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
Parzival
August 30th, 2009
9:37 pm
Black in America…you were never enslaved, so why do you want money for someone else that was?
Since a lot of slaves were sold by rival (black) tribes that captured them, how are you going to distinguish which black people get money and which ones pay?
Blutarsky
August 30th, 2009
9:39 pm
McDonald’s comercial is ethnically challenged, white people don’t get it kinda like Seinfeld fo’ the brothas, can I get a witness amen!
JDE
August 30th, 2009
9:39 pm
Humored, I’m still waiting for you to address my comments about Lisa Borders. See my post a couple hours ago. What has Reed done outside of govt? The City needs someone with a business background. That’s the most important requirement right now. We dont need another hack politician. We need someone who has succeeded outside of govt, because if they can make it in the private sector they can make it in govt. Very few politicians succeed in the real world. Lisa Borders has. I cant vote either because I’m a Cobb Co citizen….plus I’m white which by law excludes me from voting in the city of Atlanta mayoral election. That’s a joke by the way.
Strong White Woman
August 30th, 2009
9:41 pm
Since I was called a closeted liberal who makes “normal Americans” (Whatever that is) look bad…oh and a racist, is it fair to conclude that “Black in Atlanta” is in fact a white person posing as a colored?
Rodney King
August 30th, 2009
9:42 pm
We can find common ground in agreeing that Glenn Beck is Hitler’s doppelganger…
CoCoMom
August 30th, 2009
9:43 pm
Maynard Jackson took care of his friends and family, and Andrew Young did the same and, of course, Bill Campbell, who perhaps pushed the envelope on all that, and then Shirley Franklin, with her uhm conflicts of interests. And most mayors of big cities are the same, black or white. As long as the city functions at an acceptable level and fees and taxes don’t get out of hand, most people are okay with all that. Problem now is the city is not operating at an acceptable level and the cost of it is out of control – and all that the current administration, with its long legacy to Maynard Jackson, can think to do about it is raise taxes and fees even more. The city cannot find its financial butt with both hands, and Franklin has been uhm out of pocket for years now. So, yes, the Maynard Jackson story is about to come to an end.
I’m voting for Jesse Spikes.
Ben Here
August 30th, 2009
9:44 pm
When will Andy call Mary a “smart a** white girl”? May have already done it. Just didn’t say it around whites.
Strong White Woman
August 30th, 2009
9:44 pm
JDE: don’t forget White. Coloreds (that includes you Asians and Latinos) need not apply. You all are being mighty passive aggressive about all of this. Blatant racism is much more respected than the alternative. You closeted racists will learn this quickly, come on out and join the rest of us. United We Stand, divided …the-coloreds-get-uppity-and-start-expecting-privileges-and-stuff.
Shar
August 30th, 2009
9:46 pm
Squirrelly F says someone else is bigoted? After her disgusting, racist, underhanded, irresponsible statements during the Eaves election, I guess she’s qualified in the takes-one-to-know-one department.
Glenn Beck
August 30th, 2009
9:47 pm
Actually, I’m a closet liberal. I just do this for the ratings. Ratings=money. I don’t care about any of you people, actually.
Lou
August 30th, 2009
9:48 pm
Why aren’t more people talking about Shirley Franklin’s racist comments as cited above–i.e., in a major speech when she said she feared losing the black leadership of Atlanta and that memo from her, Andy Young, and John Lewis which left any thinking person in disbelief and no longer respecting any of the three. When whites do such things, they are cited forever and never forgotten. When blacks do them, it’s as if “Oh, that’s okay. They don’t know any better.” Think about it. A double standard. Whites should know better but blacks aren’t expected to. If I were black, I would be insulted and want the media and all blacks to condemn such ignorance.
Strong Black Woman
August 30th, 2009
9:48 pm
Strong White Woman, what street did you live on in West End. West End wasn’t a slum back then. In fact, it didn’t reach that state until the late 80s during the crack epidemic.
