The Atlanta Voice E-Edition 050324

Many Colors of Atlanta

The city of Atlanta and the metro area are full of beautiful murals. The Atlanta Voice featured three local muralists and along with their art, other murals from across the metro area, like “New Kids on the Block” by Muhammad Yungai (above), which is located Downtown. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

JPMorgan’s Dimon warns inflation, political polarization and wars are creating risks not seen since WWII

The many murals of Atlanta

BY LAURA NWOGU, ISAIAH SINGLETON AND NOAH WASHINGTON

Atlanta, like many major metropolitan cities around the world, has thousands of murals painting its landscape. Artists from all over the state and all around the country have contributed to the beauty of this city from Downtown to Midtown to the southside and the westside. The Atlanta Voice interviewed a trio of artists about their pieces for this story. The entire point of this tri-bylined special story is to further highlight the Black artists behind some of the most familiar and maybe not-so familiar murals in and around Atlanta. Long live the artists that help make this city so beautiful.

Donnell

Suggs

Editor in Chief

The Atlanta Voice

Muhammad Yungai’s “New Kids on the Block” is all Atlanta

BY ISAIAH SINGLETON

The year is 2019 right before the Super Bowl in Atlanta, Atlanta-based muralist and artist Muhammad Yungai was given the opportunity by Arts organization, Wonder Root, to create four murals called “Community Roots” in the Atlanta community.

One of the murals in particular, “New Kids on the Block”, highlighted gentrification, an issue within the Black community.

“New Kids on the Block”, a reference to Norman Rockwell’s New Kids in the Neighborhood painting from 1967, depicts a black family moving into a suburban neighborhood.

For context, Yungai said Wonder Root was asked by the Super Bowl host committee to create murals around the Atlanta community. They decided it would be centered around Atlanta's civil rights legacy, according to Yungai.

He also said they didn’t want to create murals without input from the community, so community meetings were put into place to have people involved in the process.

“The program had 10 different artists and each artist was supposed to do three-four murals and one of the themes in all of these community meetings was gentrification, and that was one of the biggest concerns in the Black community,” he said.

Yungai said once he began his research on gentrification, he wanted to figure out a way to create a piece that not only challenged viewers, but to also give them a way to enjoy the work after they’ve been challenged.

“At that time, Black people just wanted the opportunity that America promised all

its citizens. Deciding where you wanted to live was mainly not an option Black people had, it was completely out of their control,” Yungai said. “I think black families were met with a lot of anger, vitriol, and violence, so as a result, a lot of that whole integration changed.”

Yungai said now it’s a reverse effect where there’s a lot of white families moving into predominantly Black neighborhoods.

“I think the response from the Black community has largely been about how our communities are not supported by police and our local governments as they should,” he said.

Yungai also mentioned Vine City as an example, which is why in the mural, there is a “Vine City Movers” moving truck.

“I thought about the neighborhood because it’s close to where my kids grew up and in the late 90s and early 2000s, there were a bunch of crimes and drugs in that area,”

he said. “I can’t watch the news every day, it drags me down, so when you look at my work, there’s always a glimmer of hope in it.”

Additionally, Yungai said he approached the mural from the standpoint of the children.

“I want to be in a world where adults are making decisions that are in the best interest of children. To me, that’s a world where adults function better,” he said. “The mural was painted by three artists including myself, Thomas Turner, and Sean from The Loss Prevention,” he said.

This was Yungai’s first exterior mural, he said. He painted the kids, and the other artists painted the world around it.

“Art can be a powerful tool in America to voice our concerns and gentrification is one of the issues I wanted to highlight in this process, but I don’t know how much is actually able to change things,” he said. “This is one

of those pieces of art that causes conversation and keeps it going and that’s what I really wanted to do was to keep up the debate.”

Furthermore, due to its growing cultural presence, Yungai said Atlanta must decide what it wants to become culturally.

“We have to decide the Atlanta that we want to become as Atlanta anticipates more technology and businesses,” he said. “Atlanta is going to continue to be like a world player in business and one of the top cities in America. It must be decided quickly because it's growing at an alarming rate and I think art helps with that.”

The mural is located at the intersection of Luckie and Forsyth streets in downtown Atlanta. For more information about Yungai’s work, visit http://www.artofyungai.com/.

See MURALS on page 8

“New Kids on the Block” by artist Muhammad Yungai (not pictured) is located downtown. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

Election Central

Economic Opportunity Tour brings VP Harris to College Park

BY DONNELL SUGGS

COLLEGE PARK, Ga.- United States Vice President Kamala Harris returned to the metro Atlanta area on Monday to kick off the Biden-Harris Administration's Economic Opportunity Tour. The tour is scheduled to move on to Detroit, Michigan, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin next, according to Harris.

The first stop took place inside the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park. Harris used her time in College Park to highlight the Biden-Harris Administration’s investments in small business, and more specifically, in Black-owned businesses. Dressed in pink, Harris took the stage to rousing applause and said she chose Atlanta to be the kickoff because of a number of reasons, one of which was former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, who was in attendance and received his own standing ovation. She said Young was a civic leader that spoke to people’s ambitions.

Harris mentioned the G.I. Bill was an idea that rewarded citizens for fighting for this country that led to home ownership, one of the most common ways to earn wealth in this country.

“Home ownership is the most effective way to build wealth. Black veterans did not receive equal measures of those loans,” Harris said. “Look at the disparity of that. Look at the disparity of redlining.”

She also mentioned bias in home appraisals and home loans. “These are some of the areas that we are focussed on through economic policies,” Harris added.

Medical debt, student loan debt are also targets of the economic opportunity efforts the Biden-Harris Administration are tackling, according to Harris, who said medical debt can no longer be a part of your credit score.

“These are some examples of what we are doing,” Harris said. “We are in the process of putting a lot of money in the streets of America. We want to make sure people know about it.”

Earn Your Leisure CEO’s Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings hosted the panel on how the administration is building the economy from inside out. The pair have a popular podcast that explores topics like the future of social media, for example. They often interview industry leaders, such as Aisha Bowe, a NASA rocket scientist.

The afternoon’s event kicked off with a panel on creating wealth and economic opportunity hosted by Nevada Congressman and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Steven Horsford (D-NV, 4th District).

Horsford described the tour as the “kickoff to really having a conversation with Americans on how we can talk about building economic wealth. A lot of people ask why we need to have these programs, Horsford asked no one in particular. A moment later he answered his own question by saying the programs are created to close the wealth gap in this country.

Georgia Congresswoman Nikema Williams (D-Ga, 5th District) warmed up the crowd before Harris took the stage. Williams made sure to mention that Atlanta was voted as the number one city in the country to do business for a consecutive year.

“We are truly a model for the world,” Williams said.

