Ahmaud Arbery case highlights racial inequality still felt in Georgia

BRUNSWICK, Ga. — Albany Street in Brunswick is just a few blocks away from the Glynn County Courthouse.

That street holds a lot of history for the African American community.

A handful of people tell Action News Jax that the street was once filled with economic life with a theater, a barbershop, restaurants and more.

“Businesses were interspersed throughout the community and regrettably those businesses closed,” Anita Collins said.

Collins is a former schoolteacher born and raised in Brunswick.

Her family opened the Collins dry-cleaning business and funeral home on L Street a few blocks from Albany street.

“And as a child the grandchildren would be in the jeep with my grandfather and we would deliver dry cleaning clothes to customers,” Collins said.

Both of her family businesses are no longer there. Instead, it’s replaced by an empty lot and another building.

Growing up she says issues of race and inequality always existed, but it never stopped Collins from taking charge of her life.

“My mom never permitted me to follow those signs. If I wanted to drink of water and we’re in the store, go to the water fountain that says white, it’s the same water,” Collins said.

Today her community is standing by watching a trial unfold where three white men are accused of killing an unarmed black man Ahmaud Arbery.

It’s a case that has once again put race in the National spotlight.

Collins said that case shows that even though time has passed racial injustice is still being felt.

“You have this unfairness. You have this inequality, you have these two systems, if you’re white you’re right if you’re black get back. That is very real,” Collins said.

She said change can happen, but it’ll take the whole community to make it happen.

“When is it going to change. It is going to change, and it has to change but it’s going to begin with people like you,” Collins said.

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