unforgiveness from your lips. Ask me. I should know.

However, words can also be a one-way ticket from misery. Ask me. I should know.

The person who changed my life met me in my 12th grade year. By then I was the product of parents who married a total of 15 times, lived in a dysfunctional home, was frequently abused and rarely had enough essentials, including food, love or self-esteem.

My teacher wrote some words on my book reports that shattered any negative thoughts I had harbored about myself. She was convinced I had potential and represented the “talented 10th” of my race (African-American).

Each morning for the past 38 years, I begin my day by rereading her words which have served as the fuel for me to work in the spirit of excellence. Mrs. Ruth Davis predicted that I would be successful and she was right. I have had a prolific career in corporate America, own my consulting services and am considered a renowned motivational speaker and trainer. Imagine this much success coming from a broken-spirited girl who had internalized other people’s negative and defeating words.

Will you agree that the symbolic effect of words is enormous?

I am about to introduce you to some other words. I am waging a courageous battle to fix an egregious wrong that exists in Sasser, Georgia. (outside of Albany). Perhaps you are unaware of a confrontational road sign, “Chain Gang Road,” that is prominently displayed in that community. Just imagine traveling on an extremely busy highway and you, along with thousands and thousands of other motorists, are digesting words that attempt to thwart your spirit and silence your soul.

When I first saw that sign, a tsunami of feelings erupted within me as I could not believe that governmental officials or citizens would want to resurrect a powerful and shameful imagery that symbolically meant racial oppression and atrocities rendered to convict laborers who were primarily southern African-American men!  Most Americans know that the phrase “chain gang” is a grim reminder and a throwback to the days of slavery and is akin to servitude and exploitation.

Furthermore, as discussed earlier, words have meanings and the phrase “chain gang” to some could be a self-fulfilling prophecy or may psychologically damage a person’s psyche and sense of self-worth. Ask me. I should know.

Recalling how my teacher’s positive words were instrumental in awakening my spirit, I launched an investigation into learning about the genesis of that sign. Insult to injury, I was incensed to have learned that a majority of the residents who lived on that road were black and that the county had
a majority black population. I further questioned why the blacks were socially conditioned in the acceptance of a road sign that was despicable and did not reflect our rich heritage. Finally, I had to explore why southern traditions and narrow-minded customs could run amok without being challenged.

Needless to say, I found my answer.

In November, 2011, I wrote two letters to express my sentiments. The first letter went to Rev. Ezekiel Holley, president of the Terrell County NAACP. He immediately offered tactical advice and volunteered to assist in petitioning the elected officials in the removal of that sign. To date, he has contributed endless hours on behalf of this cause and has been unwavering in his support. Rev. Holley’s strategic solutions were also instrumental in avoiding any stonewalling as he successfully collected the signatures of the African-American residents who currently reside on Chain Gang Road.

They have given 110% support and enthusiastically want to replace that sign with something that is more befitting of their community. I salute his tenacity and the residents’ solidarity.

The second letter was sent to the five Terrell County commissioners—two black and three white. Trying to appeal to their better angels was nil. The white power structure and ruling class was vindictive and released their hatred on us and toward our request by poisoning the atmosphere, of course with words, and by further instigating racial hostility, racial overtones, and racial dissension. They expertly used every trick in the southern playbook to defeat this motion. Despite the outcome, the black commissioners are to be commended for their vote and vigorous fight.

The struggle now has a high moral purpose. With a fierce determination I plan to stick with this issue until it becomes a non-issue, but I need additional “take no prisoners” personas to help bring more attention to this matter. I am in need of others who are not afraid to expose and confront this issue. If that is you, please contact me at [email protected] or 904.742.6105.

Recently, Rev. Holley honored me by comparing me with the late Rosa Parks. Thank you for those words.