Senator Raphael Warnock (D-Ga) also spoke about Monday being “a day of celebration” because the beginning of reconnecting neighborhoods in the heart of Atlanta will begin. “This is about making it right,” he added. Warnock credited the Biden-Harris Administration for the funding necessary to make The Stitch, a residential project scheduled to take place in downtown Atlanta, possible through its infrastructure bill. “I am going to keep working with the president and vice president,” Warnock said.

To call Georgia a battleground state might be a bit of an understatement. Biden was awarded 16 electoral votes after winning Georgia during the 2020 presidential election. The results, Biden and former U.S. President Donald J. Trump were separated by just .23 tenths of a percentage point, which was crucial to what would become an electoral victory for Biden and Harris.

On Monday, Harris was making her 12th visit to Atlanta since breaking the barrier as the country’s first Black Vice President of the United States. With presidential election campaigning becoming more and more important as we draw closer to Election Day in November, there’s no doubt she and United States President Joseph R. Biden, who is set to give the commencement speech at Morehouse College later this month, will be returning in the near future.

United States Vice President Kamala Harris (above) kicked off the Economic Opportunity Tour in College Park (Ga.) on Monday afternoon at the Georgia International Convention Center. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

Before Vice President Kamala Harris took the stage Monday afternoon, a panel led by Congressman Steven Horsford (seated, far left), Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, took place. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Mostly they all were products of single parents, and in the most tragic category - black boys, with no

particular criminal inclinations but whose very lack of direction put them in the crosshairs of the world.”— Ta’Nehisi Coates

Wake Up, Black Voters. Don’t Let Trump’s Lies Fool You

BY DONALD M. SUGGS

The fact that exit polls showed that Donald Trump received 9% of the Black vote in 2016, the highest number since George Bush in 2000, and then won 12% in the presidential race in 2020 should be a cause for concern.

Moreover, some recent polls surprisingly showed that if the presidential election was held today, 17% of Black voters say they would vote for Trump, and even more troubling, 20% say they would vote for someone other than either Trump or President Biden.

Black voters have been the largest and most loyal voting bloc for Democrats for years, but there has been a shift in the number of Black voters who consider themselves Democrats.

That trend could be explained partially by a number of younger Black voters with no direct experience with the civil rights movement. They have scant knowledge and no direct personal memory. They feel disappointed with Democrats and the Biden administration and seem willing to consider Trump despite his blatant and toxic racial baggage.

This disconnection with the Democratic party is felt most strongly with some young Black males, many in critical battleground states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina where Democrats need every vote. Most of these states have large concentrations of Black voters in their urban areas.This is a special issue in potentially close races like this one because the Electoral College gives Republicans a massive advantage in federal elections. This system allows them to govern with a minority of the popular vote.

However there is also data that shows that the Democratic candidate for president over the last five presidential elections since 2000 has averaged 90% of the Black vote with an average of only 8% for the GOP candidate. In addition, the overwhelming concern of most Black voters continues to be race and racism with a particular aversion to the reprehensible and duplicitous Trump who has shown repeatedly that he is an instigator of racial hate. Any relationship he has with Black voters has been deceptive and disingenuous.

Fortunately, the overwhelming majority of Black voters can not be bamboozled or deceived because we know the record of his stance on healthcare with his recent attacks on Obamacare, opposition to greater diversity in the workplace and efforts to restrict our voting rights as well as his racist, conspiracist “birther campaign” that sought to undermine the then-president, Barack Obama.

Still we can’t simply ignore the reports that Trump is possibly making inroads with Black

ATLANTA

voters while Biden is losing support from us. Granted polls have been shown not to be reliable predictors of what Black voters will do.

Actually, our biggest worry should probably be third-party voting (third party presidential candidates have no chance of winning. This is a binary election and only a Democrat or Republican can win) and potential voter apathy, despite the high stakes in this contest to determine whether Donald Trump is elected again.

Clay Cane, a Sirius XM radio host rightly said that the 2024 presidential election is not just a choice between the lesser of two evils, but this is an election to see if we can stop Trump and his pernicious plans to institute a future dicta-

torship to carry out his vile policies. A Trump victory would be a grave threat to the well-being of Black Americans for certain.

In any case, the Democratic party must recognize the seriousness of the disenchantment of many Black voters who don’t feel motivated to make it to the polls and campaign more directly and intentionally in our community.

Furthermore we ourselves must make an unprecedented and determined push to get to the polls in greater numbers to help stop this monstrous man and his MAGA minions from regaining control of the White House.

Donald M Suggs is the publisher and owner of The St.

American.

FOUNDED May 11, 1966 FOUNDER/EDITOR

Ed Clayton Immortalis Memoria

PUBLISHER/EDITOR

J. Lowell Ware

Immortalis Memoria

The Atlanta Voice honors the life of J. Lowell Ware.

PUBLISHER

Janis Ware

jlware@theatlantavoice.com

PRESIDENT/

GENERAL MANAGER

James A. Washington 2018-2024

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO PUBLISHER

Chia Suggs csuggs@theatlantavoice.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF Donnell Suggs editor@theatlantavoice.com

GENERAL ASSIGNMENT REPORTERS

Isaiah Singleton isingleton@theatlantavoice.com

Laura Nwogu lnwogu@theatlantavoice.com

EDITOR AT LARGE

Stan Washington swashington@theatlantavoice.com

MANAGING EDITOR, DIGITAL Itoro Umontuen iumontuen@theatlantavoice.com

ADVERTISING, SALES & CIRCULATION

ADVERTISING ADMINISTRATOR

Chia Suggs

advertising@theatlantavoice.com

CIRCULATION MANAGER

Terry Milliner

SALES

R.D.W. Jackson rdwadman@gmail.com

Dequarius Jones djones@theatlantavoice.com

SUBMISSIONS

editor@theatlantavoice.com

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

Martel Sharpe msharpe@theatlantavoice.com

CONTACT INFORMATION

633 Pryor Street, S.W. Atlanta, GA 30312 Office: 404-524-6426

info@theatlantavoice.com

Louis

Some recent polls surprisingly showed that if the presidential election was held today, 17% of Black voters say they would vote for Trump. Photo credit iStock.com/Robin Gentry

SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING

Deception Made Easy

BY JAMES A. WASHINGTON

The Atlanta Voice

They say that the single biggest trick of the devil is to get you to believe that he doesn’t exist. Out of sight…out of mind…doesn’t exist…PARTY!!! The reality of this should be more and more obvious as we try to navigate the nuances of life’s little ups and downs. The daily challenge of accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is tough enough without the temptations of sin and the challenges of virtue.

I mean, Eating is good, but according to the bible I read, gluttony is a sin. We talk about everything in moderation, nothing in excess. Marital sex is blessed. All else is considered adultery. Gossip is a perversion of healthy conversation that will eventually destroy the gossiper as well as the gospel. We live in a world of contradictions or do we?

