Posted on 07/30/2003 6:59:10 AM PDT by xrp
Maynard Jackson, Atlanta's first black mayor, cast a huge shadow Tuesday over his white predecessors as the campaign to rename Atlanta's airport developed into raw racial politics.
"This really shouldn't be about what the white business establishment would allow," said state Rep. "Able" Mable Thomas, a former Atlanta City Council member. "It's really what the strength of the African-American community will allow. What will we stand for? The real deal is we stood too long silent. Atlanta is being gentrified every day. So, while you do still have a majority, as Maynard would say, use the power you have today."
Some of the speakers during a two-hour public hearing at Atlanta City Hall used words like diversity and inclusiveness. But many refused to sugarcoat their sentiments.
Overwhelmingly, they said to remove the name of William B. Hartsfield and replace it with Jackson, creator of a landmark affirmative action program. Hartsfield, who served as mayor for two decades and championed Atlanta as an aviation center, was either forgotten or dismissed as a symbol of Atlanta's racist past.
Barry Ringold of Atlanta cut straight to the heart and urged the city's black mayor and majority-black council not to be afraid of representing black Atlanta.
"Do the right thing," Ringold said. "Stand up for the people that put you there."
Ivan Allen Jr., who spent eight years guiding Atlanta through the civil rights era, rated only passing mention during the first public hearing by the Atlanta Advisory Commission. The 17-member panel is charged with finding an appropriate way to honor Jackson and Allen, who both recently died. Another session is scheduled for Aug. 26.
The session drew an overwhelmingly black audience of about 75 people, including City Council members, state representatives and Jackson's widow, Valerie, and children who sat front and center. They didn't speak to the commission but applauded many of the speakers. About a third of the audience spoke.
Afterward Jackson said she was gratified to see that her husband had touched so many lives. She supports replacing Hartsfield's name at the airport.
"I thought this was a no-brainer," said John Evans. "People try to satisfy everybody. It can't happen. The City Council ought to stand tall and rename the airport Maynard Jackson International Airport."
Several speakers told the 17-member panel to disband and urged the City Council to act unilaterally and rename the airport to honor Jackson.
The session was an eye-opener for the advisory committee members who got a taste of Atlanta's racial politics and what's in store for them over the next few weeks as they head to making a recommendation in September.
A.D. "Pete" Correll, CEO of Georgia-Pacific, is co-chairing the panel.
"Nobody said this would be easy," Correll said, "but nobody said it would be this hard either."
Carey Duncan of Grant Park urged the combination name Hartsfield-Jackson.
"I urge you don't play the race card," Duncan said. "We are one race, the human race."
-PJ
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.