Clark Atlanta profs claim ownership of ‘black mayor’ memo
Two academics from Clark Atlanta University, political scientists William Boone and Keith Jennings, have claimed authorship of the memo that has roiled the race for mayor.
The two say that accusations that the memo is racist — Mayor Shirley Franklin used the word “bigoted,” and two African-American candidates have condemned it — are “patently false.”
A joint statement from Boone and Jennings was just published by the Newsmaker Journal, the same outfit that distributed the original memo suggesting that African-Americans line up behind Lisa Borders to block the election of a white candidate, Mary Norwood.
Several news outlets, including WABE-FM (90.1FM) and this one, also have obtained copies of the claim to authorship.
Boone is a respected voice in state and local politics, frequently quoted by this newspaper. As a matter of fact, Boone is quoted in an Associated Press article that just moved across the wires, though he is not specifically identified as one of the two authors of the controversial memo:
”Blacks do not return to the polls in a runoff, historically,” said Clark Atlanta University political science professor William Boone. ”It’s going to be very interesting. This is the election that some folks had talked about was coming.”
The AP article then mentions the demographic changes that Atlanta has undergone:
In addition, blacks may no longer feel obligated to elect a black mayor, Boone said.
”You have a young generation of blacks — not native to Atlanta — who don’t necessarily see that as something that has to happen,” said Boone, who is part of a group that circulated the racially-charged e-mail. ”They may be staking their vote on matters more critical than race.”
Here’s the statement that appears over the names of both Boone and Jennings this afternoon:
Race and the Mayor’s Race in Atlanta
The recent suggestion that it is somehow racist to highlight an agenda that promotes the interests of African American voters is patently false. It is a red herring that polarizes debate about electing the most qualified candidate for Atlanta’s next mayor.
The need for African American voter and taxpayer interests to be addressed by all candidates is just as legitimate as it is for candidates to respond to issues raised by the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Stand-Up, Central Atlanta Progress or any Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU).
News coverage to date of an analysis presented to the Black Leadership Forum has been incendiary and misleading. To correct the record, Aaron Turpeau is not the author of the memo, nor is anyone associated with the Black Leadership Forum.
We are the sole authors and we stand by our academic analysis, with the exception for the error regarding the political affiliation of Mr. Spikes and Mr. Thomas, for which we have apologized.
Furthermore, the reported assertion that our statement was written on behalf of any candidate or to instruct African Americans how to vote is flatly wrong. African Americans in Atlanta have been voting for decades and are quite capable of making up their own minds.
Make no mistake, we do not work for any of the candidates. We have held no formal discussions with any of the campaigns and have made no contributions to any of the campaigns.
In our statement we presented views that have been articulated in various parts of the community. As we argue in the statement, African Americans should “critically evaluate all candidates” because “we have arrived at a place in time where we can no longer afford to just look at race in the Mayor’s race or individual council races.”
However, these key quotes from our document have been excluded from media coverage and by individuals who apparently have not read the document.
We stand by our belief that “a black agenda would enable African American interests to be respected by any administration.” The interests of African American voters are just as legitimate as other Atlanta voters, and the notion that we must apologize for highlighting those interests is absurd.
William Boone, PhD
Keith Jennings, PhD
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83 comments Add your comment
Kevin
August 31st, 2009
6:22 pm
I am going to find the names of companies that support Clark University. I’m going to write each of them and encourage them to withhold support dollars to these universities until these racists are fired. This is unacceptable.
I encourage everyone else that is outraged to do the same.
Ownership claimed on the ‘Keep Whitey Out of Atlanta City Hall’ memo — Peach Pundit
August 31st, 2009
6:23 pm
[...] Galloway reports that it comes from Clark Atlanta University “political scientists” William Boone and [...]
PB
August 31st, 2009
6:25 pm
@ Who’s read the article?
Really…you can not be serious. Did you miss the hyperlink in the article? Usually, when a word is written in blue font, that means there is a link to another website or page. In this case… it was the article on the original memo… with the memo in the article. Go ahead… click on it… you can do it. And you are incorrectomundo, it was definitely NOT taken out of context.