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned”

If you choose to intellectualize God’s Word, then you can rationalize anything, any act or deed. I guarantee you the last thing you factor in your decision-making is whether or not Satan had a hand in it. That fact only surfaces as you are forced to suffer the consequences of your actions when you have to answer the question, ‘Why did I do that?’ The consideration of God, however, usually gets sidestepped as one conveniently rationalizes the conditions of what is right versus what is wrong for that particular moment in time. The call of the world is truly as powerful or more powerful than any drug, thanks to that trick again of the devil.

Now, upon serious investigation into the raw Word of God, life reveals its mysteries, much like the demonstration of how a magician, a slight hand artist, or an illusionist gets you to believe that the Statue of Liberty really did disappear or the assistant really was just sawed in half. Once revealed, we all know it was just a trick or magnificent optical illusion at best. There is no mystery about the Word. There is no intellectualizing of the truth. I guarantee you the last thing you factor into your decision-making is whether Satan had a hand in it or not. “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word

“YOUR VOICE”

and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.” John 5:24-25.

When all is said and done, wouldn’t you rather deal with the substance of life rather than only its style? Boy, that Satan is pretty good, but I’d rather see the Master at work. Pay attention. It still is your life, after all.

May God bless and keep you always.

This column is from “Spiritually Speaking: Reflections for and from a New Christian” by James Washington. You can purchase this enlightening book on Amazon and start your journey towards spiritual enlightenment.

As a student of the Atlanta University Center, what are your thoughts and feelings on President Joe Biden giving the commencement speech at Morehouse College?

KENNETH HUNTER

Clark Atlanta

“My thoughts on Joe Biden going to Morehouse to do the commencement speech are that we’re divided as far as the AUC. So, we don’t care what they have going on... But it’s good for an HBCU to see the president coming over. So I would never downplay what’s happening. But as far as my thoughts are concerned, it doesn’t do anything for us here at Clark. So, I think that’s pretty much what it is. I think Joe Biden is coming over here because of votes. I don’t know if he wants to be back in the office, but I feel like many things that he was promising college students and the HBCUs back in the day did not go through, but he still needs us. You know, black people are powerful when we realize it.”

Morehouse

“Being a part of the Muslim community, I’m heavily offended, heavily involved in the protest involving what’s going on in Gaza. But we could have found somebody better who speaks to our culture and can give us some good advice for graduating seniors and going into the field. I do feel like it’s a political stunt. Truthfully, he’s just coming here to look good and everything. And then especially combating whatever happened with Trump over there at the Chick-fil-A. But I do feel like we could have picked somebody who speaks to us and invests in our institutions, and there are many other political things behind it. But that’s my thoughts overall.”

Clark Atlanta

“I honestly feel like they could have brought somebody in that better relates to us and understands our community instead of somebody who I feel is just coming for our folks, especially after all the Trump election stuff at Chick-fil-A and all this stuff going on. I feel like, especially at Morehouse, it’s an all-male school where black males attend; they could have had a more historical figure who is somebody we can look up to. I’m not really into the protests, but I feel it is something that people should speak out about when they can. However, all the aggressive stuff with the police officers and how they treated the students was very unprofessional and could have been handled better. I feel like, especially with the black community speaking out for these situations, it was a huge thing that could have been handled differently.”

JACELES BINASSE

Morehouse

“Regarding Biden being our commencement speaker, I think that was a lackluster choice. And I feel that Amanda Gorman, the inaugural poet, would have been a better choice. But if he pays the class tuition, I think it is a great choice. In terms of the Israeli/Hamas war, I can’t talk too much about that. I haven’t done enough research. But I do think that war isn’t great. And I think there should be a cease-fire; I don’t like disagree with him not stopping the war, but I haven’t done too much research, so I don’t know that much.”

HAKEEM PRATT II

SKYE MARKS-MILLER

Compiled by Vincent Christie with students from the AUC

Business

ONLINE

Mary J. Blige found her strength and now wants to help other women find their own

“We talk often about Sweet Auburn, but how much sweeter Auburn could have been had it not been a part of these kinds of disruptive projects that happened in the name of urban renewal?," said Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock (D-Ga).

Warnock on The Stitch: ‘This is a transformative project’

BY DONNELL SUGGS

These days hundreds of cranes and construction equipment dot the landscape of metro Atlanta.

In downtown Atlanta there is a project that will quite literally stitch together what were once Senator Raphael Warnock (D-Ga) believes The Stitch is more than just another real estate development taking place in downtown Atlanta. Much more in fact.

“I am very excited about The Stitch. This is about correcting a historic wrong, but also literally paving the way of economic prosperity well into the future for these communities,” he said.

The Stitch will attempt to erase history in a way, reconnecting downtown and Midtown Atlanta in a way that hasn’t happened since before the national highway expansions of the 1950’s and 1960’s. A lot of those neighborhoods that I-75, I-85, and I-20 destroyed were thriving Black communities. The list is long and includes the Sweet Auburn District and Summerhill, two neighborhoods that no longer demographically lean Black, but have seen urban renewal in the past few years.

“This is a project that centers historically marginalized communities,” Warnock said of The Stitch project. “It literally is happening in the neighborhoods that were divided.

This will create jobs in those communities and beyond. This kind of infrastructure is central to building economic prosperity.”

Vice President Harris said that The Stitch will create thousands of jobs during her time on stage Monday.

Warnock and Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga) spearheaded a nearly $160 million

federal grant for the project. Some $50 million of that grant will go towards work on the Atlanta Beltline to Flint River Trail project as well. As a Baptist preacher he is all about connecting people, Warnock said.

“This is about correcting the ways people were historically pushed out,” he said. “This is about bringing those communities back

together.”

Warnock pointed out that provisions were written into legislation that will prevent the kind of blackballing and exclusivity that often kept Black businesses from helping create projects in Atlanta and elsewhere like The Stitch. “We want to make sure that everyone gets to participate in this,” he said.

“I’m proud of the fact that I secured $158 million to get us closer to getting this done. This is a transformative project..

Warnock added that infrastructure is about more than just building brick-andmortar projects that beautify a cityscape.

“It’s about the spirit of a city, the spirit of the people,” Warnock said. The physical infrastructure is connected to economic vitality and prosperity. I’m very excited that we are leading this project.”

The project will create thousands of jobs, acres of greenspace and a more inclusive downtown upon completion, according to Warnock, who remains the pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Auburn Avenue.

“This is a win-win,” he said. “We talk often about Sweet Auburn, but how much sweeter Auburn could have been had it not been a part of these kinds of disruptive projects that happened in the name of urban renewal? This is literally a transformation of those communities and all of us win as a result.”

Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

Senator Raphael Warnock (D-Ga) (above) believes The Stitch is more than just another real estate development taking place in downtown Atlanta. Much more in fact. “This is a transformative project,” he said. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

Ribbon is cut on 619 Ponce office project

BY NOAH WASHINGTON

It takes 16 minutes for a southern yellow pine sawtimber to grow. This is a fact that Jamestown Principal, President and Chairman Michael Phillips said during the ribbon cutting on Atlanta’s newest development, 619 Ponce, earlier this week.

619 Ponce is located in the heart of Old Fourth Ward on Ponce De Leon Avenue. A mass timber loft office, 619 has been in the works for 5 years, according to Phillips and is the first mass timber project to use locally sourced timber wood.

The four-story building has a rooftop with floral bedding and a white space where a conjoined mural will go. The ground floor of the building is occupied by Pottery Barn and the other space will be taken up by Sage, a Lawrenceville-based software company, which is expected to move in early 2025.

“It's not a big building, but it's a big footprint,” Phillips said of 619.

The ribbon cutting began with an opening by Phillips who explained the initial logistical and economic advice he was given to build 619 Ponce with imported timber from Eastern Germany or Eastern Europe due to cost-effectiveness. However, he and the firm decided to focus on a solution that was better for the

carbon footprint, sourcing timber from local forests in Georgia and Alabama, processing it locally, and transporting it within less than a 100 miles to the construction site.

Andres Villegas, president and CEO of the Georgia Forestry Association and Georgia Forestry Foundation, was in attendance and gave his remarks on the newest development to the Ponce City market area. Villegas expressed his pride in the new building, highlighting its role as a beacon of sustainability within the state.

"This is probably the most sustainable building in the state of Georgia," Villegas stated, emphasizing its construction from locally grown resources. “This is really the opportunity for those 140,000 people in our state that depend on forestry for their job, to see that coming into that urban environment in a new way we've never been able to do before.”

Villegas further pointed out that while other buildings in the state have used wood sourced from outside Georgia or even internationally, the use of Georgia-grown wood makes this project uniquely valuable. "This is the first one that's Georgia Grown and that's ultimately what makes it so special," Villegas told.

Mandy Mahoney, the director of building technologies for the US Department of

Energy, was also in attendance to give her remarks. Formerly the city of Atlanta’s first sustainability director, Mahoney was also the first to conduct the city's first climate action plan brought her own perspective to the local achievement, “You are actually halfway towards your goal of greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the US,” Mahoney stated, “I can't imagine the blood sweat and tears that went that you went through to build the first building of this time in the southeast”.

Alexandra Kirk, Vice President of Real Estate Development at Jamestown, who provided an insightful glimpse into the creation and unique aspects of Georgia’s latest mass timber building.

Kirk, who has been involved in the project from its conceptual phase during its first year into development, highlighted several key features designed to enhance both the aesthetic and functionality of the building. One of which being the development of a "microclimate" aimed at improving air quality and reducing operational costs. “We are really testing but we do believe that if you create an area where the air intake is actually getting preconditioned through kind of an intensive green space, you’ll have a reduction in your operating costs, and cleaner air in the interior, because you’re not having to filter as

much,” Kirk explained.

The building not only utilizes innovative environmental technologies but also focuses on community integration. Kirk is particularly proud of the ground-floor retail space, a feature not commonly found in mass timber buildings, which allows the public to engage directly with the space.

When asked about the significance of the building for Georgians, Kirk was optimistic. She believes that the accessibility and visibility of mass timber in such a prominent location will encourage more developers to consider sustainable materials like Southern Yellow Pine in their projects. “I do believe that more people will build mass timber projects,” she stated, indicating a positive trend towards sustainability influenced by changing building codes and greater recognition of the environmental benefits of mass timber, “It's amazing to see everyone live through what we believed would happen—that people would love it, that people would want to be here,” Kirk told.

619 is a part of a new phase for Ponce City Market which includes Scout Hospitality offering bedroom units and Signal House a residential building.

The power to make a difference is in your hands!

Make a difference and let your voice be heard!

The primary election is just around the corner on May 21, and early voting has already begun as of April 29. Be sure to mark your calendars with these important dates and deadlines related to the primary. Don't miss out on this chance to exercise your right to vote and make a positive impact.

MURALS

Continued from page 2

Takeoff and fly

BY LAURA NWOGU

When Takeoff, one-third of the hip-hop trio Migos, died on Nov. 1, 2022, after being shot in Houston, the world mourned his death. But in Atlanta, that grief was more acute. Before the world knew Migos, Gwinnett County did. The “Nawfside” did. Atlanta did. From their iconic cadence and adlibs to their fashion style and imprints on pop culture, the sound of the trio and the image of family succeeding past their origins while sticking true to where they came from was vital to the city.

That was made apparent when, just hours after his death was announced in the media, a mural of Takeoff by artist Armondo Monoletti appeared along the Atlanta BeltLine.

“It was no questions asked. I immediately knew that I had to get down here and put something up in honor of him for the city,” said Monoletti, also known as Ape.

Monoletti, an artist for over 20 years, said the news of the unexpected tragedy shocked him. When the Kansas City native moved to Atlanta in 2019, he hadn’t truly dived into the discography of the Migos. But in the city near where the trio grew up, their sound was constant, and his appreciation for their music increased, especially with Takeoff’s only solo project, “The Last Rocket.”

In the dark cover of the early morning, Monoletti packed up his car with the only paints he had at the time, drove to the bridge and began creating his tribute to the late rapper, covering up the previous tribute mural he’d done of rapper DMX. What unfolded was a colorful portrait of a smiling Takeoff made of blues, whites and browns with a halo surrounding his head.

“We want to celebrate our Black people with a smile on their face, not mean mugs.”

An early version of the portrait shows “R.I.P Takeoff” and the Atlanta Braves logo painted on either side of the picture. If you look closely, Monoletti’s dedication to honoring Takeoff can be seen in the fact that the bottom right side was unfinished because he ran out of paint that night. Now, the mural is backed by two blackand-white images of Takeoff and a rocket during liftoff that aims to capture the essence of the rapper.

On the day of Takeoff’s memorial service, Monoletti watched as people visited the mural to pay tribute. He shared that a few of Takeoff’s family members reached out to him via Instagram to thank him for the mural and that Takeoff’s mother even visited the mural.

“The feedback that I got when people saw it in person was a beautiful thing. And that's what I wanted. I just wanted people to see him smiling and everything to feel okay and that he's in a better place.

“I didn't get commissioned to do this. I didn't do this for everybody else's sake. I

did it because I love to paint, and I wanted to do something for the city to honor him.”

Millions of people visit the Atlanta BeltLine every year, and now the rapper known for his ability to perfectly lay down a verse in one take, is forever stamped in the heart of Downtown. Monoletti said he hopes the mural helps ensure Takeoff's legacy is never forgotten.

