The Atlanta Voice E-Edition 060223

June 2-8, 2023 • Vol. 58 Issue 4 • FREE

INSIDE

Review: Halle Bailey showcases siren-like vocals, shines throughout the Little Mermaid

PAGE 12

AROUND TOWN

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PROFITS OVER PEOPLE

Wellstar Health System recently released plans to open an innovation center in Midtown’s Tech Square. The metro Atlanta-based healthcare system closed hospitals in Atlanta and East Point last year. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

Page 2 • June 2-8, 2023 • theatlantavoice.com

Metro

ONLINE

Atlanta hotel market sees consistent growth into 2023, amid inflation, leveling supply

Wellstar makes it known priorities are profits over people, invests millions into venture fund

BY DONNELL SUGGS

E

ast Point, Ga.- On a warm Tuesday morning a landscaper pulls dead branches and leaves out of a bush while another uses a leaf blower to clear a walkway outside of the Medical Arts Center on Cleveland Avenue. They do not approach the grounds of the Wellstar East Point Health Center, which is located next door. They will get to it later, there isn’t a priority because the medical facility is closed. Inside a trio of security guards sit behind a glass partition with no patients to direct or assist.

Wellstar Health System closed the East Point location for general patients in April 2022. What was once a 200-bed hospital became a primary care, outpatient and rehabilitation center and is now closed.

“There’s an urgent care still open down the street,” one of the security guards said.

Wellstar has made it known that finances are the reason for closing hospitals in Atlanta and East Point. Wellstar reported losses of more than $100 million per year at Atlanta Medical Center, which was located in historic Old Fourth Ward.

The massive site is now vacant and will remain so as long as the redevelopment moratorium imposed by Atlanta City Council remains.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens extended the moratorium in October 2022. Dickens’ renewal bought time for the Atlanta City Council to ratify the moratorium if needed.

The billion-dollar health care provider recently invested $100 million into Catalyst, which is described on the Wellstar website as a “first-of-its-kind innovation company and venture firm. Wellstar plans to open an innovation center in the heart of Midtown in order to house Catalyst’s 18 or so employees.

The center will be located inside the Centergy One Building on Fifth Street.

The new innovation center will be miles from where Atlanta Med-

neighboring areas without a hospital within a few miles. That remains a problem for a city with the level of crime and vehicular accidents as Atlanta.

East Point residents will not be left as empty-handed as Old Fourth Ward residents were when Atlanta Medical Center closed however.

There are medical facilities within feet of the Wellstar East Point Health Center, particularly a Southside Medical Center location a few feet away on Cleveland Avenue.

Local attorney, activist and Georgia NAACP President Gerald A. Griggs believes Wellstar’s decision to close hospitals instead of investing in them in communities like East Point and Old Fourth Ward is a mistake.

“As the leadership of the NAACP, our primary focus is on combating racial disparities in healthcare and ensuring equitable access for all residents of metro Atlanta,” Griggs told The Atlanta Voice. “We are deeply disheartened by Wellstar’s decision not to prioritize reinvestment in essential healthcare for underserved communities.”

Griggs added that he hopes Wellstar will choose to be a valuable partner in addressing these longstanding issues by “redirecting their resources towards healthcare services rather than solely pursuing profits.

He continued, “We believe that by investing in accessible and comprehensive healthcare services, Wellstar will play a pivotal role in addressing the pressing needs of the community and advancing the cause of healthcare equality.”

Attempts to reach Wellstar Health System and Catalyst for this story were not returned.

ical Center once stood as the city’s second most occupied level one trauma center, along with Grady Memorial Hospital.

In the fall of 2022 Wellstar Health System, which owned and operated

Atlanta Medical Center, announced that there were plans to close the hospital, a 120-year-old, 460-bed facility on Parkway Drive. The accessibility for area residents and many others allowed for easier ac-

cess to an emergency room if needed and regular doctor visits similar to the way Grady Hospital is for residents of downtown.

The loss of Atlanta Medical Center leaves Old Fourth Ward and

The Wellstar East Point Health Center on Cleveland Avenue is now closed. The community is not without a local hospital, because there is a Southside Medical Center a few feet away. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

theatlantavoice.com • June 2-8, 2023 • Page 3

State

ONLINE

Emory University’s 450,000-sq.ft. cancer care facility opens on Linden Ave

Why did Georgia lead the South in voter turnout during the 2022 Midterms?

The battle over election law and equitable access to the ballot box continues

BY ITORO UMONTUEN According to a report by the U.S. Census, the state of Georgia shattered records for the percentage of registered voters that participated in an election out of any southern state during the 2022 midterms.

82.0% of registered voters voted in Georgia Midterm elections.

A deeper dive into the numbers shows that 60.7% percent of White, non-Hispanic persons voted in the 2022 midterms, 54% of Black or African-Americans voted, 51% of Asian-American and Pacific Islander descent voted and 43.3% of Hispanics (of any race) voted.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp repeatedly told everyone during the fierce debates surrounding Senate Bill 202 that the legislation would make voting easier while making it harder to cheat. This week, the Republicans celebrated the report published by the U.S. Census.

“Georgia is the bellwether state, and because of that Georgia voters play a key role in choosing our nation’s course,” said Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in a statement. “It’s easy to cast your vote in Georgia, and voters have the confidence that their vote will count.”

Raffensperger said Georgia’s 2022 midterm election and runoff established these new milestones: • All-time turnout records for a midterm election, with more votes cast than any other midterm.

• Record breaking midterm early voting turnout.

• Record breaking absentee by mail votes cast in a midterm.

• More Election Day votes were cast in the 2022 runoff than on Election Day in the 2022 general election than on Election Day in the January 2021 runoff, or on Election Day in 2020.

• Three days of single-day all-

time voting records during early voting.

Nationwide, Oregon had the highest percentage of citizens that voted with 70% and Virginia had the lowest percentage of citizens that voted with 38.4%.

While the Georgia Republicans took credit for the findings in the U.S. Census report, many advocacy and civil rights groups fought hard to defeat Senate Bill 202. While continuing to advocate for equitable access to the ballot box in Black and Brown neighborhoods; these numbers were achieved despite Secretary Raffensperger’s attempted efforts to silence the voices through new restrictions that one group describes as “unfair, unwise and unnecessary.”