I mentioned my strong black man’s salary because he’s a hard worker and your husband, that probably pays you no attention, needs to work harder if ALL the “under-qualified” blacks are beating him out of jobs.Anywho, my husband works for himself. I sense a bit of satire in your posts and I believe you are just being silly on this comment blog.
audrey
August 30th, 2009
9:48 pm
to southerngirl,
i think it would be great if whites and their buisnessess left atlanta, we all know its the poor black folks that spend the money anyway. all whites know how to do is sleep with their children
Ask A Native Needs Therapy
August 30th, 2009
9:50 pm
Damn Girl, are you angry or what? Your angry rant against everything white shows your hatred for anyone/anything that doesn’t have pigment in its skin. Get that huge racial chip off your shoulder, its holding you back from moving forward. Sure, I get angry when I can’t win a contract I bid on in the City of Atlanta because I’m not a “Disadvantaged Minority Contractor” but that’s the way it goes. I didnt hear you rant about that injustice…giving business to someone purely because of their skin color rather than their qualifications. You should call Dr. Phil and book an appointment because you are f___ed up!!
Chris D'
August 30th, 2009
9:51 pm
Parzival,
Is there some reason you are assuming I am African American? Is it impossible for you to understand that someone could understand the perspective of someone not like them? You should try it sometime. You ever wonder why blacks and whites seem to have a different perspective on a lot of issues in this country. I think you assume one must be superior to the other and if they just saw it from your perspective everything would be okay. Opinions and perceptions develop over time they don’t just happen. There is a reason people act the way they do and behave the way they do. Try understanding someone else’s perspective sometime or keep riding your righteous high horse if you prefer.
Ask A Native
August 30th, 2009
9:52 pm
“If I were black, I would be insulted and want the media and all blacks to condemn such ignorance.”
Yeah, cause Blacks TOTALLY have equity in the media. *Smfh*
Humored-I am still waiting
August 30th, 2009
9:57 pm
Humored, I swear on my mothers grave that I am not a Lisa Borders plant but I believe she is the most qualified candidate. Yet, I have asked you 3 times now why Kasim Reed should be elected, and you still harp on Mary Norwood. Although Mary and I share the same skin color I dont know anything about her, nor care to. However I do know that Lisa Borders is a respected business leader, which counts for something when you are managing a multimillion dollar budget as the Mayor of Atlanta. Can Kasim even balance his checkbook? Your silence is deafening. Do you only answer the posts you want to? I’m not trying to pick a fight(because I’d win), I’m just trying to get you to explain why anyone else should vote for him. What has he done?
Woodie
August 30th, 2009
9:57 pm
Maynard Jackson got elected because he was color-blind. Whomever we get to serve as Mayor must be color-blind. If Norwood is the best choice, then that’s who I’ll support. I would NEVER vote for someone because of their race. Anyone who does is racist. It’s that plain and simple.
Ask A Native Needs Dr. Phil
August 30th, 2009
9:59 pm
Your anger is now showing. I would love to play poker against you some night because you obviously can’t hide your emotions. Remember, count to 10 when you get angry.
ATL Handicapper
August 30th, 2009
10:00 pm
The Vote-O-Meter has given several mayoral election forecasts over the past few weeks, all of them on Creative Loafing. It currently believes that if the election were held today, Norwood would be at 42%; Reed and Borders at 27%; Spikes – 3%, and all others at 1%. Norwood is holding on to her base but is not making gains and shows signs of strain. Reed and Borders are neck-in-neck with the results of the Turpeau memo yet unknown. Spikes is getting decent coverage but is not yet building tangible support.
Humored
August 30th, 2009
10:03 pm
JDE, Kasim Reed has practiced law for close to 20 years and is currentl a partner at Holland and Knight law firm, one of Atl’s silk stockings firms and one with offices across the world. Given his age, he’s actually accomplished a lot. Borders has worked for others just like Reed and climbed the ranks much the same way. The difference between the two is Reed has an actual legislative record to stand on.
