Franklin: ‘Black mayor first’ memo is ‘bigoted’
Shirley Franklin called Friday afternoon with a stark description of the memo you’ve heard about — the one that frets over the possibility that Atlanta might choose a white mayor to succeed her in November.
“I think it was bigoted,” Franklin said. It was not a slip of the tongue. The mayor used multiple variations of the word.
But what seemed to offend Franklin just as much was what she called the “lopsided history of Atlanta and Atlanta politics” contained in the document.
The mayor said more, but we need to back up a bit.
The lengthy analysis that careened through e-mail accounts last week was distributed by Aaron Turpeau, a long-time City Hall veteran whose political career was capped by service as chief of staff to Maynard Jackson.
In an interview, Turpeau said the analysis was written by two academics associated with Clark Atlanta University on behalf of an “ad hoc” group called the Black Leadership Forum.
The memo was an attempt to form an agenda for Atlanta’s black community, Turpeau said. “Everybody has an agenda,” he said. “The developers have an agenda, downtown business has an agenda, the gays have an agenda, the Hispanics have an agenda.”
What would be the substance of a black agenda? Economic equality, access to City Hall, and respect for those displaced by development, Turpeau said.
If the analysis had actually said those things and stopped, much underwear in Atlanta would have remained untwisted. But the memo used the phrase “black mayor at all cost” and spoke of a “black mayor first” approach.
According to the BLF memo, the election of tiny Mary Norwood, the white councilwoman, “would be just as significant in political terms as Maynard Jackson’s victory in 1973.”
The political aims of the analysis are none too subtle. The memo assumes that black voters won’t turn out in any runoff, and so — in order to knock out Norwood in the Nov. 3 general election — suggests an effort to rally African-Americans behind City Council President Lisa Borders.
Borders quickly disassociated herself from the memo and its strategy.
According to the get-behind-Borders approach, other black mayoral candidates, including state Sen. Kasim Reed, would simply be out of luck. The memo pointed to a recent InsiderAdvantage poll that showed Reed lagging well behind both Norwood and Borders.
That logic prompted the Reed campaign, over the weekend, to release fresh internal polling that concedes the top spot to Norwood, at 33 percent. (The Brilliant Corners Research poll surveyed 580 voters; margin of error was put at 4 percentage points.)
Norwood aside, Reed says his survey puts him in a statistical tie with Borders, 19 to 16 percent, and shows the two African-American candidates with near-equal shares of the black vote.
But there is more to this “black mayor first” memo than nervousness over a few polls, or worry over Atlanta’s shifting demographics.
Reed, the candidate placed most in peril by the memo, twice acted as campaign manager for Franklin. The two are close, but the current mayor has made no formal endorsement. Even so, the authors of the memo go out of their way to cast doubt on Franklin’s ability to put her imprint on the race.
“To ignore the alienation that exists among black voters towards the Franklin administration’s performance is naive at best and dishonest at worse,” the analysis says.
This brings us back to that Friday phone call from the mayor. Franklin wouldn’t talk about an endorsement in the ‘09 race. Nor would she discuss the portions of the memo directed at her.
What Franklin wanted to talk about was the effort by a group of African-Americans — size and membership remains ill-defined — to define Atlanta’s first black mayor, who has been dead these six years.
“The memo clearly characterizes the historic election of Maynard Jackson as if it was an election of blacks over whites,” Franklin said. Yes, the mayor said, Jackson understood the importance of his achievement.
But to treat him as a “black Messiah,” Franklin emphasized, is to ignore Jackson’s belief “that every segment of this community ought to participate in the development of public policy.” Jackson was about inclusion, not exclusion, she said.
“To reduce Maynard’s legacy to a political machine is to not know Maynard Jackson. That’s trite,” she said. And “crazy, bigoted literature” that rises up from such a flawed assumption will be flawed throughout, the mayor noted.
As for the Black Leadership Forum’s concern over the outcome of a runoff for mayor of Atlanta, and the fear of multiple African-American candidates in this year’s mayoral race: Runoffs have been more the rule than the exception in Atlanta politics, Franklin said.
That’s the path that Jackson and Andrew Young followed to City Hall. Bill Campbell, too, was forced into a runoff to secure a second term, by Council President Marvin Arrington, an African-American.
History is one of the world’s most powerful forces. And at the very bottom of so many political contests is the matter of who will control the biographies of those who have gone before us.