“It's honestly a true blessing that people respect it so much, and him so much, that this hasn't even been touched. It's been a true honor for people to have something they can take pictures with and honor him and feel good seeing it.”

Red Bull, Full Bloom BY NOAH WASHINGTON

If Red Bull gives you wings, then Chanell Angeli flew to the moon with her latest work, a mural located on Edgewood. In anticipation of The Red Bull Dance Your Style National Finals coming to Atlanta on May 18th, Red Bull has teamed up with artist Chanell Angeli for the newest mural to grace downtown Atlanta.

The mural, titled, "Red Bull Bloom" was unveiled on Thursday, April 18th, adorns the side of Edgewood at the second newest location for Bookstore Gallery on 488 Edgewood Ave. The mural depicts two Black girls dancing in between flowers and meadow.

Angeli's journey as an artist began with her roots in Miami, Florida, which she moved away from with her mother, Brenda Thompson in 2006 to her current home in Atlanta, Georgia after a series of hurricanes had ravaged the state. Raised in a neighborhood rich with artistic opportunities, Angeli was introduced to the world of dance and visual arts at a young age. Her

Red Bull teamed up with artist Chanell Angeli (above) for the newest mural to grace downtown Atlanta. Titled, “Red Bull Bloom” was unveiled on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

Takeoff mural was created by artist Armondo Monoletti and is located on the Atlanta Beltline. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

passion for creativity led her to pursue various artistic endeavors, such as publishing two poetry books and exploring mixed media art.

The genesis of Angeli's collaboration with Red Bull traces back to the George Floyd riots in 2020. Struggling with writer's block and grappling with feelings of hopelessness, Angeli found solace and inspiration through her friend's suggestion to translate her poetry into visual art. Thus began her journey into the world of mixed media, while she was working as a flight attendant at Delta. Upon taking part in an art show which left her making more than she would in a year working for Delta, Angeli left her consistent paying job to explore her newfound vocation.

Brenda Thompson, Angeli’s mother, who was at the unveiling of the mural expressed immense pride in her daughter’s accomplishments. “Seeing this mural displayed for all of Atlanta to see, I’m very proud,” Thompson said. “It is a beautiful thing to be able to express your creativity like this for the community, not just having it for yourself or for your family. And to think she achieved this after leaving a steady job at Delta during the pandemic—it shows her dedication to her art,”

Thompson continued.

Leo Ra Soul, an Olympic qualified dancer from Augusta, Georgia, who has been deeply influenced by the rich hip-hop culture passed down from his father, a former breakdancer and DJ. Starting his dance training at the tender age of four, Ra Soul mastered ballet, hip-hop, and breakdancing. Ra Soul is the winner of the 2022 Red Bull Dance Your Style Regional Qualifier that took place in Atlanta, "The mural brings a lot more awareness to the dance culture here in Atlanta," Ra Soul said.

The Red Bull mural project represents a culmination of Angeli's artistic evolution. Incorporating elements of mixed media and 3D design, such as the addition of floral decorations. From conceptualization to execution, the project was a collaborative effort and took a week to put up on Edgewood, with Angeli working closely with Red Bull's creative team to bring her vision to life, “it feels Unreal. Honestly, it feels like a dream. I love that I get to pass by this, and my friends will too; and that they let me tag it because sometimes with sponsored projects, they don't want the artists to tag it because it's kind of like a billboard," said Angeli in response to seeing her mural brought to life.

“God is Love” is located in Castleberry Hill and was painted by @BMIKE2C.

Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

“Atlanta” is located on the northwest side wall of the Glen Hotel in downtown Atlanta. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

Mural by @YCAMBRON, Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

Education

ONLINE

Google’s Love Letter to Atlanta

Morris Brown College unveils innovation lounge

BY ISAIAH SINGLETON

Morris Brown College held a ribbon cutting for the unveiling of an innovation lounge on April 26 honoring fellow Morris Brown Professor, Dr. Nasrolah Farokhi.

Officially titled “Dr. Nasrolah R. Farokhi Center for Teaching, Learning, & Innovation '', Morris Brown College adds history to its campus.

Farokhi has worked at Morris Brown College since 1981, starting as an Assistant Professor and currently holding the rank of Full Professor since 1986. Farokhi established the Drs. Nasrolah and Beth Farokhi Endowed Scholarship Fund in support of the student scholarship.

In 2023, Morris Brown College joined 30 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) nationwide in receiving a “Retool Your School” grant from The Home Depot for campus improvement projects.

Chosen by students, alumni, and supporters, the college secured up to $75,000 in grants for the construction of an innovation lounge to serve as a space for students to connect and learn.

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Morris Brown debuted its innovation lounge as a campus destination where students can brainstorm career paths, work together on academic assignments, and host hybrid meetings and webinars.

The space will serve as a hub for creativity, collaboration, and innovative thinking.

Morris Brown student leader and Junior Valencia Gardner said the innovation lounge is a “huge blessing” and means a lot to the school.

“This lounge is very important to Morris Brown,” she said. “Morris Brown has been through a lot of hardships in the last 20 years and with this space being available for students, it’s a blessing. Everything is in this one building including our classes.”

Gardner also said the lounge is a way for students to detox, relax, and separate from everything else going on in their lives.

“I might have times where I need to detox and just relax,” she said.

Tina Taylor, community engagement for Home Depot, said Retool Your School has been a program donating money and resources to HBCUs for over 15 years.

“We really get behind in the importance of supporting these institutions by providing infrastructure and creating spaces like the innovation lounge that are meaningful to students,” she said. “We wanted to create this space for them to be change makers.”

The importance and significance of the lounge, Taylor said, is students may not have

time to get to the library or other spaces to study and unwind.

Earlier this month, The Home Depot hosted an awards ceremony to celebrate the 40 HBCUs that received Retool Your School grants from the 2024 program. During the event, Morris Brown College was awarded $100,000 in grants to fund new needs-based campus improvements.

Over the past 15 years, The Home Depot's Retool Your School program has supported campus renovations that uplift HBCU students across the nation, impacting 82 campuses and accounting for more than 72% of the nation's HBCUs. This year, The Home Depot surpassed $12 million in financial support since the program began in 2009.

For more information about the Home Depot’s Retool Your School program, visit https://corporate.homedepot.com/news/ diversity-equity-inclusion/home-depot-kicks-15th-year-campus-enhancements-historically-black.

Dr. Nasrolah Farokhi and his son, Amir Farokhi, in front of the new sign unveiling Morris Brown's innovation lounge. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice

Morris Brown College President Kevin James cutting the ribbon to officially open the innovation lounge. Made possible by Home Depot’s Retool Your School program, Morris Brown unveiled an innovation lounge for students that will act as a space for creativity, collaboration, and innovative thinking. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice

Community

’I just know my stuff’: 8-year old Kendall

talks urban farming

BY LAURA NWOGU

At just eight years old, Atlanta native Kendall Rae Johnson is the youngest certified farmer in the nation. With a title she earned at six, Kendall and her parents, Ursula and Quentin Johnson, have continued cultivating a community that thrives on sharing and teaching through their urban farm aGROWKulture.