“A lot of groups, knocking on doors, found ways to navigate the new restrictions and put out a massive effort to bring people of color to the polls, and to resist and overcome those restrictions that were put in place,” said Edward A. Hailes, Jr., General Counsel/Management Director with the Advancement Project, a next-generation multi-racial civil rights organization. “So I can’t say I’m surprised that he’s taking credit and suggesting that the new laws may have been important. But know that that credit belongs to the groups that refuse to be intimidated, and refuse to stay out of the elections because these communities recognize that their voice is important.”

According to a study conducted

by Pew Research, Georgia’s eligible voter population grew by 1.9 million from 2010 through 2019, with nearly half of this increase attributed to growth in the state’s Black voting population. Additionally, Black Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents are more

A stack of Georgia voter stickers are displayed at Morris Brandon Elementary School on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 in Atlanta. Photo by Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice

likely than Black Republicans and Republican leaners to say voting is an extremely or very effective tactic for Black progress (68% vs. 46%).

There is no concrete evidence that voting has been made easier due to Senate Bill 202. Also, the number of early voters that dominated headlines during the 2022 midterms does not inherently suggest that the idea of voter suppression is a fable. Prior to 2020, a majority of people that voted by absentee ballot were not Black. In 2005, Georgia Republicans introduced and passed House Bill 244, a 59-page bill that contained nearly 70 revisions of state election code, including two major changes: adding a photo ID requirement for in-person voting and allowing Georgians to vote by mail without an excuse, and without an ID. No Republican complained.

However, during the throes of the

COVID-19 Pandemic, Former President Donald Trump bemoaned the more than 1.3 million absentee ballots cast by Georgians in the November 2020 election. The majority of those voters were Black, Brown or representative of other ethnic minority groups. When former President Trump called Secretary Raffensperger and told him, “I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state.” That phone call signaled the start of Georgia’s high stakes game of political chess, beginning with heavier restriction and reduction of dropboxes in the state, namely in Georgia’s heavily populated counties.

Organizations like The New Georgia Project have gone out of their way to out-strategize and outflank Georgia Republicans and their watchdogs in order to get hundreds of thousands of people

registered to vote. Going into the 2024 Presidential Elections, these strategies will bend and be malleable to the current political climate.

“We’ve already helped close to 30,000 people fill out voter registration cards, and we have a goal of getting to 40,000 and we’re going to hit that again in 2024,” said Keron Blair, the Chief Organizing and Field Officer of New Georgia Project and New Georgia Project Action Fund.

“We will get our people ready. We will register them, we will knock on doors, we will politicize them so that they are prepared to participate meaningfully in the life of our democracy come 2024.”

The tug of war over access to the ballot box and the regulations surrounding voting will continue as Republicans push to preserve their power in Georgia and the southern states.

Page 4 • June 2-8, 2023 • theatlantavoice.com

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Voices

“Especially in this industry, women challenge men much more now because we’re saying, ‘We can do it, too.’”

— Regina King

My 9-Year-Old Loves Ja Morant.

(I Kinda Wish He Didn’t) Yes, there are layers to the Memphis Grizzlies star’s gun-flashing ways.

But when he’s admired by your child, it all hits different.

BY JOHN CELESTAND My 9-year-old son’s favorite player is Ja Morant.

I need to explain this further, so you really get it. The person writing this article, the one who contributed to giving my son life, grew up a Los Angeles Lakers fan, played for the Los Angeles Lakers, and won an NBA Championship in 2000. Yet, my son is a Memphis Grizzlies fan.

As I walked past my son on the steps a few weeks ago to plant myself on the couch and watch the NBA playoffs, I asked him, “Hey, you coming to watch the game?”

He looked at me with confusion and said, “Why? The Grizzlies are out. I don’t care anymore.”

I’m trying to explain to you. My 9-year-old son’s favorite player is Ja Morant.

Over the last few days since Morant’s latest incident flashing a gun on his own Instagram page, the go-to questions from “supporters” have been, “Well, is he licensed to carry?” “Was he in a state with open carry laws?”

Truthfully, we may never get this information. But to this, I say, tomato, to-MA-to. Semantics. This is bigger than Morant exercising his gun rights as an American citizen. This is bigger than another young Black man making an immature mistake, trying to find his way as a young Black multi-millionaire with the world in the palm of his hands. My 9-year-old son’s favorite player is Ja Morant.

According to 2022 FBI statistics on the nation’s 50 largest cities, Memphis ranked 3rd in homicide rate (45.9%) per 100,000 population trailing only Baltimore (57.8%) and Detroit (48.9%). According to PropertyClub, in 2022, the most dangerous city in America was Memphis, Tennessee, boasting a crime rate 237% higher than the national average.

Illustration by Liz Courquet-Lesaulnier/Wikimedia Commons

Memphis had 7,913 crimes per 100,000 people, with an exceptionally high violent crime rate. In 2022, there were 15,318 incidents of violent crime, including 289 counts of murder, 2,134 counts of robbery, and 12,484 incidents of assault.

My son wants to go to Memphis.

He doesn’t care about the barbecue. He doesn’t care about the Blues or Beale Street. He wants to see the Memphis Grizzlies live. My 9-year-old son’s favorite player is Ja Morant.

Sometimes I think it is extremely irresponsible to single out Ja Morant. It’s so much easier to pin the blame on America’s obsession with guns and gun culture.

The United States is the only nation where civilian guns outnumber people. The U.S. is one of only three countries in the world where bearing (or keeping) arms is a constitutional right (Guatemala and Mexico are the other two), yet the ownership rate of the other two is

almost a tenth of the United States.

If that is not an easy enough scapegoat for Ja Morant, he — and we — could maybe blame it on hiphop culture and the prevalence of firearms for street credibility.

There was a time when hip-hop culture told the story of violence, guns, and poverty in America — similar to a reporter on the outside looking in, giving America a real glimpse into the issues of Black inner-city America.

Over the years, this has evolved into a plethora of hip-hop artists no longer reporting on the issues of Black America, but being a part of the issue, glamorizing their role and how they partake in the madness.

The NBA is hip-hop, and hiphop is the NBA. If you don’t believe me, then watch the playoffs and let me know one time a playoff game goes by where there isn’t at least one hip-hop artist courtside.

So yeah, let’s blame hip-hop. I need something to tell my son. My 9-year-old son’s favorite player is Ja Morant.

Anyone halfway conscious, halfway “woke,” understands that it’s more complicated than that.