BTW, I strongly doubt you are a white man or that you live in Cobb County. Forgive me if I’m wrong but I don’t believe you. Now you tell me something that Borders has accomplished that makes her more qualified than Reed and thank you for leaving Mary Palin, I meant Norwood, out out of this discussion.
Ask A Native
August 30th, 2009
10:03 pm
Needs Therapy: what’s holding me back from moving forward? And why should I care about what contracts you do or don’t win in the city if Atlanta? I could care less about your perceived plight, why don’t you use some of that privilege you attained by birthright to strong arm some of those contracts? Cause you know, those “disadvantaged minorities” don’t have a clue about construction anyway.
My people have been deduced to “reservations” and menial handouts from “anyone/anything that doesn’t have pigment in its skin.” You got damned right I don’t like your kind. I suppose I will just have to get over all of it, though. At least we have casinos and what not, right? Spare me your ‘woe is the white man’ rants. You had a 400-year head start, too bad. And when this economy turns around, and your great-White-hope mayor elected, I’m sure you’ll be back in business in no time.
Ask A Native
August 30th, 2009
10:06 pm
I should totally seek the therapy of Dr. Phil, cause the white man can fix any and everything “wrong” with people of color, right? Keep proving my point.
AeroNautica0909
August 30th, 2009
10:07 pm
I am totally embarrassed to live in the Atlanta metro area or Georgia by looking at these posts. I see more bigoted, racist, culturally insensitive material posted here than I’ve ever seen in any other medium where commenting is allowed. As a college student, I am disgusted by the lack of maturity shown by all that are posting here. This is supposed to be a CONSTRUCTIVE commenting forum. If the comments on here is indicative of the thoughts of the voting populace, the City is doomed.
Parzival
August 30th, 2009
10:09 pm
Chris D , nice try at skirting around the issue…I guess using guilt as an answer was your only play.
Strong White Woman
August 30th, 2009
10:11 pm
“Strong Black Woman” wouldn’t know satire or sarcasm if it punched her in the mouth. Oh wait, her strong black husband probably does that already.
I don’t care about you, your husband, or his salary. It does not take care of my livelihood. And I’m pretty sure I scored some coke down in the west end in the 80s before it became readily available here in Dunwoody. See, the Blacks ARE good for something!
Birth Of A Nation.
Humored
August 30th, 2009
10:11 pm
JDE, I guaruntee you can’t beat me in a debate about Atlanta politics. I actually, missed your last post. You are obviously either an outsider (yeah right) or a Borders plant. Everyone know Lisa is big-development’s candidate and she was a marketing and external affairs officer in her former capacities and didn’t sit at the helm of any of the companies she worked for. She doesn’t even lead now, she raises money with her influence and then turns it over to the Grady board.
If you are who you say you are read more on the candidates and stay out of it. If you are a Borders plant then ask her to give you a raise because we’re in a recession and you are doing an excellent job.
Strong Black Woman
August 30th, 2009
10:18 pm
STW, Are you getting upset. BTW, as a stay-at-home mom with a psych degree I can tell byour language that you’re a man. Again, what street did you live on in the West End. I’m a Spelman grad and the West End was not a slum as you stated in th 70’s and 80’s.
Ask a Native
August 30th, 2009
10:19 pm
Jeny wrote:
“I have lived in Atlanta since 1968. This used to be a truly *great* city to live in and I was proud to call myself an Atlantan. However, over the years, it has gone to hell in an handbasket. Black “leadership” is at fault for the destruction of this once great city. That blacks continue to wring their hands, gnash their teeth and complain about lack of access to city leadership has NOTHING to do with the white folks. Whites haven’t had control of the city since 1973. I remember….I was here the day Maynard took over the city. If blacks don’t have access after 36 years of control of this city, they never will (yes THIRTY SIX YEARS since Maynard was elected).
