
It's no secret that when Willie Herenton became Mayor of Memphis in 1991, that he was not the choice of white voters. Herenton who won by a 141 votes had promised the black community that
"Help Is On the Way", And that he would never be bought by the white man,in fact he stated that
"You Can Not Be Free If You Take The White Man's Money". That statement lasted about two weeks after he became mayor, when white power brokers gave him $
250,000 for his personal use and called it a "
Slush Fund".Even though Herenton was not the choice of the white power brokers, which included
Fred Smith, Henry Turley, Jack Belz, and Ira Lipman, they needed him to get there plans for Downtown done. Herenton held the one thing that they needed,
"Sole Contract Signing Power", they knew that if they had him in their pocket and controlled him,whenever something needed to get done for their
"Uptown Project" or anything else they wanted, Willie would make it happen.
And so it was for several years, White Power brokers said
"jump", and Willie said
"How High". Herenton told me several years ago of how the white power brokers called him to a meeting and placed him in the middle of a circle to give him instructions on what they wanted done,and how they wanted him to do it. Herenton states that he put them in place and told them that he was a man.
While I disagree with the politics of Herenton and think it's time for new leadership, I don't think that any black man should bow to the white forces in this city that seek to control Shelby County politics. Neither do I think that blacks who make up over
80% of the city's population should give up it's power if honest public servants can be found. To some whites this will sound racist, but those who will think that way will also say "forget about whites hating you, and not wanting to elect you because of your skin color" But why should blacks forget? Why are blacks to trust those who held them in suppression?
I agree that we can not as a race get stuck in the past, but we should not forget it either. I will writing a article on white racism in Memphis politics later this week. Many white power brokers not only think that new leadership is needed, but that that new leadership needs to be controlled by them. They feel that herenton has gotten out of place,and now feels as though he is in control. They feel that Willie is no longer their boy, so either they have to find a new boy or try to elect a white to the mayor's office which will be hard if blacks are incited enough to turn out in large numbers.
I4 persons have presently pulled petitions to run for the office of mayor,which does not include
Carol Chumney. Of those 14 you have several that will be backed by big money. Sources say that the Cates family a local family of wealth which includes
Andy and G.Staley Cates will be backing
Randy Cagle. I do know that a local black businessman had also lobbied the Cates but has decided not to run,due to the large number of persons getting in the race. The Cates in the past have been supporter of Herenton.
Another new name to politics which could take the support of Fred Smith from Herenton is
James A. Perkins, a retired Senior Vice president of FEDEX, Perkins who is black is stated to be placing
$1,000,000 of his own money into his campaign. But are we to believe that a man who was close to Fred Smith for many years is getting into this race without the backing of Smith? Black attorney
Jerome Payne says that he has a plan to race
$100,000 and in speaking with him has some good ideas.
It's also reported that
Herman Morris who has strong Republican support will have a
$1,000,000 or more in his war chest. But a question that has been asked is why are republicans supporting Morris whose a democrat and not giving their support to long time republican
John Willingham? There are those who think that white power brokers are buying Morris with their support of him. long time republican leader
John Ryder is one of his campaign managers,Why?
Many of the no names entering the race don't have a snow balls chance of winning and most of them have no money,so giving them a vote no matter how great there ideas sound is a wasted vote.
Carol Chumney was once looked upon by some as the
"Great White Hope" but after her selfish positioning on the symbolic vote to remove
Joseph Lee as head of
MLGW she has lost favor in many corners. Carol is being looked at by many as one who is a political grand stander who has no real balls, so white power brokers who want Herenton gone had to find someone that they think is winnable and will align themselves with them.
This year's mayor's race could be the most expensive race in local politics ever,But what the power brokers don't realize is, that if the black community feels as though Herman Morris, is bought and paid for by white republicans, and that James Perkins is Fred Smith's puppet the black community no matter how they feel about him will turn out in large numbers and vote for
Willie Herenton for mayor.