Ja Morant grew up in Sumter, South Carolina. He is a product of a two-family household. Not that coming from a two-family household guarantees anything, but what it does say is you have a better chance at surviving.

It pains me to point the finger at a Black man very involved in his son’s life. Ja Morant’s father, Tee Morant, can be seen at a number of games, front row, engaged, loud, enjoying life, wearing dark shades, ripped up skinny jeans, chopping it up with rappers, entertainers, and the who’s who in the NBA audience.

I wonder if I’m out of line for saying he’s enjoying this ride a little much. I can’t give Tee Morant, who

appears to be such an involved father, a pass here with so much on the line for one of the most sensational talents in the NBA. Maybe for Tee Morant, it’s time to take off the shades, put on some Dad jeans, and focus on what is probably the most glaring weakness in Ja Morant’s game: his decision-making.

And I’m not talking between the lines. I’m talking about the game of life. Maybe he needs a Furious Styles (Lawrence Fishburne’s character in “Boyz n the Hood”) type of talking to before this all goes very wrong.

If not, the most exciting point guard and floor general in the NBA today may want to understand that his days in the greatest basketball league on Earth are numbered. The NBA is a brand, and no matter what the gun laws are, no matter what your registration for your weapon looks like, the league WILL protect itself and its image.

There will always be another Ja Morant. It is almost certain that a heavy suspension is coming from the NBA. In the end, I can’t help but think about the many young Black boys that look up to Ja Morant, the highest-flying, electric point guard we’ve seen since Derrick Rose.

What are our young Black boys who want to wear #12, who want to grow locks in their hair, and who want to now do the griddy after an exciting play going to think now?

It’s not just about Ja Morant. I think back to the character Nino Brown of the movie “New Jack City,” portrayed by Wesley Snipes, when he explained to the courtroom who wanted to make him the only fall guy, “This sh*t is bigger than Nino Brown.”

It sure was. And this is even bigger than the Memphis Grizzlies’ star franchise player.

My 9-year-old son’s favorite player is Ja Morant.

T H E AT L A N TA

VOICE 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 jaws@theatlantavoice.com EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO PUBLISHER Chia Suggs csuggs@theatlantavoice.com DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS Martel Sharpe msharpe@theatlantavoice.com EDITOR IN CHIEF Donnell Suggs editor@theatlantavoice.com GENERAL ASSIGNMENT REPORTER Janelle Ward jward@theatlantavoice.com GENERAL ASSIGNMENT REPORTER Isaiah Singleton isingleton@theatlantavoice.com GENERAL ASSIGNMENT REPORTER Noah Washington nwashington@theatlantavoice.com MANAGING EDITOR, DIGITAL Itoro Umontuen iumontuen@theatlantavoice.com

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CONTACT INFORMATION 633 Pryor Street, S.W. Atlanta, GA 30312 Office: 404-524-6426 info@theatlantavoice.com

theatlantavoice.com • June 2-8, 2023 • Page 5

Voices SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING

You are only better in your pride-filled mind

I

BY JAMES A. WASHINGTON

The Atlanta Voice

suppose the details are all in the interpretation.

I went to church intent on hearing a particular preacher, only to find him absent from the pulpit.

The guest minister’s sermon on humility was a stark reminder that it is all about the message and never about the messenger.

Fortunately for me, that was one of the spiritual lessons I learned from the minister who saved my life—coincidentally, the one whom I was going to hear on that Sunday.

Humility, as the pastor was trying to clarify and explain, should be viewed as described in Philippians 2. The entire chapter is devoted to Paul’s message to the Church at Philippi regarding “imitating Christ’s humility.”

As I listened, “humility” transformed from my initial context of docile behavior to a fact of faith and strength of character.

By that I mean, it was made clear that Christ chose to consider Him-

Are we better than him?

Think it through.. self at best equal to, if not lesser than his fellow man.

Remember, we’re talking about God here. He consciously chose to make Himself human in order to serve His divine purpose.

The text tells us, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but, in humility, consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others.”

Now, my recollection of Christ says that’s a pretty good description of how He looked upon His duty and that was pretty much what got Him killed.

I mean, isn’t it interesting that the most dangerous — and, therefore the most powerful and important — thing you can do in life is to care

about someone else more greatly than you care for yourself?

This humility thing does indeed have the inherent power in this is crystal clear.

Paul teaches us that it is our fundamental responsibility, as Christians, to be united in our effort to emulate Jesus’ denunciation of status, pride, ego and self.

Surely, if anyone had a right to be arrogant, it was the living Son of God. You try being the walking talking Word and deliberately transform yourself into a mere mortal human being.

If you can grasp that thought, please don’t let it blow your mind because you know you couldn’t do it.

Become Christ and die willingly on the cross by the hands of mere men.

Fortunately, as the minister made clear, Paul is not asking us to do the impossible. He let us know that our goal is service unto man.

Put a lid on what we think of ourselves and our prideful independence in favor of our collective interdependence upon each other and the Almighty.

Christ died to save us all and here in Philippi, Paul tells us that our conduct must be rooted in the following truth: out of this thing called humility, Christ saved the world.

Are we better than him? Think it through.

If you look down your nose at anyone for any reason, if you truly think you’re better than anyone else, then you think you’re better than Jesus, who thought himself no better and even less than you.

He died in service to us, you and me.

Do something good for someone else today simply because you can.

If you don’t get this, may God bless and keep you always.

“YOUR VOICE”

What are your thoughts on AI and how do you think it will affect your job, business or industry?

JOEL POWELL Atlanta

XAVIER JONES Atlanta

RAE Atlanta

NOBELLA POWELL Atlanta

“I’m a musician. I think AI will be a positive tool. I feel that human interaction with a new technology is always a fun thing to see what we can conceptualize next. I just see it as a tool. I don’t think it’s going to hinder people from doing anything.

I just see it as a tool that people can use who might not have had the accessibility to things before and they creatively use it to create something new and more ingenious. I think the genius of every generation is to use what we have available and make the best of it. Of course there are some people that think it will take away from creativity, but, if so, there’s still a demographic market that wants what you want, more than likely. So it’s okay.”

