Herenton talks of his legacy in terms of breaking racial barriers.
The city was founded in the 1800s but it took until 1991 for a black man to take the city's reigns.
"The city was founded in 1826, but of all the mayors, none of them look like me," Herenton said, pointing to the white portraits of former mayors hanging on the walls around him.
"When you look around this wall, nobody looks like me, so suddenly in 1991, African Americans and about 3,000 or maybe more whites who believed in me, said we can change the course of history in Memphis. And we broke that historical barrier," Herenton said to big applause.
Herenton said racial division still exists in Memphis.
"It's here, it's real," Herenton said. "Racial polarization is deep in Memphis, deep."
Herenton said by calling out the racial divide, he's keeping it real - a nod to his campaign slogan for his upcoming congressional bid.
"Keep it real," Herenton said. "Some people call that ghetto. I said you may not understand, but the people I communicate with, they know what that means. Keep it real."
The audience applauded.
"Can I get that again?" Herenton said to the crowd. "Keep it real. We're going to talk about that in a few months from now."
Keep It Real?
Wasn't that something that was said 10 years ago, or more as a 'youth' saying?
Mayor Herenton trying to sound hep is about as real as when President Bush (the first one) was amazed at the price scanners at a grocery store.
Keep it real? To paraphrase Chris Rock, the Mayor has always kept it real: real dumb.
At least Mayor Herenton didn't change his mind again. I give him credit for that.
Now! Get out so we can start rebuilding the city you tore to shreds!