RH
August 31st, 2009
6:26 pm
I for one am not suprised. This is exactly how President ObamaGod got elected. The sad and realistic part about this whole scenario is that this does absolutely nothing to help the black population. They think handouts are coming because they got out and voted for the black candidate. They lied to get your vote and you will get NOTHING in return – except a job at the airport.
The black population continues to set themselves up for defeat and turn back the clock on REAL racial equality. Lets let them continue digging their own graves.
confused again
August 31st, 2009
6:26 pm
freaking idiots…..
Rannyran
August 31st, 2009
6:27 pm
the blantent ignorance of people in this city is truly amazing
Makes Me Sick
August 31st, 2009
6:27 pm
Once again, blacks prove they can say anything they want and it’s not racist. If we do not agree with Obama we are “haters.” If whites even say the word African American, we are racist. My question is this, who has ruined downtown Atlanta? Whites? Nope. Blacks have run it into the dirt. I picture the city of Atlanta like an old Elderado up on blocks with the wheels gone.
Prove me wrong. Show me the crime stats for the city of Atlanta, then tell me I’m wrong.
I’m sure the black politicians will give these two professors a letter of appreciation.
Oh, one last question. Where is Sharpton? Where is Jesse? Oh I forgot, they only scream racist if it’s a white person.
Richmond Smith
August 31st, 2009
6:27 pm
If Shar has all the facts correct, it is embarrassing that these men teach in a respected institution. I worked tirelessly for Obama and not because he is black, but because he was by far the best candidate. It is a new century. Ask Oprah Winfrey.
The 2 professors
August 31st, 2009
6:27 pm
I haven’t read the memo but a couple of posters above have apparently read it and stated that these 2 professors wrote a memo that has numerous grammatical errors, run on sentences, personal assumptions rather than results backed up by empirical evidence, etc.
If these 2 professor can’t write a reasoned memo without grammar and sentence structure problems than we have a much larger problem in black colleges and universities than the content of the memo itself.
Am I the only one appalled by the idea that 2 professors can’t even put together a simple memo, much less a book, dissertation, or essay, without grammar errors, run on sentences, etc?
The low standards and open embrace of incompetency by these black colleges and universities for hiring people like these 2 clowns is much more dangerous in the long run then their racist content in the memo itself.
Authors of ‘black agenda’ memo step forward | Jay Bookman
August 31st, 2009
6:39 pm
[...] Two professors at Clark Atlanta University have come forward to claim authorship of the controversial “black agenda” memo, reports my colleague Jim Galloway at Political Insider. [...]
Clark Atlanta Professor Authors of Black Mayor Memo ID'd
September 1st, 2009
12:20 am
[...] authorship of the controversial “black agenda” memo, reports my colleague Jim Galloway at Political Insider. In claiming authorship, William Boone and Keith Jennings also try to rebut the harsh criticism [...]
What Pundits Are Saying » Blog Archive » Ownership claimed on the ‘Keep Whitey Out of Atlanta City Hall’ memo
September 1st, 2009
6:34 am
[...] Galloway reports that it comes from Clark Atlanta University “political scientists” William Boone and [...]
Mark
September 1st, 2009
9:11 am
If two white professors wrote a memo that advocated white voters getting behind a white candidate to preserve white political power, they’d be run out of town on a rail.
SpaceyG on Twitter
September 1st, 2009
9:20 am
Oh come on now, Jim. Don’t be giving yourself old school-style media airs. This made me snort:
“Several news outlets, including WABE-FM (90.1FM) and this one, also have obtained copies of the claim to authorship.”
These silly racial babble-blasts were sent to most anyone with a pulse and an email address. Pulse optional of course. Why they just didn’t send a Tweet is beyond me.
sportswoman
September 1st, 2009
9:49 am
Mark,
It really doesn’t matter who wrote the email. It is still wrong. It is insane that anyone would claim not to endorse a candidate after telling everyone else to get out field. These men look like fools and they are not a representation of african americans as a whole. I agree with mayor that this was bigoted. It is is shameful in any form. It is truly a setback for race relations in this city. But you need to remember, we are all individuals and most people believe everyone should be treated equally even if it doesn’t happen.
