The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reached out to former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young for his take on the arrest of T.I. and his new wife Tiny. Young says that T.I.’s arrest in Los Angeles for drug possession has bewildered him.   He said that T.I. wanted to do the right thing and hinted he may have been stopped because of racial profiling.  Andrew Young has counseled the performer on his “road to redemption” after the rapper pleaded guilty to federal drug charges. Andrew Young also officiated T.I’s South Beach wedding in July. Find out more of what Andrew Young says about Clifford T.I. Harris on the other side.

“He not only has a successful marriage going for him and some wonderful children but his new movie is a big hit.”

“There’s another culture in L.A. that I don’t understand,” Young said. “Most people in Los Angeles would wonder why he was stopped …  I don’t know why they should have been stopped ... When a black man is stopped and not speeding … you call that driving while black.”

“I didn’t particularly like him doing the movie.  Part of my hope was he would have a cultural shift as well as a personal shift."

"T.I. was trying to have a more family-centric life."

“He was always very concerned about his children and tried to be a good father.  I never suggested it [getting married] to him. But it’s easier and better to raise children if there is a commitment. I was thrilled when he asked me to perform his wedding.”

“I developed a great deal of respect for his intelligence and his sensitivity for his children and his family.  He wanted to do right but he had grown up in an environment where it was hard to define right according to American middle class values. We never talked about drugs. We talked about violence and we talked about guns. We talked about family and we talked about community.”