Every April, Earth Month and Earth Day remind us of the importance of using sustainable practices to protect our environment. I got to chat with Kendall about how every day is essentially Earth Day and how people can practice eco-consciousness beyond April. I also got to tour the farm, teeming with various fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, and herbs.

Laura Nwogu: What do we have here?

Kendall Rae Johnson: “Strawberries! It’s strawberry season, so there’s gonna be a lot of strawberries. But most of the time, I probably eat them by the bunch.”

LN: (Laughs) How long do strawberries usually take to grow?

KJ: “They don’t really take a while. But they do spread fast. You see this row right here? This row has runners in it. Runners come from the main strawberry. It’s like a stem that comes from the main plant, and on the other side of the stem, there’s a tiny strawberry.”

LN: Oh! That’s a nice one.

KJ: “Yes! “Mostly, the best strawberries come from some of the taller plants. Here.”

LN: Thank you. Now, what does Earth Day mean to you?

KJ: “It means helping out the Earth with all kinds of problems that it might be having and helping the environment, which is helping the Earth."

LN: I know Agrowkulture farm is all about like sharing and community. How can people do that for themselves beyond Earth Day and Earth Month when it comes to making sure the earth is clean and sustainable?

KJ: “They can start their own farm. They can plant trees, and they can recycle. And something that can encourage other kids — keep growing.”

LN: Do you have any tips for starting a farm?

KJ: “You can make a raised bed or a row. And the easiest plant to plant is a tomato because they grow pretty fast, and no matter how deep it goes, they’ll still grow roots.”

LN: You had your second annual Earth Day Parade and Learning Fair last weekend, and the theme this year was “Plas-

tic vs. Everyone.” What are ways people can make sure they’re being responsible with plastics?

KJ: They can keep it out of the ocean. They can keep it out of forests. There’s a little bit of trash right now, so I picked it up and made it into a toy for my dogs.

Quentin Johnson: So, reusing in different ways, right?

KJ: Yeah!

LN: Can I see the toy, or are the dogs

ONLINE

The anti-union South is starting to crack

Rae Johnson

there. This can only mean one thing: hornworms.

"It’s hornworm season. Hornworms will eat your plant in a whole night. That’s why we have to put down something that has a really really strong smell to keep them away."

LN: What does a day on the farm look like for you?

KJ: “A day on the farm looks like a whole bunch of fun and a little bit of work. A lot of the times, me and my dog go running through here and all the way over there to check on the plants.”

LN: I didn’t know you guys had a bee nest. You make honey?

KJ: “Yeah. Sometimes our beekeeper Mr. Bill comes over here to check on the bees. It's important that we can leave it there because that way the flowers that are there can be pollinated.”

LN: And your great-grandmother gave you this land, right?

KJ: “So my great-grandmother gave my mom this land, and then my mom gave me this land.”

LN: As the youngest urban farmer in the nation, have you observed how she’s been able to move in the world compared to others who haven’t been exposed to this lifestyle?

KJ: “I don’t compare to anyone. I just know my stuff. I do it.”

Ursula Johnson: “This is a field that nobody wants to get into, so it’s like it was open for her. And it wasn't something we were looking to put her in. It was just something that was already naturally in her that, as parents, we said, ‘OK, how do we support this to make her wherever she wants to be in it?’ And that's our comparison. I think it has nothing to do with the child; it has to do with what the parents are willing to do with that kid's talent …”

LN: To help them grow.

UJ: “To help them grow, yeah.”

KJ: “I like how you said grow (laughs).”

LN: How important is it for people to know where their food comes from?

playing with it?

QJ: I threw it away (laughs).

KJ: I think those are some of my pumpkins, and there’s also some sunflowers. You can tell they’re sunflowers because the edges of the sunflower are kind of like a blade, and it’s in the shape of a shovel or a heart.

LN: I see. I’m learning so many new things today.

KJ: "Hmm, it seems like something’s been eating my plants. Ooh, there’s a big hole right

KJ: “If they don't know where their food comes from, how are they gonna be a farmer if they want to be a farmer? It’s especially important for kids to know where your food comes from. That way, they'll just think that food comes from the store, and they won't actually know where food comes from.”

LN: And how does it feel when you look at everything you've been able to grow?

KJ: “I feel good, excited, and happy all the time!”

This interview was edited for length and clarity.

Kendall (above) and her parents, Ursula and Quentin Johnson (not pictured), have continued cultivating a community that thrives on sharing and teaching through their urban farm aGROWKulture. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

At just eight years old, Atlanta native Kendall Rae Johnson (above) is the youngest certified farmer in the nation. Photos by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

Multicultural Media & Correspondents Association honors Sheroes in Media at 2024 ceremony

Local Opposition to HB 1105 joins protests across the country

BY DONNELL SUGGS

Chants of "Abolish Ice", hey, hey, ho, ho, HB 1105 has got to go", and "Everywhere we go/people want to know/who we are/so we tell them/we are the immigrants/ the mighty, mighty immigrants" rang out just steps from the Georgia State Capitol on Wednesday morning. A protest in opposition to House Bill 1105, the Georgia Criminal Alien Track and Report Act of 2024, took place at Liberty Plaza with dozens of people in attendance.

The signs that people were holding read "We are all Georgians", "Decriminalize Migration", "We are not Scapegoats", "No racial profiling, veto HB 1105". In a spring of pro-Palestine/Anti-Israel protests taking place on college campuses across the country, including at Emory University, HB 1105 took its turning being a focal point of public outrage and opposition.

"We are here to show our opposition against this anti-immigrant legislation," said

anti-immigration legislation alongside her parents.

"Here I am at the age of 25 saying not one more deportation," she said. "The immigrant community has been the target for anti-immigration legislation for years. We have been in this fight before and here we are again. Not one more day, hour, or second will we spend being scapegoats."

Dalia Perez, a communication associate with Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR).

Wednesday began three days of action for GLAHR that will include a walk to the Governor's mansion, according to Perez.

A number of speakers took the microphone during the protest, including Jennifer Lopez, a representative with GLAHR, who said she remembered being across the street outside the capitol as a young girl, protesting

Other organizations attended the protest in support, including Friends of The Congo, Women Watch Africa, and Atlanta-based non-profit Project South. A number of students that have been involved with protest on the University of Georgia's campus also took time to speak to the crowd. All were there to show community-wide disagreement with a bill that might be signed into Georgia law within days, says Project South Staff Attorney Priyanka Bhatt.

