Eric King responds to Jim “Pappy” Moore’s column published in the June 18 print edition
I am responding, section by section, to the article entitled “Only Black People Can Save Black People” written by Jim “Pappy” Moore as published on June 18, 2026, in the Gilmer Mirror. Citizens of all colors and faiths, as well as business owners, found the article to be racially stereotypical, intellectually condescending, arrogantly paternalistic and intentionally timed for the Juneteenth weekend.
Chris Rock. Neither Chris Rock nor any other black person is the national spokesperson for black people. We are not a monolithic group. We have differences of perspectives the same as every other “race” and ethnic group has. Rather than refer to a comedian for your talking points, which is insulting in and of itself, why not consult our scholars such as Dr. Ta-Nehisi Coates, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Dr. Harry Edwards, Dr. Beth Richie, or Dr. Dorothy E. Roberts to name a few, or actually read entire speeches and books written by Dr. King rather than quoting that one line about a dream.
You referred to people excusing bad behavior of blacks. Are you implying that white folks never excuse bad behavior of whites? Mass murderers are “troubled” if they are white, but thugs and criminals if black. White drug addiction is a crisis, but black drug addiction is an epidemic. White opioid addiction received treatment, while crack addiction in black cities was treated with incarceration.
You made much ado about out-of-wedlock births within the black community. I would caution you not to throw stones in a glass house. Are you suggesting that there are no out of wedlock births within the white community? If you research topics rather than regurgitating tired rhetoric, you will find that the out of wedlock birth rate for Black women has been decreasing since the 1970’s while the out of wedlock birth rate for White women has doubled in the last 30 years. Oh my. Why do we never discuss that statistic? To your comment regarding “baby daddies”, what does the research state? According to multiple studies, (NIH, CDC, Center for Fathers and Families to name a few), Black fathers were more involved in their children’s lives compared to other racial groups. Please cease with the racially ignorant and uninformed stereotypes.
You commented that there is a “huge number” of decent Black men and women who are dragged down by those who do not have such class and morals. How are we dragged down? Please explain. It is the same in the white community as well as others. The subliminal message is that “no one has problems but black people.” There are good white people in Gilmer who are dragged down by the racists and meth-heads in their community. Regarding the grifters who blame “whitey” as you state, who blames others more than racist whites? How many decades have they whined about the illegals taking “our” jobs, blacks getting all the welfare (check the stats please), and Muslims taking over? Who rambles on about the “replacement theory”? No one uses racial hatred, victimization and dog whistles more than, well, racists. You see, the white-owned media floods society with negative images of blacks but never show the black CEO’s, bank and college presidents, doctors, lawyers, engineers, husbands, fathers and business owners. Who controls the narratives? You show the black athlete but never the black General Manager.
Regarding the Karmelo Anthony case, where was the moral outrage when Dylan Roof murdered those God-fearing black folks in their church, including a grandmother and children? Where was your anger when a white supremacist murdered 10 black people in Buffalo in 2022? And who attacks Muslim and Jewish houses of worship on a regular basis?
And of course, the writer uses the old racist trope of black-on-black crime. This is a deflection from looking at his own community. White people commit 80-85% of the murders against other whites. But you do not call it White-on-White crime. It’s just crime. It’s mental health issues. They were troubled. Social media. It’s called everything except a systemic problem that needs community intervention.
Meanwhile, when Black Americans, who represent 14% of the population, commit crimes, suddenly it’s a cultural epidemic that requires Congressional hearings, and social media think pieces about personal responsibility. The cognitive dissonance is absolutely staggering, but it’s not accidental. Every racial community commits most crimes against its own. It’s called proximity.
Crime. I have a friend, Dr. Tracy Andrus from Wiley College. He is a Doctor of Criminal Justice. I can arrange a meeting for you two to discuss the difference between arrest rates and convictions, as well as proven racial disparities in the criminal justice system. Black men, due to historic racism, are overpoliced and falsely arrested at higher rates than white males. You know, black males always “fit the description”, even when it is a white guy. But did you know what happens when you follow these arrests all the way through the system? If you research the topic, you will find that Black men are exonerated at the highest rate of any race. The media does not cover this fact. To be clear, we do not excuse criminal behavior. But we also do not excuse the racism embedded within the justice system either.
