Race and the 2009 Atlanta Mayoral Election

It's campaign season in Atlanta. In less than a month, the city will elect a new Mayor to replace current Mayor Shirley Franklin who is limited to 2 terms. Unlike prior elections, this election is garnering attention for completely different reasons - urban gentrification and a controversial memo.

The population of Atlanta has shifted dramatically over the last 10 to 15 years. Even though the city's population remains majority Black, the White population has increased as more Whites have moved from the suburbs back into the city to avoid the traffic congestion. As a result, many intown neighborhoods that were majority Black have become more diverse. On the flip side, the Black population in Atlanta has declined as more Blacks have moved to the suburbs as property taxes skyrocketed. It's not beyond the realm of possibility that Atlanta's population shift will continue over the next decade. Atlanta in 2020 may not racially resemble Atlanta in 2009. In the near future, I plan to post a separate blog regarding gentrification.

Since the historic inauguration of Maynard Jackson as Mayor in 1974, the city of Atlanta has had African American Mayors - 4 to be exact. This year, the front runner according to most polls is Councilwoman Mary Norwood, a White female. In some circles around the city, this has been a surprise as well as a source of worry. Some believe that the election of a White Mayor will turn back many of the strides made by Black leadership in the city since the early 70s. Others believe that an election of a White Mayor will mean that Blacks and other minorities will be shut out of the political echelon. Unfortunately, this issue received nationwide attention recently when a memo was circulated by a group named The Black Leadership Forum, urging the public to unite behind one Black candidate and encouraging the other Black candidates to drop out of the race. The candidates for Mayor denounced the memo, while others believed that the memo was not out of line and deserved consideration. In a Wall Street Journal article, Bob Holmes, Professor Emeritus at Clark Atlanta University, stated "For a certain number of people, they do look at things through that prism. They remember the history."

I find sentiments like those in this memo insulting to both Black people as well as White people. The memo essentially assumes the worst in both races. It assumes that Black people have to think the same as well as vote alike. It assumes that we are not allowed to think for ourselves and decide who we want to run the city. It assumes that White people could not possibly consider voting for a non-White candidate. I would be naive to believe that there are not Atlantans that will cast their ballot solely based on race. Yes, I realize this does happen in some circles, but I would hope that most intelligent people would vote for the best candidate regardless of race. 

Around the country, many cities, states, and Congressional districts see their election cycles dissolve into a mess of racial animosity, bigotry, racial pandering, and immaturity. I really hope that this is not the path that Atlanta's future elections will take as the city's racial makeup changes. How this city chooses to addreses its changing demographics will be an important chapter in its future.
 
For more info on the Atlanta Mayoral election, please visit the Wall Street Journal or the Atlanta Journal Constitution.