This is what I love about bigots.
Give them enough time and changing situations and their true colors will show.
I am not going to even address the presence of a letter suggesting that in the spirit of support for the "Black Agenda" that all BLACK Atlantans vote for the "Black guy" for mayor. (Or Black Gal in this case). Just for background purposes it should be noted that of the leading 6 candidates for mayor - 5 of them are Black; 2 are female; all of them are Democrats)
Instead of talking about this incident I will spend the remainder of my time focusing on THE BLACK AGENDA.
What exactly is "the Black Agenda"? I want to take it out of the hands of the Black Pseudo-Revolutionaries which typically base "the Black Agenda" off of strong references to WHITE FOLKS and counter-acting them.
Instead I would like to make the case that indeed the "Black Agenda" is a constructive process for actually obtained the Permanent Interests that I incessantly enumerate:
- Safe Communities
- Quality Schools
- Thriving Local Economies
- Healthy Lifestyles
PUTTING THE ATLANTA POLITICAL MACHINE ON TRIAL
I like Shirley Franklin on balance. In fact I would even argue that she is a more effective mayor than was Maynard Jackson, Andy Young, and (of course) Bill Campbell. Aside from the major scandal over the police killing of 92 year old Cathryn Johnston - Mayor Franklin had a relatively problem free tenure from an administrative stand point.
At the same time the streets of Metro Atlanta are filled with terror over a massive crime spree. (note: Mayor Franklin can only speak for 'Atlanta proper'. "Metro Atlanta" encompasses all of the other counties outside of the city but which function as an interconnected whole). Despite the attempts of the politicians to claim that crime is not that bad compared to last year, this is but a relative reference. In absolute terms - people are fearing a criminal attack now more than any other time of my 20 year residency in the area.
Thus I find it unnerving to hear someone argue for support of the "Black Agenda" when, in truth - so much of it is being violated by the aggregate "9 P's" that control the Black community yet seem to retain its political power.
The author of the letter is clearly blind and is a political hack. They are more interested in retaining a BLACK AND DEMOCRATIC (the conjunction is critical) power base than to allow appropriate scrutiny to be waged upon the forces in power.
Even still - I wonder why the "Black Agenda" is limited to the City of Atlanta. Both Clayton County and Dekalb County neighbor Atlanta. The same template of a political machine runs these counties as is what is in place within Atlanta. Both counties suffer from the same ills that Atlanta proper does - crime, issues with their schools and a questionable future for their young Black people.
IF there was something that could be purchased for the portraits of "Black Democrats" who are on the wall signifying their political office - our currency would be great. Unfortunately such sightings do not replace the core needs that are present for a properly functioning municipal government.
I am tired of the mindset that is expressed by the author of this letter.
Of course if some White person wrote the very same thing this notice would be on national news right now. The fact that this letter is in the public domain AND that 96% of Black people voted for one man in November 2008 simply does not raise the same eyebrows of offense that would be the case IF a White faction had done the same thing.
It is only when our community rejects such behavior amongst ourselves that we would never rest comfortable with if a White person did the same will we be able to call ourselves "equal people" both from a rights and a RESPONSIBILITY stand point.
AJC Article:
The Atlanta mayoral race went into overdrive today when two of the leading candidates held dueling press conferences to talk about race.
Sen. Kasim Reed (D-Atlanta) and City Council President Lisa Borders were responding to a letter that has been circulating through the city calling for a black agenda. Specifically, the letter strongly implies that the city would be better off electing a black mayor. More specifically, the letter endorses Borders.
Reed urged the Borders campaign to denounce the email, which he called “divisive,” and “racist.”
Long-time Atlanta political insider and consultant Aaron Turpeau has been distributing the letter, but has denied actually writing it. He said the paper was produced by an ad hoc group of black Atlantans who have been meeting on and off since 1994 to promote a “black agenda.”
“This campaign should be based on the merits of each candidate, not the color of someone’s skin,” Reed said at his news conference.
About an hour later, Borders did just that.
“I recognize the constitutional right of every citizen to express their concern,” Borders said. “I reject the analysis offered by Aaron Turpeau. He is absolutely wrong. I oppose anyone, or any race, who would distract us from what is important today.”
Mary Norwood, the only white candidate in the race, and a front-runner, would not comment on the letter. In fact, in an emailed response to the AJC, she mentioned her efforts to fight crime and fix Atlanta’s finances and never mentioned race.
“She is focused on asking voters to judge her on the things she has done and what she wants to do,” said Norwood’s campaign manager Roman Levit. “Judge her on her ideas and abilities.”
1 comment:
This past week a memo was circulated around City Hall....asking citizens to vote for Lisa Borders to preserve the black agenda. The memo indicated that the black agenda would be lost if a black mayor was not elected in. Unfortunately, the black agenda has been lost for many years. Evidence of this can be seen in our heavily neglected historically black communities such as English Avenue, Vine City,Peoplestown, Mechanicsville, Adair Park, the list goes on.
If the black agenda has been preserved all these years how come the black communities in this city have not been preserved? Black people are suffering throughout this city. Many of our intown neighborhood resemble 3rd world countries. The scholars who wrote the memo from Clark Atlanta are not paying attention when they drive into the campus each day. I guess the drive is long from Stone Mountain where most employees reside. The area surrounding Clark Atlanta is not preserved and it is not safe. Most of the homes have gone into foreclosure. Over the past 25 years the "black agenda" that the scholars at Clark Atlanta wrote has done nothing but destroy the very same neighborhoods that blacks reside in and the very same neighborhood that Clark Atlanta is located in. Get a grip atlanta....its not about color its about quality of life.
PS- Those professors need to move to the black neighborhoods that have suffered by the black agenda. Get out of your unrealistic world. Its time for Change.
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