By Bill Forry

If the Young Turks and their allies on the Boston City Council are really interested in ushering in a "New Boston," they need to 'cowboy up' and set their sites on a target other than just Charles Yancey. For all of his ineffectiveness and race-baiting, Yancey only represents a part of the problem in this town. The real hold-outs of the 'Old Boston' are most ably served by Southie's own Jimmy Kelly, who has once again proven himself to be this town's very own version of Bull Connor.

Last week, nine councillors fired off a letter demanding that WEEI morning moron John Dennis get the axe for comparing black kids to gorillas. Kelly, indignant that his colleagues had dared try to "censor" Dennis in the name of "political correctness," broke away from his busy day of doing the people's work to send his own letter, this one advising 'EEI to keep Dennis on the air.

Dennis and Callahan, the sophomoric outfit that started this whole furor, are now serving a two-week suspension for their ugly banter. But at least they've apologized for what could be construed as - if we give them the benefit of the doubt - a momentary lapse of judgment or discretion.

Jimmy Kelly, on the other hand, had plenty of time to think and choose his words before dashing off his endorsement of an ignorant conversation that even the primary participants now disavow.

The fact that Kelly doesn't "get" that comparing black kids to primates on the public airwaves is finally unacceptable is proof positive that he is unfit to hold office in this city. And any politician who still thinks it's okay to be associated with Kelly now must know this: We can't fire John Dennis and Dennis Callahan - but we can fire you.

Over this summer, we've heard a lot of rumblings from white politicians - both on and off the record - railing against Charles Yancey and his backward ways. Fine. But, as long as these same political leaders give Jimmy Kelly the cover of legitimacy, they expose themselves as hypocrites. Why is it that Charles Yancey's in the fight of his life this year while South Boston's city councillor gets to kick back and spew his intolerant B.S. at will? The answer to that question is uncomfortable, but unavoidable: It's easy to pick on Charles Yancey, because alienating his base isn't going to cost anyone on election day. Taking on Jimmy Kelly and the haters he caters to is a whole other fight.

Should the City Council censure Jim Kelly for his callous, hateful thoughts? No. But, they should make him a political pariah, as unwelcome as Yancey has become in their circle for his own, less venomous form of divisiveness. Until they're even-handed in standing up to the real embodiment of "old Boston," this council - and any other political figure in this town - can claim zero credibility on the race issue.

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Free Your Mind, And the Rest Will Follow- Marie Wright, the Dorchester native known simply as "Free" to millions of young hip-hop fans across the country, is launching an ambitious new program this week aimed at young people in her hometown. The former Murphy School student is co-host of BET's highest-rated video show, "106 and Park," and is due to release her own debut album in January. And, already this budding star is bringing the spoils of her success back to the block. Last year, Free created her own foundation to sponsor programming for teenagers in Dorchester and other city neighborhoods. This fall, the first in a series of efforts begins with Lessons4Life, a peer leadership program that will be based out of Codman Square Health Center, the Dorchester House and the Bowdoin Street Health Center. The focus of the program will be on domestic violence prevention, teaching teens to watch for signs of abuse among their friends. The kids who participate will also learn marketing and advertising skills and will create their own public service campaign to appear in national magazines. The project, which starts this week and runs through December, will include both girls and boys.

Next year, Free plans to launch a separate program to teach teens about financial literacy. Both issues, she says, were problems that affected her personally as a young person growing up in and around Four Corners.

"To be able to start a foundation and have it begin in my hometown is overwhelming," Free told the Reporter this week. "The Boston community has been unbelievable. And I'm just as excited about the young people who are interested in the programs that we are creating."

Look for Free - who has made it a point to constantly represent Boston on her nationally televised show - to become a much bigger name next year. The aspiring singer is now wrapping up production on her first album, a project that will include cameos from the likes of Faith Evans and Busta Rhymes. You can get a sample of Free's skills on the soundtrack to the film "The Fighting Temptations," where she teamed up with Missy Elliott and Beyoncé Knowles on the movie's premiere track.