"We are here to ask Governor Kemp to veto HB 1105. It's an extremely harmful bill," Bhatt said. "Our community is going to continue fighting. This is not the end."

A protest and rally in opposition to Georgia House Bill 1105 took place at Liberty Plaza on Wednesday, may 1, also known as "May Day." Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

The Georgia Criminal Alien Track and Report Act of 2024. Photo by Donnell Suggs/ The Atlanta Voice

ONLINE

Planning for the Future While Caring for an Adult With Special Needs

Health Health groups sue FDA over menthol cigarette ban delay

BY CLAYTON GUTZMORE

Several health organizations have assembled to take legal action against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for their lack of movement on a public health matter. The African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council (AATCLC), Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), and the National Medical Association (NMA) are filing a lawsuit against the FDA for not issuing the final rule banning menthol cigarettes. The leaders of the organizations announced this in a virtual press conference. They explained why they had to go this route and expressed their grievances with the FDA and Biden Administration.

“We already know that tobacco is a critical public health issue that remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease. We need to keep beating the drum about how Black Americans bear the greatest burden of it, and it doesn’t have to be this way,” said Dr. Valerie Yerger, founding member of AATCLC.

The Health Group virtual press conference announcing the lawsuit happened on Tuesday, April 2. This is the second lawsuit in the ongoing struggle to ban Menthol cigarettes. Christopher Leung of Leung Law PLLC will represent the AATCLC, ASH, and NMA. The three health organizations are pursuing legal action for the Biden Administration and the FDA for failing to issue the ban. The previous delay happened in December 2023, and they set the next deadline to March 2024. The White House did not make an announcement nor share an update before March was over. There is no apparent reason for this delay; many are frustrated with the two entities hindering.

“We have evidence that shows how harmful menthol is. It’s quite frustrating for something that makes complete sense when you look at how health disparities disproportionately impact African Americans. We are not taking action on it,” said Dr. Yolanda Lawson, president of the National Medical Association.

“It’s very frustrating that the FDA themselves have on record what they think is the science and the law behind this. The fact that it has taken not one but two lawsuits from non-governmental organizations to pass this public health rule is really sad,” said Kelsey Romeo-Stuppy, Managing Attorney of Action on Smoking and Health.

In 2020, the first lawsuit was filed against the FDA. That case involved the FDA determining whether or not to add menthol to the list to ban characterizing flavors in cigarettes. After the science and evidence were presented, the FDA determined to add

menthol to the list, and the health organizations withdrew their lawsuit. The result of that case was the FDA proposing the rule in 2022.

The current lawsuit concerns the FDA’s future obligation to issue the final rule.

Leung explains that the menthol cigarette ban went through the complete rule-making process. Now, The FDA has a responsibility to proceed with this rule. Suppose the health organizations win the lawsuit and the rule advances. In that case, tobacco companies will have 90 days to remove all menthol cigarettes from shelves.

“The FDA already possesses all it needs to

pass a rule. It had a draft rule, open hearings for the community and, unfortunately, the tobacco industry, and all the time it needed.

The FDA gave themselves several deadlines, but now we are in April 2024. We are now asking the court to make the FDA move forward,” said Romeo-Stuppy.

The FDA menthol cigarette ban could save thousands of lives nationwide. If menthol cigarettes are taken off the market, 654,000 lives can be saved over the next 40 years, according to Tobacco-.

What’s next in this matter is waiting for the FDA to respond to the lawsuit. Dr. Yerger and Dr. Lawson encourage the general

public to call their local congressional representatives to push the White House to advance the rule. All health organizations involved in the lawsuit want everyone to pay attention to this because it could mean the most significant step in protecting Black lives from health disparities.

“When you talk about making a healthy Black America, you pay attention to this lawsuit because it revolves around creating healthier communities. When you look at healthcare costs, preventable disease, and disparities, this is an important component in the fight against eliminating health disparities,” said Dr. Lawson.

Sports

NBA

Lottery

BY DONNELL SUGGS

TONLINE America’s Black mayors gather in Atlanta for annual AAMA conference

won’t have Hawks answers, but it can be a start

he NBA lottery draft is less than two weeks away and the Atlanta Hawks are on the clock. Whether or not the team keeps the pick, trades it for a veteran addition, or packages it a blockbuster deal, is anyone’s guess.

The Hawks finished the 2023-24 season with an overall record of 36-46 and were 3-7 during the last 10 games of the regular season. The postseason was no better as the Hawks lost its only play-in game at Chicago by 15 points on April 17.

There are no easy answers for what Atlanta needs going into the NBA Draft, which takes place in Brooklyn and Manhattan, New York on June 26 and 27. Atlanta has a 3 percent chance of winning the lottery and securing the top pick in the upcoming draft, according to

A guard-dominated team, the Hawks have a backcourt that averaged a combined 48 points per game during the regular season (the GOOD) and a frontcourt that was highlighted by the emergence of the play of thirdyear Jalen Johnson (ALSO GOOD), but saw a lack of post play hurt them down the stretch. For example, Atlanta was out-rebounded by Chicago 47-34 during its play-in game loss. And that was with Hawks center Clint Capela having 17 rebounds during the game. A top-14 pick can almost certainly secure

the Hawks a center this summer. With Capela and backup center Onyeka Okongwu, who is coming off a career year in which he averaged a career high 10 points and seven rebounds per game, under contract for the

2023-24 season (Okongwu is under contract through the 2027-28 season), a young center under a rookie contract would be a smart pick.

Perdue’s 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey, the

consensus National Player of the Year, will be picked early on, but he’s not the only seven-footer on the draft board that can potentially fall between the 10-14 section of the lottery. Connecticut's Donovan Clingan played his way into the lottery after another strong NCAA tournament run to the national championship.

Duke’s Kyle Filipowski is only a sophomore, but might be as hot as he will ever be and has that Duke connection that Hawks head coach Quin Snyder and assistant coach Mike Brey have coursing through their veins. Timing is everything and this might be a good time for the former McDonald's All-American and All-ACC center to enter the draft and stay in it.

Former OTE big man Alex Sarr has entered the chat. Sarr, a seven-footer with high level athleticism, played for Overtime Elute in Atlanta a year ago before moving on to Australia’s National Basketball League, where he played for the Perth Wildcats and averaged 9.4 points and just over four rebounds per game while shooting over 52% from the field. Sarr’s familiarity with Atlanta and huge upside make him less likely to be on the board later than the 10th pick, but you never know. Atlanta will need to be better in the paint if it is going to get to another level next season. The draft can be a way to get that done on the cheap without sacrificing the key pieces of the roster.