But let’s talk about “white” crime. If you look at the United States sentencing data, you will find that white males commit nearly 80% of all sex crimes against children. Pause. Over the last two decades, white Americans have come to represent a much larger share of prison admissions. Since 1990, white jail incarceration rates have risen by nearly 90%. This spike is particularly severe in rural towns and isolated communities where jail populations have swelled by 165%, often outpacing small metropolitan areas. Read that again. Zero-tolerance policing and authoritarian law-enforcement tactics—previously used heavily in communities of color—have been increasingly pivoted toward largely white, working-class communities grappling with addiction. Interesting. I anxiously await your article entitled “Only Whites Can Save Whites.”
You stated that black people kill more black people than all others. True. And white people kill more white people than others. According to FBI data, which you did not refer to, among all ethnic groups, the intra-racial murder rate is between 80-90%. Again, why do you continue to omit this fact? Why don’t you address the 80% murder rate within your own race and “fix it” as you told blacks to do?
Since you position yourself as an expert on all things black, I’m sure you know that the number of Black students receiving Master’s and Doctorate degrees is at an all-time high. You must know that Black women have started the most businesses in the United States for the past decade, and this includes many “baby mamas”. You must also know that the Black teen out of wedlock birthrate has plummeted by over 60% in recent decades. And of course you know that Black incarceration rates have hit all-time lows in the past 20 years. Not a word about that. You see, Black folks have been working on our issues without any help or advice from you. We had our own cities, but someone wouldn’t leave us alone. At one time, we were the wealthiest people in America in Greenwood, OK, and other townships, but someone couldn’t stand black excellence. They murdered us and destroyed the towns.
We don’t need your advice. And I don’t remember us asking you or anyone else to “save” us. And we noticed that you posted the article on Juneteenth, in utter disrespect of the Black community. This time, we will not be quiet. From now on, any racist posts in the Gilmer Mirror will be met with a unified response from the good whites, blacks, browns, Christians, Muslims, and BUSINESS OWNERS who are sick and tired of racism in this nation and in this city.
Eric King
GHS Class of 1990
Well said Eric.
I was very glad to see this response to Jim’s highly problematic piece. Eric does a great job pointing out the rank hypocrisy in a way that hopefully avoids triggering white people and facilitates some critical examination and introspection.
OUTSTANDING breakdown! Thank you, Eric King!
I hear what Jim Pappy Moore wrote on a daily basis as to educate all on the past and present concerning our society, yes concerning black people and to not publish him anymore because people got their feelings hurt on Junteenth is appalling and in my opinion a disregard to the 1st amendment. Instead we should be educating everyone about the past and the present because if we don’t then we will never have a chance In the future, but this does prove that we are still not intelligent enough to end racism. And for the record, I agree with pappy moore.
Well said, Eric. I’m sorry you even had to respond to that level of ignorance. It’s disappointing and frankly embarrassing that the Gilmer Mirror would publish something like that. I’m proud of how well you represented the community through it all.
Thanks for responding to this racist opinion. So refreshing to know that everyone doesn’t think like “Pappy”
I was very glad to see this response to Jim’s highly problematic piece. I think Eric did a good job of explaining some of the problems with what Jim wrote in a way that isn’t triggering for white people.
Well said 👏 Eric King
Eric…you couldn’t have said it any better. You are an amazing, thoughtful person who speaks so eloquently and truthful that no one can deny your message. I couldn’t believe that a town I’ve told people is a great place to raise a family would have this in the pages of it’s papers.
Thank you sir. This is the difference between a scholarly unbiased reflection of data, rather than a reflection of uneducated spew of ignorance.
Well said Eric King! I’m so sorry for how this has affected you and others in the black community in Gilmer. It’s not right, and the black community doesn’t deserve this kind of rhetoric! I could not support this response anymore than I do.
