Prejudice is a disease that lurks in the human heart no matter where a person lives. The impression, then, that Decatur has made progress in dealing with racial issues, is good news.

Honorees at the Minority Awards Banquet on Tuesday said as much and gave some of the credit to President Barack Obama, whose election is helping minority children understand their only limits are those they put on themselves.

The Minority Awards Banquet honors minority citizens who have contributed to Decatur through their efforts in community involvement, as role models and as successful businesspeople. These are the citizens who are showing our children right here that you don’t have to be white to be a success, either in a career or as a human being.

In a society where many of our children’s role models are infamous for the times they’ve been incarcerated rather than famous for their contributions to their communities, the efforts of honorees Larry Collier, Jewette Cowan, Edwin Hicks, Chris Bandaru, Al Robinson and Minority Development Committee chairwoman Venessa Edmonds are valued even more. Their lives provide inspiration to any who are trying to succeed against the odds.

Because prejudice is nearly impossible to eradicate, Decatur will continue to face challenges where race is concerned. But we’re traveling in the right direction and more important, we’re honoring those who are helping us along that road.