How can you not consider the immediate need of the black community in Karnack? – Harrison County Judge Wayne McWhorter

I cannot tell you how gratified I felt when I read those words, not to mention, well, surprised.

Don't take that as a criticism of Judge McWhorter. The grim fact is, I have never been able to tell that any county official in the nine years I have been in Marshall cares a fig about the needs of the black community in Karnack, immediate, mid-term or long-range.

For that matter, I cannot recall anyone ever mentioning that to me even in private. Perhaps a black activist or a minister might have done so, but I don't remember it.

But there we had it Tuesday in front of the commissioners' court and everybody, an impassioned county judge who was pleading for us all to consider the immediate need of the black community in Karnack.

It almost gave me chill bumps when I heard of it.