Gilmer has a mostly quiet racist, bigoted, homophobic, and white pride community, but “Pappy” decided to speak publicly and ignorantly.
I will say there are white people in Gilmer you can trust with the best interest of all people, but not the majority. I grew up there, and it was early HS where I realized not to trust people in the community. That’s why I’ve never moved home.
I am here for support and taken this guy down. This is not the first time a Gilmer White man decided to post a racist article. Let’s shut them down!
Well done! Bravo.
Amen!!!! That’s my brother, and I approve this message! Eric for PRESIDENT! Thank you, brother for setting the RECORD STRAIGHT!!!!!
Thank you Eric for your response to an article full of lies and stereotypical propaganda. Thank you for bringing to light what the real problem is…racism.
Facts and truth should throw light on lies and dark souls. Thank you!
The total ignorance and bigotry of “Pappys “ article is appalling to say the least. Gilmer Mirror should be ashamed of themselves for publishing him. I’m ashamed to say I live in this town today. Reminds me of the 1960’s growing up in the bootheel of Missouri.
Rightfully stated
Mr. Eric King,
Outstanding reply to this shameful, ungodly and disgusting article in the Gilmer Mirror.
We will not be silenced if it’s written wrongfully or improperly told. Guess what we will tell the story correctly and true-fully!!!
No, one can tell our story better than BLACK peoples. I rest my case…
Respectfully,
Nena Bradford Hayden
Mr. King,
Thank you for your work on this well-written response. Thank you for being an honorable reflection of our community.
Thank you, Mr. King, for taking the time to write your article in response to the piece that the Gilmer Mirror chose to publish.
And thank you, Joe Todd, for clarifying that the author, Jim “Pappy” Moore, is not from Gilmer and has never lived in Gilmer.
Like many others, the article stopped me in my tracks. However, your clarification also shines a light on an important question that deserves consideration. If this author has written multiple articles that have appeared in the Gilmer Mirror over time, then the conversation should not stop with the writer alone.
A newspaper publisher has the authority to decide what is printed and shared with its readers. Articles do not appear in print by accident. They are selected, approved, and published. If the publisher believed these articles had no value, they would not have appeared in the paper.
So while Mr. Moore may be the author, the larger issue is the decision to provide a platform for his views. The source of concern is not simply the writer, but the publication that repeatedly chooses to amplify his message.
No one should indict an entire town because of the words of one columnist. At the same time, it is fair to ask what responsibility belongs to those who continue to publish and promote those words. If we are going to have an honest conversation, then we should call it what it is and examine all parties involved, not just the person holding the pen.
Jim “Pappy” Moore is NOT from Gilmer and does NOT live in Gilmer. He just writes a column in the Gilmer Mirror newspaper. Please don’t indict all of Gilmer because of a newspaper column written by someone who has NEVER lived in Gilmer.
YES!!!!
I made a post yesterday about the audacity of the man who wrote that garbage. I couldn’t believe the comments it got. I was about to be lynched for NOT being racist.
In my 45 years as a journalist I have never seen such a pompous, arrogant, demeaning, racist op-ed. I’ve been an editor. I’ve been a publisher. I’ve written op-eds.
I think either: someone needed to sell some papers and get clicks; or this paper is now owned by someone from California. I don’t know that is the case, but this type of article is common there.
Eric King –
Your writing and ability to convey these ideals is excellent. The world needs more like you.
I dont know you, but I would vote for you in any capacity you wish to serve.
Sincerely,
Kate Stow
Thank you, Eric, for responding with intelligence, clarity, and integrity. Your thoughtful analysis challenged assumptions, provided historical context, and encouraged readers to move beyond stereotypes and rhetoric. In a time when meaningful dialogue is often lacking, your response was both timely and necessary. Well said.
An amazing response. Thank you for posting this!!!!!! Racism and hatred will not win as long as We The People stand against it.
Outstanding article. Thank you for such a thoughtful response. As a Black woman-owned business entrepreneur, I truly appreciate the factual information shared to educate, inform, and bring awareness to all ethnic groups.
Well said cousin. I love you