It has come to that in the Atlanta mayoral race: What Would Maynard Do?
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435 comments Add your comment
Mark
August 30th, 2009
6:14 pm
Where is Jessee Jackson ans Al Sharpton when you need them. Oh OH I forgot they are waiting for a white person to make a remark and THEN heaven hold the water. Every white person will be forced to resign every political post in ATL.
Harris
August 30th, 2009
6:17 pm
Watch out Atlanta…..you’re getting pretty close to being like Memphis! Heaven help you if you go down that slippery slope. If you think you have it bad, just try reading up on the massive problems that city continues to have and you will see you have it pretty good.
Arguing with yourself
August 30th, 2009
6:22 pm
this post doesn’t represent Atlanta, so any people reading this please don’t be afraid to come to Atlanta we’re not a perfect city, but we’re a good city.
Madison
August 30th, 2009
6:22 pm
Humored, Sorry I called you stupid. That was too kind. I’m not a Republican, nor a Democrat for that matter.
Mark
August 30th, 2009
6:22 pm
Has anyone noticed only Jackson is mentioned about the airport. (Is it because of the black thing or ????) If i am not mistaken William B. Hartsford name is also shown????
HUUUMMM!!!
jamesr1991
August 30th, 2009
6:24 pm
For those who live IN Atlanta my hope is you pick the best candidate to run YOUR city. Good luck.
As for all the bigots and racist on this board. Remember you will be judged by God one day and I hope he doesn’t bring up your racist and bigoted rants on the AJC blog.
History Repeats...
August 30th, 2009
6:25 pm
Tempest in the proverbial teapot…
from a white voter who does not support Mary Norwood and her overly myopic view of the city–
I find all of this angst quite amusing and quite contrived– who really cares what one memo does or doesn’t say… the city I live in is doing OK thank you, given the state of the economy and the utter stupidity of the ‘leadership’ of the state of GA… BTW I never realized Milton and Sandy Springs were part of Atlanta–
looks like some OTPers don’t even know were the city begins and ends but have, of course, reserved the right to (incorrectly) criticize the city of Atlanta…
Amazed
August 30th, 2009
6:26 pm
Enter your comments here
pollywannacracker
August 30th, 2009
6:29 pm
Man, I’m glad I moved to TX, forgot how ignorant both sides were. Folks it won’t matter whose in office the system the way it’s set up is corrupt yeah the folks running it over the last few decades picked up the reins where there pale predecessors left off, of running corrupt offices & careers in politics w/ the inability to substain a living from provided true service to constituents. If all you dumbarses put your intergrated minds together for a real change & stop giving credence to things of no importance such as skin color then maybe, maybe Atlanta will step out of shadows of ignorance that blankets all its citizens (well at least the black & white ones) C’mon Latinos it’s time for you guys to take over this city b/c for centuries nobody has been able to run it properly
ATL...
August 30th, 2009
6:29 pm
I am quite pround to live in a liberal, progressive and tolerant city like Atlanta (for whatever problems it may or may not have)– all the more amazing being surrounded by republican infested Missisippi, er, I mean Georgia
Kevin
August 30th, 2009
6:30 pm
I’m wondering why more people aren’t offended by one of the stated objectives stated in the memo: economic equality for blacks.
WTF? Another case of the desire to redistribute wealth?
Perhaps a better goal would be OPPORTUNITY for economic equality. Blacks and whites SHOULD have the same opportunities to succeed in America. Blacks do not “deserve” equality with other people’s economic successes just because they’re black. No race “deserves” that.
Devildog
August 30th, 2009
6:32 pm
Just curious how Shirley kept the smirk off her face while talking about it.
Devildog
August 30th, 2009
6:34 pm
Mark, FYI
It’s Hartsfield, not Hartsford.
Mark
August 30th, 2009
6:34 pm
Kevin >>>Now you done it Jessee and sharpton are COMING I SAY COMING !!!!!
Mark
August 30th, 2009
6:35 pm
Sorry Got in a hurry there devildog
Sandra
August 30th, 2009
6:40 pm
I am glad that I do not live in Atlanta…but unfortunately what happens in Atlanta has affects on where I live. This memo was uncalled for. If a white man did this memo all hell would break out and Ms. Norwood would be asked to drop out of the race.
Blacks are more racist than whites. History does prove that.
the evil rich
August 30th, 2009
6:45 pm
Yeah, sure. Atlanta has such great mayoral leadership the past 35 years, NOT!