“I do not think AI will adversely affect either of my positions as a photographer or as an IT professional. I think the reason AI scares so many people is that people don’t really understand what AI can and can’t do. From an IT perspective, anybody that develops an AI, knows that AI is only good at doing one thing and that’s called a simple AI. It’s like having a calculator. So even if you are a great mathematician a calculator will always beat you because it can only calculate numbers. It can only do one thing. What people are afraid of is general AI. That’s when AI can just think of its own thing to fix and fix that. But we are so far away from that and we will probably never develop it well, because that is not how machines work well. Machines are very good at doing one task better than we can do one single task. That is the difference between what conventional AI that we use right now, like ChatGBT and all of the artistic AIs - they all only do one thing and they do it really well but it’s not like it’s going to lead to an AI uprising because that’s not what AI is actually made to do…AI will never be able to create something more original than the human mind. ”

“I’m a Montessori school teacher and I don’t feel that AI will hurt my industry at all. I work with infants to toddlers and the oldest child I have is three. I just feel that we are always going to need skin to skin contact with the young ones. That’s what they tell you in the Hospital when you’ve just had your baby. I just don’t foresee toddlers being forced to watch a screen for hours to get their education. I think we are going to have to keep the young ones away from it until they get older or they are going to have a burnout in their brain. I don’t think humans have adapted so well to be “buddies” with technology at this moment. I think nature is still important”

“I’m an artist and I feel that AI will take away more artists’ jobs. As an Artist ,I feel that it’s time to make a way to work with AI because it is here, and not going anywhere. You just have to reinvent yourself as an Artist. So it’s a good thing and it could be a bad thing for artists. ”

Compiled by Vincent Christie

Page 6 • June 2-8, 2023 • theatlantavoice.com

Community

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Destination Tomorrow receives grant from city to create a new LGBTQ+ mentorship program

BY ISAIAH SINGLETON

D

estination Tomorrow, a Black Trans-led LGBTQ+ center in Atlanta, is a grant recipient of the City of Atlanta’s largest investment in the Transgender community.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens announced $55,000 in funding to be allocated to three on-the-ground community organizations. With the ongoing attacks on the Transgender community, specifically seen in the recent murders of Trans Black women in Atlanta, there is an urgent need for governing leaders to be held accountable for implementing safeguards for the community.

Destination Tomorrow’s Mentoring Program Sean Ebony Coleman, the center’s founder, and executive director and the only Black Trans Grantmaker nationally, will be using these funds to open a new LGBTQ+ mentoring pilot program to provide critical support for Transgender individuals who are notoriously underrepresented in the region.

Coleman said receiving the grant from the city after a year of operations was “surreal”.

“We came down with a purpose and we wanted to work with local community members and government/administrative elected officials,” Coleman said. “To be validated in a way of being the first Trans organization to receive funding from the city, it’s really surreal.

It shows that we’re doing the right thing, being received well, and the direction that we’re going in is correct.”

With the developing LGBTQ+ mentorship program, Coleman said the beautiful thing is they can develop and partner with local community members.

“We’re going to do a small cohort of LGBTQ+ young people and possibly match them with some of the elders or seniors in the community and look to our community partners as we build out what the men-

Signs made by volunteers and advocates from Destination Tomorrow to spread awareness. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/ The Atlanta Voice

torship program should look like,” he said. “We don’t want to reinvent the wheel, but we also want to make sure we are addressing the needs that have already been identified with regards to young LGBTQ folks and where the gaps in services are.

That may mean we partner with schools and talk to guidance counselors to see if there are young folks there who may be candidates for the mentorship.”

Destination Tomorrow, Coleman said, will also reach out to other community-based organizations.

“This doesn’t necessarily mean we’re going to other LGBTQ organizations; it just means we’re going to go to organizations that cater to young people and see if they have any young people who would be a good match for this program,” he said.

Also, Coleman said he wants to ensure young people receive some

things and services that he didn’t.

“As a 55-year-old Trans man, I wish there was a basis that affirmed me as an individual but also gave me guidance on my career and my education. So, I want young people to see that as a possibility and Destination Tomorrow’s economic empowerment is something we want to give our community the tools to be successful,” he said. “We want to make sure our young people are connected to an academic advisor, if they want to do higher education, they can do that and still live in their truth and authenticity. Our goal is to set them up for life and be successful and still be able to present who they are.”

What is Destination Tomorrow & its purpose Destination Tomorrow has two centers located in the South Bronx and Atlanta, serving the commu-

nity through educational, financial, housing, health, and personal support programs. The grassroots organization puts an emphasis on providing support to vulnerable members of the LGBTQ community that takes them off the path of requiring emergency care, focusing on economic, social, and mental empowerment on a holistic level.

Destination Tomorrow started in New York City in 2009, according to Coleman.

“If you’re familiar with New York, there are the outer barrows and there’s Manhattan and a lot of the LGBTQ+ services were centralized in Manhattan and for Black Trans men, I didn’t feel like myself or others should have to leave their barrow to receive the services they needed,” he said.

Additionally, Coleman said Destination Tomorrow was created because he wanted to make sure Black

and brown individuals had a space they could call their own, which wasn’t the case at that time.

“There were spaces were Black and brown folks may be welcomed in, but we weren’t at the leadership, directing, drafting, or developing programs and services, although we technically were, we weren’t receiving funding for it, but we’ve been putting programs and services for our community for a long time, so I just wanted to make sure that we were represented as well,” he said.

With an increasing rate of Transgender assaults and deaths, Coleman said Destination Tomorrow continues to raise awareness around “Black and brown Trans women are still experiencing a high wave of violence and we want to get to the root cause of what the violence is.”

“Sometimes, it’s as simple as cracking an off-putting joke about someone who may be Trans, gender non-confirmative, or non-binary, and the innocence of just that joke and how violent it can be because it serves to dehumanize people,” he said. “The minute you can laugh at folks and see them as less than or not worthy of protection, safety, or love, it’s easy to cause harm to us.

We want to raise awareness about that and go on platforms that aren’t historically LGBTQ platforms to bridge the gap. I think we really need to start having discussions around how violence impacts our community, the root causes, and producing some solutions.”

Destination Tomorrow provides many services rooted in economic empowerment such is GED, job readiness, financial literacy, professional development, HIV testing, counseling, case management, support groups, food pantry, housing (they’re in the process of opening two shelters in New York City, they already have one up and running).

“We’re a Grantmaker for Trans initiatives partnership with Gilead Science,” he said. “We do a little bit of everything and the good thing

See MENTOR on page 7

theatlantavoice.com • June 2-8, 2023 • Page 7

Community

MENTOR

Community members and advocates making protest signs to raise awareness.