I hope and pray Mary Norwood is elected Mayor. Maybe, just maybe, she can clean this cesspool and retore confidence in Atlanta government. Then and only then, will Atlanta be able to draw new businesses and *good* jobs to this city. There is NO need for the likes of Mayor Franklin, Bill Campbell, Andy Young and so many other black “leaders” being on the take, lining their personal pockets and checkbooks at the expense of all Atlantans. They should all be in jail right alongside Bill.
My kids are in high school. As soon as they graduste in 4 years, I am SO out of here. I’ve already sold the house. We’ll be renters until they graduate, so that we’ll be free of this hell hole city. If you’re white in Atlanta, you sure as hell don’t count (at least not since 1973). And in case you forget it, blacks make sure you know your place….”
That last sentence has so much irony in it that I can’t take it! HA! Doesn’t feel too good to feel as if you’re being OPPRESSED AND SHUT OUT, does it “Jeny”?? Good riddance when you do go, you certainly won’t be missed.
Parzival
August 30th, 2009
10:21 pm
And Chris, I have looked at a minority perspective. I work with three Ethiopians who talk about this all the time. I’m just expressing the minority perspective that I have come to after hearing many long conversations about it. There is a large attitude gap between a “Native African” who comes to Atlanta and an” African American” who was born here. Same race. To me, it’s less of a black/ white issue and more of an attitude issue.
DirtyDawg
August 30th, 2009
10:23 pm
Thank God somebody here has said what needed to be said…aeronautical0909 – a college student, and I assume a Tech student, has nailed it. The vile, hateful comments paint a sad picture about, at the least, those that are posting here tonight.
Some of us thought that the election of Barack Obama did indeed signal that perhaps we have transcended race – at least in the majority of the country. And, hopefully, we have. But you can be sure that racial prejudice reins supreme in the metropolitan area of Atlanta…hope you folks are proud because you’ll be ridiculed by the vast majority of Americans for years to come…and forget about any corporation of significance bringing their people here – not because that the city isn’t run well but because the area and state are riddled with narrow-minded, bigoted, xenophobic, homophobic racists.
And as for those liberal Democrats that couldn’t run a city – you talking about William Hartsfield…Ivan Allen, Jr….Sam Massell? Those liberal Democrats?
Strong White Woman
August 30th, 2009
10:23 pm
SBW: I’m not at all upset. I am thoroughly amused that-
A) you STILL don’t get it
B) you continue to harp on your possessions as if I give a rat’s behind
C) you think you’re smart
You should demand that Spelman give you your money back. Your Psych degree (or your husband’s six figures) couldn’t buy you a clue.
Marcus Cornelius
August 30th, 2009
10:27 pm
The bottom line is the African-American culture is a failed one. It feeds on fear and conspiracy and is led by demogogues and moral reprobates. Blacks who associate themselves with black culture are doomed to failure as the culture continues its slow evolution.
Srong Black Woman
August 30th, 2009
10:27 pm
STW, I actually do get it and we’re playing the same game. I’m just being more truthful in my approach, you simpleton!!
Humored
August 30th, 2009
10:31 pm
JDE, are you there? Did I answer your question?
jimmy candela
August 30th, 2009
10:31 pm
if black ppl dont want white ppl around atl fine! white ppl need to boycott atl dont spend money in atl! if u live outside of atl in u work in atl dont spend money there bring your lunch and tell your co work to do the same!!see how fast atl will fall if white ppl stop spend money there!! boycott atl tell everybody!!!! BOYCOTT ps and ajc doesnt say something about black racist boycott them ajc to!!
Ask A Native
August 30th, 2009
10:32 pm
“And Chris, I have looked at a minority perspective. I work with three Ethiopians who talk about this all the time. I’m just expressing the minority perspective that I have come to after hearing many long conversations about it. There is a large attitude gap between a “Native African” who comes to Atlanta and an” African American” who was born here. Same race. To me, it’s less of a black/ white issue and more of an attitude issue.”