Mac
September 1st, 2009
9:59 am
Now I get it, you slap ” academic analysis ” on it, and you can be as racist as you want.
Been here too long!
September 1st, 2009
10:25 am
who read the article?…you are right! they are not the only ones practicing racism…we must also add president obama and louie gates
Denns
September 1st, 2009
10:27 am
Once again the evidence surfaces that racism and bigotry are products of both the white and black community.
Truth Seeker
September 1st, 2009
10:46 am
OOOOOOOOOO now I understand….If a white guy says it, then it’s racist but if a black guy says it, then its academic analysis. Ok…take your academic analysis and stick it.
Mary
September 1st, 2009
10:57 am
Chattanooga is steadily becoming all black like memphis! It’s happened in the last year, and guess what? That’s right! crime has risen!
Change you can believe in
September 1st, 2009
11:57 am
Some things never change I guess…
DK
September 1st, 2009
12:26 pm
To the idiot that made the statement that “So 100 Black Men is wrong, but the KKK is ok?” When did anyone say that the KKK is OK? By-in-large, the white community has come to grips with the fact that bigotry is wrong. Sure one can still find bigotry and racism against blacks in our society, but it’s not the norm, and is not considered acceptable behavior within the white community. Our president was not and could not have been elected by blacks alone. His election took many white people choosing him over the white candidate. Should we whites go back to choosing our candidates based on which of them have our skin color?
The point made here by many is a good one. If this had come from two white professors at UGA who advocated the election of a white candidate over a black candidate, because of the color of their skin, they rightfully wouldn’t have a job today. Two wrongs do not make a right, so trying to justify the actions of these bigots by saying that there are still whites that discriminate against blacks is unacceptable garbage and doesn’t excuse the words coming from these bigots.
Blacks are the most openly bigoted group in our society today, as evidenced by the fact that. They better see the error of their ways quickly because white guilt only runs so deep and blacks do not have the power to elevate themselves over whites by force. I don’t want my son to grow up in a world where racism and bigotry is acceptable and practiced, but would rather see him in a world that discriminates for him instead of against him, and will teach him this if I see that the other groups in our society do not want to treat us in a fair manner.
CAU Corporate Sponsors from (2002) article
September 1st, 2009
2:36 pm
A strong alliance with companies such as Whirlpool Corporation, Ford Motor Company, American Express, IBM, Delphi, SC Johnson, and Colgate-Palmolive has afforded scholars a more intimate rapport with Fortune 500 enterprises. These corporate partners have taken a formidable interest in Clark Atlanta through employment, internships, and career networking. (second section)
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1365/is_3_33/ai_92203253/pg_2/
Bring this to the attention of the PR people of these companies and make them see the bigotry of these professors.
Tony Sanchez
September 1st, 2009
4:45 pm
Because one disagrees with the opinions or positions of these professors is no reason to punish needy and deserving students by organizing a campaign that might deny the students internships, scholarships and employment opportunities.
While the teachers are employed by Clark Atlanta University, let us not forget that they do not represent the views of everyone at the school, nor were they representing the school in their electoral strategies memo.
So whether one likes it or not, they have a right to voice an opinion about what they believe and what they feel is best for Atlanta’s African American electorate and for Atlanta.
We all have a right to disagree or agree with points made. However, it is obvious that race is an issue here in Georgia–look at some of the absolutely blatant racist posts that have been sent about this matter.
Derek
September 1st, 2009
4:58 pm
If you substituted “white” for “black” in this memo, the black community would be screaming racism. I thought we had surpassed voting on basis of race rather than qualifications. That’s only going to fuel racism, not reduce it.
A. A.
September 1st, 2009
5:21 pm
Okay , did I miss something? Isn’t this America? Isn’t the primary obligation of liberal arts institutions to promote free thought and a multiple, often conflicting , ideas?
These professors are both community activist and instructors, so their personal opinions have nothing to do with their place of employment but everything to do with the ethos of liberal arts education in this country.