Photo by Isaiah Singleton/ The Atlanta Voice

Continued from page 6 about Destination Tomorrow is that it’s community focused. Community members can give us feedback and tell us what they need, and we do what we must do to reach out to our election officials or our neighbors.

During the pandemic, food insecurity was one of the biggest things people experienced, so Destination Tomorrow opened a food pantry and it’s still open.

How can the community help?

Coleman said often when someone says “help” they automatically think of money, however, he said that is not the most important way to help.

“Money is always good, but disability, partnerships, collaborations are better. The community can help by volunteering and drop by the center to see what’s going on and if we need assistance,” he said. “Communities can also help by utilizing your platform in a way that shares being a true ally. If you’re going to show that kind of allyship then perhaps share your platform so we can have discussions.”

For community advocates or elected officials, Coleman said if there aren’t any LGBTQ+ individuals in their spaces, then the rooms need to change.

“Perhaps you can be a catalyst for that change by highlighting the fact that there are folks that should be at the table that are not,” he said.

“There are voices not being heard because when you think of all the issues that are happening whether it’s homelessness, food insecurity, lack of transportation, medical/ health disparities, reproductive rights, and so many others intersects with members of the LBGTQ

community and if you’re having those discussions, we should be at the table and if you’re at the table and we’re not, perhaps you can help us get there.”

Coleman said Destination Tomorrow plans to “keep doing what’s necessary” as they plan on continuing to help and assist LGBTQ+ community leaders. He also said he is hopeful the mentorship program will lead into other conversations

such as mental health and wellness.

“If we’re going to build a community, then we must do it, one step at a time. We’re going to have to push the envelope because the thing that’s happening is there are forces that don’t want many people that are marginalized to survive so it’s not just about LGBTQ folks, it’s about the micro population and those economically not doing well,” he said. “There are so many things

that we should be working on together because they intersect, so we are just going to keep raising awareness. We are community members and constituents, and elected officials have to start listening to their LGBTQ constituents”.

For more information about Destination Tomorrow, Sean Coleman, and how you can help, visit https:// destinationtomorrow.org/dt-south

Front Runners Atlanta to host 2023 Atlanta Pride Run

BY ISAIAH SINGLETON

F

ront Runners Atlanta (FRATL), a running/ walking social club for the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies, announced the official race schedule and event details for the 2023 Atlanta Pride Run, which is known as the first LGBTQIA+ run in Atlanta.

The annual event will be held on Sunday, June 4 at 8 a.m. in Piedmont Park.

The Atlanta Pride Run is a charity 5K walk and run dedicated to uniting the community to raise awareness, and funds, for those impacted by HIV. This event is for every one of every ability and is also a Peachtree Qualifier race. FRATL expects more than 2,000 participants for this year’s run, almost doubling last year’s attendance.

This year’s race slogan is “We See You,” symbolizing runners and walkers in our community who feel unseen and empowering them to

This year’s race slogan is “We See You,” symbolizing runners and walkers in our community who feel unseen and empowering them to raise their voices and be heard. Photo courtesy of Front Runners Atlanta

raise their voices and be heard. Additionally, for the first time in the organization’s history, the Atlanta

Pride Run will be honoring local Atlantans who exemplify its mission, values, and legacy. This year's pre-

miere Community Advocacy Award recipient is Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens for his unwavering commitment to the fair treatment of all LGBTQIA+ residents, workers, and visitors.

Honorees for the “We See You” Humanity Awards include: • Barry Sermons, HIV Activist (He/Him) - Barry serves on numerous review and planning teams as well as sits on the Board of Directors for AID Atlanta. His priorities are always patient-centered and focused on providing life-saving care to those living with HIV. • Amber Brainerd, Community Volunteer (She/Her) - Amber is a steadfast volunteer for Bridge of Light and continuously steps up to meet agency needs, including driving the bus for Showers in the City events on the weekends that provide shower and bathroom amenities for the unhoused population.

She also helps recruit additional volunteers to expand the organiza-

tion and keep the movement growing.

• Kamari Haugabook ("Anna") (She/Her), Program Graduate Anna is a graduate of Lost-n-Found Youth having worked her way through the program and now living independently in her first apartment. She is recognized for her ambition, resiliency, success, and for exemplifying the organization’s mission: To end homelessness for LGBTQ youth by providing them with the skills and support needed to live independently.

The Pride Run creates beauty out of tragedy by donating all proceeds to local HIV charities that provide care and treatment services to people living with HIV/AIDS to improve health outcomes and reduce HIV transmission among hard-to-reach populations.

For more information about Front Runners Atlanta, to donate, or to register, visit www.frontrunnersatlanta.org

Page 8 • June 2-8, 2023 • theatlantavoice.com

Travel

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The Princess, the Frog and the many inspirations for the newest Disney attraction

BY DONNELL SUGGS

One of the four paintings of Princess Tiana by local artist Sharika Mahdi commissioned by Disney. This particular painting is at Dooky Chase’s.

Photo by Donnell Suggs/ The Atlanta Voice

N

EW ORLEANS, La. -- Stella Chase, the daughter of the late Dooky Chase's co-owner Leah Chase, sat down in front of a microphone and began telling her family's story. The inspiration for the lead character in The Princess and The Frog, Princess Tiana, Disney's first Black princess, Leah Chase left a dining and hospitality legacy that continues to feed people from all over the world year after year. In New Orleans, a city of restaurants if there ever was one, Dooky Chase's story is always worth telling.

As Stella Chase spoke of her grandparents and parents she made numerous comparisons to the film.

The inspiration for one of Disney's most popular films and characters was born in that restaurant and fans continue to make reservations and stream through the doors in search of "Tiana's Palace," the fictional restaurant Tiana dreamed of owning during the film.

"Everyday we get someone coming in here to eat at Tiana's restaurant," Chase said. A gold pin on the collar of her sweater read, "Pray, work and do for others."

"That was my mother's motto, 'Pray, work and do for others'," she explained.

There have been many inspirations for Tiana's Bayou Adventure, a new nine-minute long attraction that is now only a year away. As the film gets closer to its 15th anniversary in 2024, Disney allowed local and national media, including The Atlanta Voice, to get an unprecedented peek into how the attraction went from idea to reality.

Disney Imagineering, the creative engine that designs and builds all of the Disney theme parks, spent a lot of time in New Orleans studying everything from how the city looks, to its history, to the smells and sounds of its streets and waterways.

