Controversy in Hoschton after mayor and councilman make ill-advised statements about race (Atlanta: home, live in)

[Born 2 Roll]

The city of Hoschton, a fast-growing town on the northeastern far outer-suburban/exurban edge of greater metro Atlanta, has been attracting national and international attention for all the wrong reasons this week.

First, Hoschton Mayor Theresa Kenerly sparked controversy after saying that the town was not ready for a black administrator in response to a black candidate who was under strong consideration for the job.

Then in the immediate aftermath of the reports of Kenerly's ill-advised comments, Hoschton City Councilman Jim Cleveland magnified the ongoing controversy by telling Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Chris Joyner that he does not believe in interracial marriage because of his religious beliefs.

The next day, Cleveland further inflamed the already damaging controversy by telling Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Bill Torpy that being against interracial marriage is still his religious belief and that the races should be kept pure.

"Georgia mayor under fire for alleged remarks about black job candidate" (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

"Torpy at Large: Hoschton, GA, where racial purity and growth collide" (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

"Georgia Councilman Says People's Races Should Be Kept 'Pure'" (Georgia Public Broadcasting)

As a result of their ill-advised comments and the negative attention those comments have attracted to Hoschton, both Hoschton Mayor Theresa Kenerly and Hoschton City Councilman Jim Cleveland have been facing calls to resign from their positions.

"Georgia Politician Considers Resigning Amid Racial Strife" (Georgia Public Broadcasting)

Hoschton's incorporated area is located in Jackson County, and Hoschton's 30548 mailing area, like more well-known neighboring Braselton and its 30517 zip code (which is home to the famous Northeast metro Atlanta resort community Chateau Elan), stretches through parts of Jackson, Barrow, Gwinnett and Hall counties on the very northeastern edge of the greater Atlanta metropolitan area.

[Born 2 Roll]

More on the major racial controversy in Hoschton from 11 Alive and CBS 46...

"Mayor reportedly denies black candidate leading role in city because the town isn't ready for it… The small town in north Georgia has found itself in the middle of a big controversy that has spread outside its boundaries and across the nation." (11 Alive, WXIA-TV Atlanta)

"Small town holds unity rally amid racial tension" (CBS 46 Atlanta)

[2Easy]

"Ill advised comments" gives the impression that what's wrong is what was said rather than the underlying racism that caused the comments to be spoken. Granted the comments were ill advised but it's the blatant racism that is now known to exist that's the real issue. So blatant that they felt comfortable saying such things.

[Soccernerd]

How many people actual live in the incorporated municipality of Hoschton versus just having a Hoschton mailing address?

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by 2Easy

"Ill advised comments" gives the impression that what's wrong is what was said rather than the underlying racism that caused the comments to be spoken. Granted the comments were ill advised but it's the blatant racism that is now known to exist that's the real issue. So blatant that they felt comfortable saying such things.

The comments are labeled "ill-advised" just simply for lack of a better term or way to describe them.

But your comments raise an important point: That what was said by Hoschton Mayor Teresa Kenerly and Hoschton City Councilman Jim Cleveland was wrong because of the underlying racism that motivated them to feel so comfortable making those comments.

… That particularly goes in the case of Jim Cleveland, who freely and openly made negative statements about interracial marriage to not just one Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter, but TWO Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporters.

It just seems to be astonishing that Cleveland seemingly did not think that there would be any consequences for telling reporters for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (the major daily newspaper in the Southeast) that he thinks that interracial marriage is wrong in 2019.

I can see a figure like Kenerly (mistakenly) thinking that other white people think exactly like her and feeling comfortable enough to make those comments in what she thought would be a private conversation (to another white person that does not share her views on race).

But I do wonder about the case of Jim Cleveland making those statements about interracial marriage to two different reporters at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on two consecutive days.

I just wonder about a city councilperson like Cleveland putting those statements on the record to reporters at a major daily big-city newspaper in the Southeastern U.S. and seemingly not being aware that making such statements would spark such a huge backlash and bring very negative attention to the city that he represents.

It just really makes one wonder what goes through some people's minds

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by Soccernerd

How many people actual live in the incorporated municipality of Hoschton versus just having a Hoschton mailing address?

That is a really good question.

According to U.S. Census estimates, about 1,662 residents lived within the 2.9 square miles of the boundaries of the incorporated area of Hoschton proper.

By comparison, the entire area with a Hoschton mailing address (the 30548 zip code) is estimated to be home to less than 16,000 residents and covers about just under 39 square miles.

[citidata18]

Originally Posted by 2Easy

"Ill advised comments" gives the impression that what's wrong is what was said rather than the underlying racism that caused the comments to be spoken. Granted the comments were ill advised but it's the blatant racism that is now known to exist that's the real issue. So blatant that they felt comfortable saying such things.

Well said.

To claim it's "ill-advised" is an extremely poor framing of the situation, at the very least.

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by 2Easy

"Ill advised comments" gives the impression that what's wrong is what was said rather than the underlying racism that caused the comments to be spoken. Granted the comments were ill advised but it's the blatant racism that is now known to exist that's the real issue. So blatant that they felt comfortable saying such things.

Originally Posted by citidata18

Well said.

To claim it's "ill-advised" is an extremely poor framing of the situation, at the very least.

The words "ill-advised" are not a "claim" but are a gift of generosity to a couple of political figures in Kenerly and Cleveland that more than likely do not deserve that generosity at this point in time.

The title of this thread probably should read "Controversy in Hoschton after mayor and councilman make RACIST statements," but admittingly, I was probably being too generous in my description of the situation.

[green_mariner]

I live in Georgia and I'm not shocked to hear some crap like this. This is not the first time controversy like this has come up.

https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt-...jij3peheLma1H/

"Douglas County Chairman Loses Seat After Racially Charged Comments".

[arjay57]

We rode out to Jackson a while back and couldn't figure out where Hoschton ended and Braselton started.