Clark professors say memo misinterpreted

By Eric Stirgus

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Atlanta mayor’s race continued to be mired in the issue of race Tuesday as two Clark Atlanta University professors defended a controversial memo that some say suggests black residents unite behind an African-American candidate.

BITA HONARVAR / bhonarvar@ajc.com Keith Jennings, a political scientist at Clark Atlanta University, was co-author of a memo that he and fellow author William Boone say was misinterpreted.

BITA HONARVAR / bhonarvar@ajc.com William Boone, also a political scientist at Clark Atlanta University, held a press conference along with Keith Jennings at Paschal's restaurant on Tuesday.

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Professors William Boone and Keith Jennings said their analysis of the campaign has been misinterpreted by reporters. The men, who are both black, said they were only noting assertions among some African-Americans that City Council President Lisa Borders is best equipped to defeat Councilwoman Mary Norwood, the leading white candidate in the race.

“We would never suggest such a thing,” Jennings said at a news conference at Paschal’s restaurant.

Candidate Kasim Reed, who held a prayer breakfast at Paschal’s during the professors’ press conference, called the memo “bigoted” and “racist.”

“I believe (the memo) is destructive to the fabric of this city,” Reed told reporters.

Borders, who was holding a press conference at the same time at City Hall to announce her endorsement by the police union, said the memo is not a referendum on the professors or the city.

“We are not about color. We are about competence,” Borders said. “Water, education and public safety doesn’t have a color.”

Mayor Shirley Franklin has called the analysis “bigoted.” To that, Jennings said, “We respect the mayor and she has a right to her opinion.”

The memo emerged last week, causing a firestorm in the mayor’s race. It was written for a group called the Black Leadership Forum to discuss the issues facing the African-American community.