“With this attraction we want to give guests a taste of all flavors of New Orleans,” Walt Disney Imagi-

neering Executive Creative Director Ted Robledo said during a morning presentation.

Here's what we found out about what it took to create the company's forthcoming major theme park attraction, Tiana's Bayou Adventure.

The Artist As Disney first American princess, Tiana holds a special place among the entertainment company's legion of memorable characters. Part of the rollout for Tiana's Bayou Adventure, which will take over for Splash Mountain at both Disney World and Disneyland, is the art that will represent not only the attraction, but the film going forward.

Artist Sharika Mahdi, a native of New Orleans, was commissioned

by Disney to paint several pieces depicting Princess Tiana. Of the four

Sharika Mahdi (above), a native of New Orleans, was commissioned by Disney to paint several pieces depicting Princess Tiana and the many elements of life in New Orleans. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

pieces, the most recent and final creation reflects strongly on the aspect of family. In the painting Tiana and her mother, Eudora, who was voiced

by Oprah Winfrey for the film, sit on a couch beside a pillow adorned with an image of their late father and husband James. Both Eudora and James were entrepreneurial inspirations for Tiana, according to both Mahdi and Walt Disney Imagineering Executive Creative Producer Charita Carter.

"I wanted to create something that embodies the story of Tiana, and also embodies the story of Louisiana, the bayou and New Orleans," said Mahdi, who grew up in shotgun houses in the city's 7th and 9th Wards. She proudly referenced being born at Charity Hospital, a right

See TIANA on page 9

theatlantavoice.com • June 2-8, 2023 • Page 9

Travel

One of the Cajun Encounters Tour Company boats during a tour Friday, May 26, 2023. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

TIANA Continued from page 8 of passage for Black New Orleans natives the way being born at Grady Hospital is for Atlantans. "I wanted the mother and daughter and father to be the centerpiece, and then I wanted to add those elements in an abstract sense that represents New Orleans, thus the story of Tiana and her dreams."

Carter added that Tiana is more than just a Disney princess or a key character in a film or the main reason for a theme park attraction.

Much more in fact.

"Tiana is an inspiration for everybody," Carter told The Atlanta Voice during an interview inside Vue New Orleans, a 407-foot-high towering venue and attraction overlooking downtown New Orleans. "She had a couple of obstacles she had to overcome."

Carter added, "It means everything. It is a privilege to be working on such a wonderful story. Everybody can be inspired by this story."

Disney Senior Vice President Creative Development, Content, Products & Inclusive Strategies Carmen Smith said exploring New Orleans for Tiana's Bayou Adventure has been a "One of a kind experience that we think our guests will enjoy.

This whole story is about Tiana and her sense of community."

Another of Mahdi's images for Tiana's Bayou Adventure sits inside a room at Dooky Chase's. In that piece Louis the alligator, which was voiced in the film by Michael-Leon Wooley, and a number of other new animated characters -there will be 17 in all, according to Disney Imagineering,

play music while Princess Tiana and Prince Navine look on and smile. A community indeed.

The Music Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will incorporate both original songs from The Princess and The Frog and new original music.

PJ Morton, a New Orleans native and Grammy Award-winning musician, stood up from where he was seated on stage at Preservation Hall and prepared himself for what he was about to see. Disney executives presented him with framed art depicting him playing alongside some of the new characters on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. “Oh man, this is very cool. Wow,” exclaimed Morton.

Along with Morton, fellow New Orleans musician, Grammy Award-winner and Oscar nominee Terence Blachard are contributing musically to the new attraction.

Similar to how New Orleans can have different sounds coming from every street corner, Zydeco music will find its way into the attraction along with what can be considered traditional New Orleans jazz.

The Bayou Hurricane Katrina, a Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that made landfall in August 2005, devastating the state of Louisiana and the region in a manner that remains unprecedented, shifted the Louisiana Bayou in a way that it will never look the same again. In many ways that is a good thing, according to bayou guides with Cajun Encounters Tour Company.

The same way that there are routes that will never be entered

A mural outside of Dooky Chase’s restaurant has an image of legendary chef and businesswoman Leah Chase along with her motto. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

their trips.

The Historic New Orleans Collection has many important pieces of the city’s history on display, including the cornet Louis Armstrong learned to play with as a child. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

again, there are now new byways through the bayou that didn't always exist. What remains are the whiskey trees, plants, and wildlife that make the bayou a special place to find inspiration for songs, books, poems, and of course, a Disney film and a forthcoming attraction.

Disney Imagineers and animators

took tours through the bayou to better understand what a bayou adventure would look, feel and smell like.

For those not lucky enough to have traveled down the bayou by motor boat, the attraction will attempt to bring you into and through it.

“We like to say that the bayou is magic,” Carter said while describing

The History New Orleans looks a certain way.

You can't properly capture the image of the city without knowing its history. The Historic New Orleans Collection, a local museum, research center and book publisher, assisted in giving Disney Imagineers a more clear picture of the city, both past and present.

Almost a dozen Disney Imagineers have been in and out of the museum during the research period.

What they saw are priceless relics that include paintings, statues, Madi Gras costumes, trumpets, including the one Louis Armstrong played as a youth while incarcerated at the Colored Waif's Home.

“They have an understanding of how important it is to interpret the story of New Orleans through a broader network,” Daniel Hammer, The Historic New Orleans Collection president and CEO told The Atlanta Voice.

Hammer acknowledged that there were materials that Disney Imagineers took home with them to study. There were no stones unturned.

On the amount of historical research being done for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Hammer said, “I’ve been impressed with how they have immersed themselves in that.”

Page 10 • June 2-8, 2023 • theatlantavoice.com

Business

ONLINE

‘Sesame Street’ welcomes its first Filipino muppet

MARTA partners with Kia, Hyundai to prevent vehicle theft at rail stations

BY ISAIAH SINGLETON

T

he Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Police Department (MPD) is partnering with car manufacturers Kia and Hyundai to provide steering wheel locks to car owners after an increase in incidents involving these vehicles while parked at rail stations.

Police nationwide noticed a spike in thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles after a post on social media showed how to start these cars without a key. The car manufacturers will provide 640 steering wheel locks, at no cost to MARTA, to help deter and prevent these thefts.

“MARTA has experienced a significant decrease in crime over the past few years, so when we saw an increase in theft and vandalism of Kia and Hyundai vehicles, we worked to determine the cause and quickly implement this deterrent,” said MARTA Deputy Police Chief Willie Davenport.