David
August 30th, 2009
6:45 pm
David is wondering what the collective IQ of the average AJC reader/comment poster is….yikes! no wonder Atlanta is such a twisted mess.
count_schemula
August 30th, 2009
6:48 pm
First!
Atlanta
August 30th, 2009
6:50 pm
I agree with David. The ignorance, hatred and bigotry displayed in these comments is astounding. Those of you spewing that filth should be ashamed of yourselves.
Eddy
August 30th, 2009
6:54 pm
Black leadership abounds across the world….Zimbabwe, Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda, Detroit, Nawleans, etc. Care to do an assessment as to how it is going in these countries and cities. Bagdad is safer than these. Care to assess who is doing crime. And so it goes…its everyone else’s fault but the most obvious, you know.
John
August 30th, 2009
6:54 pm
What ever happened to the City too busy to hate? What is best for all of the people of the city of Atlanta? Atlanta and its government is becoming the exact thing nobody wants.
Parzival
August 30th, 2009
6:55 pm
History repeats….If you look on a map, you will see that the City of Atlanta sits in Fulton County. Milton, Sandy Springs, and Johns Creek WERE in Fulton, but declared themselves a City so as to not have to have Fulton and the City of Atlanta take all of their property tax revenue.
What color is the sky in your City Of Atlanta?
rod
August 30th, 2009
6:57 pm
Amazing that Franklin and Lewis recorded a radio ad last election stating that voting for the white candidate for city council against a black would return Atlanta to the days of Bull Conner and lynchings (all democrats in leadership postions). It ran on stations with heavy black listenership. So for her to even comment on this stuff is to be discounted. She should just go out and rob some more graves of big fake artifical flowers she can pin on her blouses.
Cynthia Tucker McKinney
August 30th, 2009
7:06 pm
To make it easy just call it “Dead Mayor Int’l Airport”. Franklin was right to distance herself from the racist. bigoted memo. Obama should have done the same instead of jumping in on the side of that beligerant Harvard professor. Mark my words, that Skip Gates/Cop deal was the beginning of the end of Obama’s dreams of a second term and his agenda for the rest of this one. People are sick of the race card.
Wise
August 30th, 2009
7:06 pm
Vernon,
Pull your pants up. Your underware are showing.
Karen Callaghan
August 30th, 2009
7:08 pm
Shirley has always been a Aunt Jemima. All she does is kiss white folks behinds. Please leave office now, Shirley.
Our Turn
August 30th, 2009
7:16 pm
The Black people have had their chance and they have shown that their way is violence, dishonesty, adultry and corruption. Now it is time for whites to take charge. Look at all the violence at Ga Tech. All blacks..enough said
WhatDoIKnow
August 30th, 2009
7:18 pm
I find Shirley Girl’s comments interesting given the racist campaign radio spot she did for a council member running for office a few years back.
MLK, JR would be so very disappointed
August 30th, 2009
7:19 pm
Cynthia Tucker McKinney is spot on. Franklin was smart to call that memo what it is. And history will record that the Skip Gates/Cop deal took down the Obama administration.
MLK, JR would be so very disappointed
August 30th, 2009
7:21 pm
I’ll bet you a wooden nickle that Our Turn is a sleeper lib. I am a conservative and know no one what thinks are acts that way. Frankly, most racism I see is in the democrat party. Past and Present.
count_schemula
August 30th, 2009
7:22 pm
Everyone likes to seem like they are above the fray with comments like, “oh! the bigotry on both sides! What ignorance!” But those who actually know, those who actually live IN Atlanta know that the comments in these blogs are more like “real talk, straight talk.” Blacks are upset with whites for a lot of historical reasons, even though it is mostly just that, history. Whites are upset with Blacks for being such wretched neighbors for the most part jacking up the place and making everything hood. Things will change, but not for another generation or two. One on one, people get along pretty well since in that setting we treat each other like real people. But things are not well just under the thin veneer of civilization. We should pray that things get better before they get worse.
JJJ
August 30th, 2009
7:29 pm
If Turpeau were white, “The Black Leadership” would have hime resign. Also, who cares about this Mayorial race? Atlanta is dead, look at the decay everywhere, and it wont be long until the Falcons leave too. Its a shame the Braves fell victim to inner city re-development. Those Baseball games at the Ted are empty every night. Please ring the Braves to Decatur, Mareitta, Lawrenceville…..Atlanta residents could save billions of dollars on was6ted fuel just by moving the jail to east point or greenbrier.
