By Kevin Palmer
According to Georgia HometownLocator.com, zip code 30901 has the lowest wealth index in Georgia. The wealth index is based on average household income, average net worth, value of material possessions, and resources. This low rating reflects the leadership of District 22 State Senator Harold V. Jones, II, District 124 State Representative Henry Howard, and District 125 State Representative Sheila Nelson who represent the residents of zip code 30901.
Unfortunately, electing three Black politicians has not translated into economic gains for the over 80 percent of Black residents in zip code 30901. Overall, this is true for Blacks in Augusta. Blacks are in the majority, yet most are at the bottom economically. Self-serving Black politicians do not want to risk helping the Black majority gain economically if it means offending influential White folk and losing their chance to hobnob.
In Augusta, Georgia, there appears to be an unspoken understanding between influential Whites and so-called Black leaders that as long as Whites have a higher median income and more wealth, while Blacks receive the most food stamps and have twice the unemployment as Whites, then all is well.