This guy is more ignorant than I gave him credit for! “I asked three Ethiopians! Therefore I know the plight of Black Americans! It’s true! It’s true!” There it is again. Same race??? The ancestors of African Americans were from WEST AFRICA, dunce. What could an Ethiopian possibly know about the plight of African Americans, or even the plight of their enslaved ancestors? NOTHING. Absolutely NOTHING. Since you like asking questions, ask those Ethiopians if they think they are of the “same race” as Blacks. You might be surprised by their answer. Actually you might not, since you’ve already had “long conversations” with them about Blacks. I can only imagine the context.
While you’re at it, Parzival, please do all people of color a favor and stop trying to figure us out. Continue living in your sheltered ethnocentric world, I swear it suits you.
Ask A Native
August 30th, 2009
10:35 pm
LOL@ “jimmy”. Or, you could just move to Gwinnett/Forsyth with the rest of your brethren and be angry from afar (smile). This is becoming hilarious! The whites are up in arms because the blacks don’t want them around? Who would have thought it could be? LMAO!
George BUSH
August 30th, 2009
10:38 pm
This should be an issue based discussion but i guess we still have a loooong way to go..glad i am in TEXAS now
Strong Black Woman
August 30th, 2009
10:58 pm
What failed? STW, you didn’t live in the West End. You’re more than likely not even female. Thankd for calling me a monkey, that makes you SEEM real intelligent.
Face it, you’re all upset because Bush and Cheney screwed us to hell and now a beautiful black family sits in the WHITE HOUSE and the bi-racial husband/father is doing a good job of cleaning up the frat boy’s and draft-dodger’s mess. Atlanta’s the same, Mary Norwood isn’t more qualified than Reed and Borders y’all just want everyone to believe she is so you can see a white person in the mayor’s office.
If that’s all you want put up a more qualified candidate.
Ramzad
August 30th, 2009
11:00 pm
As all these diatribes and counter diatribes have roared on, it has become clear to me that you are all idiots- white and black.
You both should be talking about how you are going to rescue this country from marginalism and average performance. Have you ever wondered why everybody want to drive a BMW- even those who are park it if front of somebody’s broken down apartment building?
Have you ever wondered why we have to go to Sweden when we want a good expensive machine while we “intelligent Americans” spend most of our time figuring out how to redesign Twinkies? Have you wondered why the Cash for Clunker program became a fat welfare check to Toyota and Honda?
The blacks ca’nt see that they need to get educated, stop killing each other, stop breaking into each others houses, stop spewing out unaffordable children, stop throwing trash around, stop getting loud an aggressive over nothing, stop supporting crooked politicians- in other words start bringing respectability back to black culture.
White folks have little choice but to stay on blogs and yell at blacks,
because they don’t want to be around blacks. Fact is that many blacks don’t want to be around blacks. Black people it is hard to engage anybody constructively if they have good reason to believe that they will be killed if they get too close.
The whites need to see that it is not just they that are worthy people. It is not just they that want a good education for their children. The whites need to see that it is not all black people that are criminals and thugs. The whites need to see that Obama had a white mama, so Obama can’t be possibly racist against whites. The whites need to see that using the police and the justice system as an illegal billy club against blacks only create more criminal blacks when the get felonies (for things that whites would walk for)and can’t get jobs.
So; while you two groups of imbeciles are yelling against the fence Atlanta burns.
AeroNautica0909
August 30th, 2009
11:13 pm
DirtyDawg… thanks for supporting me with your comments. I’m a Southern Polytechnic student (school is in Marietta) but I live in Stockbridge. Whenever I see the AJC have commenting open for blog entries or other news stories, it annoys me to see these racist, bigoted, culturally insensitive commentary by people. Living in the area for 4 years, I am aghast at the continuous impertinent commentary that is unleashed by people. If most people think remotely close to more than half of these posts, the City AND the metro area is doomed.
