By Wainwright Jeffers - bio | email
ALBANY, GA (WALB) – You've heard the controversy that erupted around Shirley Sherrod this week.
Conservative media blasted her as a racist after clips from a speech she made became public.
But she has a long history of helping south Georgians of all races.
Sherrod was forced out of her job with the USDA after a blogger posted an edited video clip of a speech on race in which she seemed to make racist comments.
Those who know Sherrod, her work, and her life say they knew it wasn't true.
"I knew it had to be a distortion because I know who she is, civil rights is all about her career her career , about keeping black and white farmers from losing their farms," said Lee W. Formwalt, Institute Exec. Director.
"There's nothing to be said bad about her. She's not the person they were trying to paint, now they're having to apologize," said Rutha Mae Harris, Original Freedom Singer.
Sherrod's friend Rutha Harris told me she hopes she takes her job back because she did good work helping others.
Secretary Vilsack did offer Sherrod a different job with USDA on Wednesday.
She hasn't decided whether she'll take it.
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