Falcons: QB succession plan and defensive depth were paramount in 2024 NFL Draft

BY ITORO N. UMONTUEN

DETROIT — The 2024 NFL Draft for the Atlanta Falcons will be remembered for a garden variety of reasons. First and foremost, the selection of Michael Penix Jr. with the 8th pick was a head-scratcher for many. Secondly, five of the Falcons’ eight draft picks were used on the front seven. Three of the five picks were defensive tackles. Additionally, the Falcons did not draft anyone outside of college football’s Power Five conferences. Let’s make sense of this.

During his opening press conference, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said, ‘If we had better quarterback play, I may not be standing here.’ He’s right. If Ridder had taken the Falcons to the playoffs last year, Arthur Smith would still be head coach. In response, Atlanta signed Kirk Cousins and drafted whom the brass believes will be the eventual successor in Penix.

“Here’s one of those times we’ve been able

to stump the world and we’ve been talking about it for three days,” Morris said Saturday.

“I hate for it to be the story of the draft and I know it will be.”

Could the Falcons have drafted Spencer Rattler, Jordan Travis, Kedon Slovis, or Joe Milton III in the later rounds? Sure! Did they want to put their futures in the hands of a quaterback drafted in the later rounds? Well, it got Arthur Smith fired.

For example, if the Falcons cut Cousins before 2025, he’ll cost at least $40 million against the Falcons’ salary cap in dead money, according to OverTheCap. That hit goes down to at least $12.5 million if he’s cut ahead of 2026 or 2027.

There are no guarantees and sure things in the NFL. What is clear is that 66 quarterbacks started NFL games in 2023. Outside of the starters, the backup quarterback position has become very important in today’s game. By the way, Kirk Cousins will be 36 on August 19th.

Why did the Falcons go heavy with defen-

sive players?

Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata are north of 30 years of age. Drafting Ruke Orhorhoro, Brandon Dorlus, Zion Logue and Bralen Trice in the middle rounds signifies affecting the quarterback is a major key for the Falcons heading into 2024. Last season, the Falcons did not have anybody within the top 20 of pass rush win rates. Neither at edge rusher or defensive tackle. No Falcon defensive tackle or edge rusher finished in the top ten in run stop win rates. Additionally, the Falcons finished 2023 with 42 sacks, which was 22nd in the NFL.

Sure, a defensive-minded head coach would want to fortify the front seven. Yes, a defensive-minded head coach wants to affect the opposing quarterback often. Yes, the foundations of football are built at the line of scrimmage. However, an offense’s best friend is a defense that can get off the field on third down.

What was a weakness must be a strength for the Falcons.

As of the time of publication, the Falcons signed the following undrafted free agents: WR JaQuae Jackson, Rutgers; WR Isaiah Wooden, Southern Utah; OL Ryan Coll, Richmond; CB Trey Vaval, Minnesota State; P Ryan Sanborn, Texas); QB John Paddock, Illinois, CB Jayden Price, North Dakota State; and TE Austin Stogner, Oklahoma. Cole Beck from Virginia received an invite to rookie minicamp on a tryout basis.

The fact remains: The Atlanta Falcons have not had a winning season since 2017. Additionally, the team has not won the division since 2016. Furthermore, Atlanta has not hosted a playoff game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Those are the primary complaints from Falcons owner and CEO Arthur M. Blank. Yes, drafting Penix and investing heavily on defense in the 2024 NFL Draft seems like a poor proposition. However, a succession plan after Kirk Cousins was important to Blank. It was also important to the job securities of Fontenot and Morris.

Atlanta guard Trae Young (above) and the Hawks will get an opportunity to win the NBA Draft Lottery on Sunday, May 12. Photo by Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice

Lifestyle

BY DENNIS MALCOLM BYRON AKA ALE SHARPTON

The return of Acura’s revered sports sedan, the Integra, arrives with the impact of a comet. Their Type S version is the most powerful vehicle they ever produced. Thanks to its head-turning design, responsive powertrain, and long list of accessories, the Integra’s global anticipation has been rewarded.

The exterior of this four-door performance car immediately gets the adrenaline flowing.

The last Acura I reviewed was a TLX trim dressed in a head-turning Tiger Eye Pearl paint here. Without skipping a beat on color radiance, this latest review model flaunted a striking Apex Blue Pearl premium paint, which is also highly recommended. Acura’s signature frameless diamond pentagon grille in black, 19-inch alloy wheels encased in high-performance summer tires, Chicane “jewel-eyed” LED lighting, and red Brembo brake calipers added to the eye candy. The Integra’s muscular frame is enhanced with the flaring fenders, strategically placed air

vents, and tri-exhaust in the center in the rear.

Of course, the best way to prove Acura has the racing enthusiast in mind is what’s under the hood. The Type S edition is rightfully labeled the most responsive and powerful, with its 2.0L VTEC four-cylinder turbo engine topping out at 320 horsepower with a*310 lb-ft of torque ideally for any passing situation—or just for the simple thrill. With the current reign of paddle shifters in the auto industry, the 6-speed manual transmission will bring a smile to those worried about today’s scarcity of stick shifts. Depending on the driver’s desired experience, there are numerous modes—Sport, Comfort, Normal,

Individual, and heart-pounding Sport+. The limited-slip front differential and front dual-axis strut front suspension perfect the ride especially when cornering.

And with this Integra’s speed and power comes luxury. The “Orchid” white interior boasts hugging sport seats that are perforated and layered with Ultrasuede, plus a leather-wrapped steering wheel, sport pedals, a manual knob crowned with a titanium finish, dual climate control, wireless connection, and a 9-inch touchscreen complete with a multi-view camera to enhance the cockpit, making navigation, app access, and music activation an ease to operate. Addressing the latter, ears get blessed with the 16-speaker ELS Studio 3D sound system with subwoofers masterminded by eight-time Grammy Award-winning producer/engineer Elliot Scheiner. (Scheiner’s done stellar work with the Foo Fighters, Fleetwood Mac, and Queen to name a few.) Other standout features include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Alexa Built-In to answer all “Alexa” demands. To maximize cargo space, this sedan

has a liftback design with 60/40-split rear seats to add points in the practicality department.

Regarding safety, Acura traditionally shines in this department, and the signature AcuraWatch suite provides a plethora of mind-easing applications for the driver, including the collision mitigation braking system, lane keeping assist, traffic sign recognition, pedestrian detection, and traffic jam assist (which is ideal in especially Atlanta). Be sure to visit Acura’s website to research the numerous other features the 2024 Integra Type S includes.

Ultimately, if you want a sedan that is captivating, boasts a posh cabin, possesses state-of-the-art technology, and delivers the manual-shifting sports car experience but still transport multiple adults comfortably, look for the Type S emblem on the 2024 Acura Integra.

Price: $50,800 MSRP (the Apex Blue Pearl paint is an additional $600)

Fuel Economy: 21 city/28 highway/24 combined

For more information, visit Acura.com

Photo courtesy of Acura