Houckster
August 30th, 2009
7:29 pm
I think it is wrong that posters here are allowed to use other people’s name (i.e. Vernon Jones) when posting their comments. The AJC should take steps to block posts that do so.
KAT
August 30th, 2009
7:31 pm
Interesting comment. Anywho –
I wonder what does NeNe think about this? I would love to hear her thoughts.
I love to watch the Real Housewives of Atlanta. Every Thursday, I’m watching BRAVO!
Anywho — I’m off to get a sub at Publix.
Toodles. Y’all
Our Turn
August 30th, 2009
7:32 pm
I am not a liberal, i Have lived in Atl my entire life and speak with experience. Look at the Kirkwood shooting. Guy was mowing his yard and three black guys asked him for money..then they shot him. Most blacks want something for nothing as if society owes it to them. Look at the prison system…majority blacks
Our Turn
August 30th, 2009
7:35 pm
look at black men. They are more interested in sleeping with as many women as they can, fathering as many children as they can. No regards to living up to their obligations.. Always trying to hustle someone
MLK, JR would be so very disappointed
August 30th, 2009
7:35 pm
Yep, its a lib. I knew it. If he isn’t he sure acts like one with all the race business.
Parzival
August 30th, 2009
7:36 pm
count shemula..I agree with you about Blacks being upset with whites based on History. However, just like my ancestors who were enslaved by the Romans, at some point point I had to let it go. I realized that I was never enslaved, and was just being angry at the past. In this country, anyone can make it…you just need ambition and motivation. Ask Any recent immigrant from Africa who is here now and they laugh at the so called “African Americans” here who think they have it bad and cannot make it.
MLK, JR would be so very disappointed
August 30th, 2009
7:39 pm
And his lack of grammar and syntax prove that Our Turn was educated in gov’t schools. I am sure this guy is a lib.
TheSouth
August 30th, 2009
7:39 pm
This is the South where Bigots run amok.
Art Vandalay
August 30th, 2009
7:40 pm
All the people saying Atlanta will continue heading down this slippery slope, its a runaway train, bla, bla bla…you just need something to b*tch about. Everyone had that attitude in NYC in 1992 and the long shot Giuliani won and the rest is history. Who cares if they are black or white or whatever the next Mayor could just as easily change this city’s direction for the better, you never know.
AJC Management
August 30th, 2009
7:41 pm
I have had similar experiences, Parzival.
Houckster
August 30th, 2009
7:42 pm
OUR TURN should be ashamed of himself for such blatant racism but he’s probably proud of it. While the news is full of crime these days and a lot of that coverage involves black youths, some of it involves whites but to OUR TURN there just the exception while for black people, it’s the rule. Truly disgusting.
AJC Management
August 30th, 2009
7:43 pm
Or ATL could turn into Detroit, Art Vandalay. God forbid.
AJC Management
August 30th, 2009
7:44 pm
OUR TURN is a liberal posting as a conservative. They do this all the time. They cannot help it. Race, Racism, and the Race Industry are the bread and butter of leftist.
Chris D'
August 30th, 2009
7:46 pm
I wonder if the irate white folks in this country realize that most of the black people in this country arrived here because the white folks at the time were too lazy to do the work themselves.
kaycee
August 30th, 2009
7:46 pm
Inquiring minds want to know:
1. who are the members of the Black Leadership Forum? Why are they so shy?
2. Why is the memo so badly written? I can’t believe that “academics” at Clark Atlanta U wrote this—is it possible?
3. Or are the conspiracy theorists correct?–that this is just an agent provocateur trying to stir up some trouble?
4. Is Atlanta going to go down the Clayton County path–voting in folks based on the skin game instead of qualifications? and then living to regret it?
5. Why is there air?
Question
August 30th, 2009
7:47 pm
So where is the call from various civil rights and political groups, Jesse, Al, the city/county/State/Federal governments or the media (AJC included) for a complete investigation of those who wrote this letter ?????
We are all so tired of the double standard!!!!
Our Turn
August 30th, 2009
7:47 pm
Rarely does it involve whites houckster. Face it, most black people ruin the city, and life for the civilized. and yes I am racist because I have lived in Atlanta my whole life. Been mugged twice by blacks