The political machine is all about constituency and strategy. It appears that these gentleman are simply employing techniques that have been used by minority groups throughout the history of U.S. Women, Jews, Homosexuals, Latino/Latinas- there’s nothing NEW, or morally questionable about the ideas being express.
(Doesn’t Mary Norwood have a constituency? – I wonder what THEY look like… what’s THEIR economic status? Do THEY have healthcare ?)
Perhaps the roll call of “minority groups” is what’s really at the core of this issue. It seems that the status quo has been a lot more agitated by the “other” as of late. The fear of losing power seems to be at the core of all of this (on both sides.)
If you need proof as to whether or not racism is still an issue, simply look at some of the above post. We still have a lot of maturing to do as Americans, regardless of who’s in the White House.
BravesFan79
September 1st, 2009
5:33 pm
80 yr old frail woman shot in face during robbery off MLK by another worthless black male.
So whats new? Blacks like to act like ALL other races besides whites are on their side. Guess what? Asians HATE you, middle eastern people hate you, mexicans hate you. In fact WHITES are more tolerant of blacks than ANY other race out there!
Enlightened Person of True Thinking
September 1st, 2009
11:16 pm
Whites, throughout history, have rallied together to keep black people out of political offices, out of big business, and out of ownership of the so called “American pie.” This ploy is systemic. Now, when Black people try to use the same ploys as white people, then whites want to cry racism. There goal is to discredit these two professors who are suggesting that African Americans use a ploy that was used during the Civil Rights Era. It was even used with Blacks for Obama’s election. There is always the suggestion of a double standard when whites think that Blacks are about to unite. Then whites and the racist media begin to institute the Willie Lynch tactics that tend to divide and conquer the Black consciousness making us turn against one another. How clever of the media to go to Morehouse to find a Black professor to speak against other Black professors who are trying to empower Black people. If we don’t empower ourselves, we will never be empowered. The Irish are a great example of political empowerment. I am sure that they used great tactics in gaining power that were probably called racist. The ploys the Bush Administration used can be called racist,selfish,sadistic,genocidal,illegal, greedy, McCarthyism,and machiavellian. And you cannot be a racist when you have no power. Evenso, racism against African Americans is still extreme in the United States. Most of your comments can attest to that. Black are not going to sit back and let white people continue to dominate without putting up a fight for political gain, monetary gain, and person gain. And that means rallying together. Oh! And by the way,I think that it is racist that the white media did not announce that a Black woman wrote The Terminator and The Matrix and that she won her case against the Warchowski brothers for stealing these movies from her. Her name is Sophie Steward.
UglyPuppy
September 2nd, 2009
1:26 am
So, I’m guessing these “professors” specialize in ebonics…
Great edumakatin’ guys – keep it up…
Proud of them
September 2nd, 2009
2:57 pm
I was one of their students. I received my bachelors and masters in Political Science from Clark Atlanta University. My experience was the best I could have ever imagined. These are professors at an HBCU that teaches political science from all perspectives but specially a black perspective. They understand black politics and politics in general! I was taught constitutional law from Boone himself. There should always be a black agenda in any political race because for so long blacks have been at the bottom and issues that concerned blacks did not get to the table! Thank you Dr. Boone and Dr. Jennings for standing up and creating a black agenda for a city that is predominately black and needs to address all issues!
Proud of them
September 2nd, 2009
2:59 pm
Thank you Enlightened person of true thinking! Your post was excellent!
Proud of them
September 2nd, 2009
3:02 pm
After all that I have learned, read, saw I am still amazed at how much hate whites have for others! It is truly sick!
RBraswell
September 3rd, 2009
8:40 pm
I can not see anyone being proud of Atlanta. GA. The crime rate is horrific, the property values are completely under water and the tax base is undefineable. ” Thank you Dr. Boone and Dr. Jennings for standing up and creating a black agenda for a city that is predominately black and needs to address all issues.” That statement and the memo it refers to are pointless. Grow up folks, Atlanta has no leadership and is fast becoming a ghetto in the true sense. On another more sorrowful note, I am truly sorry for Jasmine Lynn’s parents loss. I hope they hold the school responsible.