MPD officers distributed the steering wheel locks to MARTA patrons who own a

A Doraville bound MARTA train arrives at the Five Points transit station on Thursday, August 11, 2022. Photo by: Itoro N. Umontuen / The Atlanta Voice

Kia or Hyundai model year 2011 – 2022, Thursday, May 25 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at College Park Station. The station is located at 3800 Main St., and the event took place in the east parking lot near the faregates.

MARTA requested owners to bring proof

of vehicle ownership.

MPD reports 17 incidents involving Kia and Hyundai vehicles since the beginning of the year, two occurring this past weekend. Other metro Atlanta law enforcement agencies are also reporting an increase in

thefts of Kia and Hyundai cars and have launched similar steering wheel lock giveaways.

Kia and Hyundai car owners who regularly park at any MARTA rail station can also expect a flyer on their windshield in the coming days with information on how to claim a wheel lock.

Distribution of the wheel locks was part of MPD’s commitment to reducing crime on the transit system. In the past two years, MARTA has seen a 17 percent reduction in Part 1 crimes (violent and property crimes), specifically a 32% reduction in robberies.

Additionally, MPD boasts an 87 percent clearance rate for robberies, meaning a criminal was arrested, charged, or turned over to the court system for prosecution.

MPD also recently achieved state law enforcement certification, a complex process established to ensure agencies are held to the highest standards of safety and was awarded the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Gold Standard Award for its security program.

Museum of Illusions opens permanent location in Atlantic Station

BY JANELLE WARD The Museum of Illusions, a franchise of attractions operating in more than 25 countries, opened its Atlanta location on Friday, May 19, offering an interactive visual experience designed to engage visitors using a series of immersive exhibits and optical illusions.

Atlanta joins the ranks of Chicago, Dallas, Washington D.C., New York City and many other major cities across the U.S. and world in opening the museum, now finding its permanent home on the second floor of Midtown’s Atlantic Station.

The attraction features a collection of illusion rooms, images and installations for visitors to navigate during their 45-90-minute walkthrough. According to the MOI’s website, the spectacle aims to educate guests about the limits of the human mind, including the disconnect that exists between the

brain and eyes.

Renee Cooper, marketing manager for the MOI’s Atlanta location, said the museum’s CEO, Jonathan Benjamin, announced during the venue’s ribbon-cutting last week that Atlanta will soon serve as the headquarters for the company’s North American ventures, making the city an ideal choice to open an additional museum in preparation for this summer. “[Benjamin’s] home is here in Atlanta,” Cooper said. “And Buckhead, Atlanta is going to be the location for the United States headquarters.”

Cooper also said that the Atlanta museum is the largest of all facilities in operation, utilizing more than 10,000 square feet of commercial space.

The museum will continue spreading its reach across the United States over the next several months, preparing to open addition-

The Museum of Illusions opened an Atlanta location this month. Atlanta joins New York, Chicago, Dallas and Washington, D.C. and others. Photo by: Janelle Ward / The Atlanta Voice

al locations in Denver, Boston, Houston, Las Vegas, Nashville, Seattle and San Diego.

Visitors may purchase tickets at the door on the day of attendance, or schedule and pay ahead of time. Tickets cost $29 for visitors aged 13 or older and $24 for children aged 5-12. Children under the age of five may enter the museum for free. The MOI also of-

fers discounts for seniors and military members, with appropriate identification at the facility. The venue does not accept cash as a form of payment.

The museum operates from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Sundays through Thursdays, and from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

theatlantavoice.com • June 2-8, 2023 • Page 11

Business

BUSINESS PROFILE

Black Business Profile: Artist Lauren Lacy showcases the beauty in Black excellence with denim through her art Lauren Lacy, owner and artist/ designer of Miss Lacy Studios, at the Natural Hair Show showcasing her art. Photo by: Isaiah Singleton / The Atlanta Voice

BY ISAIAH SINGLETON Starting out as a children’s book illustrator, Denim artist and designer Lauren Lacy, began her Atlanta-based business Miss Lacy Studios in 2007 and her denim brand, MLS Denim in 2018.

If she had to describe her company, Lacy said Miss Lacy Studios/MLS Denim is a place where imagination and creativity come together. Her job as an artist, she said, is to bring her client’s ideas to life in a one-of-a-kind way.

“Whether I am creating a denim portrait, a children’s book, a one-of-a-kind denim jacket, a mixed media painting (the list goes on and on) I do it to the best of my ability and will go above and beyond to make sure what I create brings a smile (or happy tears) to my client’s face(s),” she said.

Additionally, Lacy was also at the Natural Hair Show event back in April where she talked with the Atlanta Voice about her work and passion.

Lacy said her art is considered “mix medium” where she paints with acrylic, but then applying denim accents on top of them. She also creates jewelry using pleather and sometimes denim.

She also said denim has always been a love of hers and she’s been doing denim for about a year and a half now but has been drawing since she was two years old.

Prior to starting denim, Lacy was a children’s book illustrator because she went to Savannah College of Art and Design to be a comic book artist.

“I started out distressing denim, creating denim jackets, and repurposing denim as well, so it kind of transitioned into creating this because I love fashion, but I’m also a children’s book illustrator, so creating characters come natural to me and I wanted to celebrate Black women as well,” she said. “I love the fact that I get to experiment with different skin tones, hairstyles, different hair textures, doing the head wraps, the locs, the flowers, the butterflies, I’m just happy I get to experiment.”

To check out and purchase Lacy’s work, visit https://www.etsy.com/shop/MLSDenim. Also follow Lacey via Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/misslacystudios/. You can also find Lacy on YouTube.

The Atlanta Voice: Why did you decide to start your business?

Lauren Lacey: So, I started my business during the recession under Bush. My

Beyoncé-Black Is King in Denim. Photo courtesy of MLSDenim

Malcolm X in Denim. Photo courtesy of MLSDenim

friends and I DID NOT graduate at the best time, so the only opportunities we were able to obtain were contract, temp and freelance. It was because of the lack of opportunities that I began my career as a freelance illustrator/graphic designer and artist.

AV: Was there a moment that inspired you to start this business?

LL: I would not really say there was a time that “inspired” me…it was more about “Hey I need to pay my bills and get some income coming in, so let’s go!” LOL. AV: Is there a mentor in your life that inspired/inspires you as a business owner?