LongShot
August 30th, 2009
11:22 pm
Ramzad, shut up!! You know nothing
RacistCrap
August 30th, 2009
11:23 pm
Atlanta is 95% black or white with a little hispanic brown thrown in. What Atlanta need is a share of the diversity that Gwinnett and Cobb have (both more diverse than Atlanta). Funny how the white suburbs are more diverse than the city of Atlanta. I hope the hispanics take over Atlanta and end this racist crap.
robertcowart
August 30th, 2009
11:23 pm
check the taxi cabs companies the towing co that had to hav minority owners to get a permit eldrin bell beverly who was maynard former driver verno jones who wanted to fire all white mgr in dekalb county airport contracts shirly you know what i mean there are a lots contracts that have been adwarted becaused thwey there name only but not to people who were qualified yellow cab university cab checker cab bill cambell it not what i kown i do fo you what kown you do for me HERMAN CAIN PLEASE MOVE TO Atlanta run for mayor and get tax locally then nationally how many %%%% have there been made saice him and bacause of him jusr curios alots i guess i will respond later thanks
PAT FROM ELLENWOOD
August 30th, 2009
11:25 pm
Real Mark and dirty dawg get it right. Shirley Franklin has been the best mayor we’ve had in a long time. She has tackled many of the challenges no other mayor before her would ever touch. This mayoral race and the city council districts should reflect the electorate. Everyone that has a vested interest in Atlanta being the best city in the south should research all the candidates, their records (or lack thereof) and elect people to move the City of Atlanta forward. Let’s not make this about Aaron Turpeau or a memo. This is another wedge issue. What about public safety, education of our children, quality jobs, water, sewage, environment and transportation. The folks that sit home every election cycle are probably the ones that are writing the hateful messages and don’t even live in the City of Atlanta. i don’t live in Atlanta but I work in downtown Atlanta. The folks that are really interested in the truth will educate themselves and vote accordingly. As an African American female, I am supporting a white candidate in one of the city council races because he brings fresh ideas and solutions that make sense and has no baggage. If there is more than a 45% turnout, I will be surprised. Atlantans barely came out for President Obama!
LongShot
August 30th, 2009
11:26 pm
You too aeronautic 0909. This comment blog is no place for those who come on here talking all peace-like and whatnot. This here post is for race-baiters, bigots and prejudicizers! We have a right to our free speech, guns and our religion
Parzival
August 30th, 2009
11:28 pm
Ask A Native: I’m sorry…let me further discuss…Have you ever been enslaved? Do you know anyone who has? I Just want to know how you understand it so much more than me? My people were enslaved by the Romans, but I don’t pretend to know about it anymore than another black person that could read about it.None of us have been enslaved, so we really don’t know.
Do white people treat Ethiopian black people Different than West African Black People? Are you from West Africa? I’d love to hear, because Nigerians I work with (as well) tell me horror stories about Sierra Leone. Black people (from) America have a discrimination towards lighter skinned black people. All I’m saying is that Native Africans also have a discrimination towards “African Americans.” I work with MANY on a daily basis (not just Ethiopians). It’s not a skin color issue with them though, it’s an attitude. They think “African Americans” are soft. I’m just telling you what I hear all the time..
vote4change
August 30th, 2009
11:37 pm
I voted for Obama because I felt that he was the candidate that could change the terrible path America was on, and I will do the same here in Atlanta. People this is easy, write down the issues that you feel are most important (safety, water, taxes, color)…………match them to the candidates running for office……..ta da…………….you have YOUR pick for mayor, not anyone else’s pick, but yours.
Busted
August 30th, 2009
11:38 pm
Parzival, you are a clown! You don’t know the half, there are African Americans that are alive today that have close relatives that were in slavery, sharecropping and jim crow. My grandmother is 95 years old and her grandmother was a slave, so she has a personal account of what occured in those times and besides, the oppression of blacks didn’t end in 1866 it continuesd and it has taken on different forms overt and covert.
This doesn’t give some blacks an excuse for the bad behavior that some exhibit. Everyone knows that on the whole African Americans are quality people and the same for whites.