LL: Most definitely! My friend and mentor Jerell Gantt (@imitationbyjerell) has been there with me and for me since Day 1 of my denim artist journey. He is and continues to be so successful in his career as a full-time artist. His drive, work ethic, and commitment to his growth as an artist has truly inspired me to continue my journey of getting better and challenging myself!

AV: You attended the Natural Hair Show back in April where we met. What was the importance for you as a Black artist to attend the show and get your work out there?

LL: The importance of coming to a venue like the Natural Hair Show, especially for artists, is exposure because you never know who you’re going to meet there, and you can gain clients as well. You never

know who’s going to refer you to someone else. Last year I did a piece on Malcolm X for a show and the person who bought it knew (Football Coach) Deion Sanders and got permission to do a piece for him.

I never thought in a million years that the piece would result in that, so you never know who’s going to be there, a lot of people are incognito. Also, the environment is very warm, very inviting, and supportive because I think a lot of our people don’t see a lot of Black artists a lot, especially Black female artists too. It shocks them.

AV: What are your business goals for the remainder of the year?

LL: My goals are to continue to do as many events as possible showcasing my art, networking with new and hopeful clients, continuing to build my following and number of supporters and get my income in the 5 figures!!!

AV: Any advice to future business owners about taking the plunge?

LL: Oh wow…hmmm…honestly JUST GO FOR IT!! One of the hangups that I always had before I started a new venture was, I would always overthink EVERYTHING (literally!) And it is because of this that I would sometimes miss opportunities. Nothing is ever going to be truly perfect so stop thinking that you must “wait for the perfect time.” Sometimes the best inventions, creations, and ideas appear and are created at the most non-perfect time.

Page 12 • June 2-8, 2023 • theatlantavoice.com

Arts

STAY UP TO DATE WITH OUR EVENTS CALENDAR theatlantavoice.com/events

Review: Halle Bailey showcases siren-like vocals, shines throughout the Little Mermaid

BY ISAIAH SINGLETON

T

he Living Live Foundation hosted a private community screening of Disney’s beloved classic, The Little Mermaid starring Atlanta’s own Halle Bailey Thursday night.

This special inaugural nonprofit event brought local underserved children and families the opportunity to experience a magical evening to enjoy the live-action reimagining of this Disney Oscar-winning animated musical experience expense free.

The screening was also in partnership with Atlanta Mayor's Office of Film, Entertainment & Nightlife; Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services; and ATL Year of The Youth Initiative. For more information about the organization, visit https:// www.livinglivefoundation.org/ Halle Bailey makes Princess Ariel her own: The Little Mermaid Review (2023) “But a mermaid has no tears, and therefore she suffers so much more.”

- Hans Christian Andersen, The Little Mermaid There’s always been a special place in my heart for the Little Mermaid as a child, as I can remember clear as day, I would sing my heart out to “Kiss The Girl” by Ashley Tisdale when it would come on Disney Channel during commercial breaks.

The reimagined live-action version takes the cake for me though.

From the moment it starts, you are laser-focused on the movie. The voices, the cinematography, the acting, and the music bring this movie to life and does not disappoint.

Essentially, the movie has themes surrounding Ariel coming into her own as a woman, her purpose, acceptance, freedom, life and what she wants. The Little Mermaid live action exudes in Disney magic and if you are anything like me, Disney magic somehow always leaves you feeling how you felt as a kid.

We’ve all heard and seen the story of the 1989’s version The Little Mermaid and that was iconic on its own.

Living Live Foundation hosted a private community screening of The Little Mermaid, Thursday, May 25, 2023. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice

Now fast forward to 2023, where Atlanta’s own Halle Bailey stars as Princess Ariel. Despite some blatantly racist backlash, the excitement for Bailey’s role as Ariel has been brewing ever since it was announced she would be in the movie and now the time is finally here.

First off, I want to say Bailey did her thing with this role. She has the voice and acting talent, and I am so proud of her! I loved the idea of Ariel having locs to truly represent Black culture as well. The scene’s with her locs are truly done very well.

Additionally, The Little Mermaid has a star-studded cast with of course the phenomenal Melissa McCarthy as The Sea Witch Ursula, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, Noma Dumezweni as Queen Selina, Awkwafina as Scuttle, and more. The chemistry between all the actors and actresses is also a sight to see. I love the interactions between Ariel and Ursula. It’s something so convincing about McCarthy playing an evil sea witch that I love so much.

Also, we all knew Bailey could

The special inaugural nonprofit event brought local underserved children and families the opportunity to experience a magical evening to enjoy the live-action reimagining of this Disney Oscar-winning animated musical experience expense free. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice

sing, but she blew it out the water (no pun intended) with this movie.

My favorite song from the movie is Bailey’s rendition of “Part of Your World”. The scene is so captivating, and Halle’s voice is as soothing and hypnotic as a siren. There’s also something magical about watching this movie with a theater full of Black people. The entire theater was in awe and yelling, “You betta” and giving praise to Halle’s vocal ability.

It was truly a moving experience.

Another moment I loved about the movie is the comedic relief that is Scuttle, Flounder, and Sebastian.

These three are hilarious throughout the movie, especially Scuttle and Sebastian. I’m a very “mushy” individual, so the romance scenes made me tear up a bit, but it was such a good feeling to also catch a laugh throughout it too. The movie, to me, brings out your inner child and makes you

feel so warm inside.

By the end of the movie, everyone was giving the movie a standing ovation and the little girls were ecstatic seeing a girl that looked like them on the big screen.

All in all, The Little Mermaid is a must see. It’s such a cute, reimagined movie that anyone can enjoy.

Halle’s voice alone will make you tear up and I’m not exaggerating.

She was the perfect person to play Ariel. Amazing job to everyone involved, but I personally enjoyed Halle and McCarthy’s performances the most. Even for people who may not have watched the original movie, this one is worth the watch. 10 out of 10! Take your kids, family, or go by yourself. It’ll make you feel like a little kid again, something light-hearted, fun, magical, and engaging.

Also, the 2023 Little Mermaid soundtrack features all the memorable songs from the original 1989 animated film, plus four new original songs. To stream or buy the soundtrack featuring Halle Bailey, visit https://shorturl.at/hrFNQ or stream the soundtrack on your favorite streaming platforms as well.

theatlantavoice.com • June 2-8, 2023 • Page 13

Arts

Up on two stages: Acting icon, Keith Arthur Bolden's double life as professor and professional

PRESENTED BY

A spectacular new musical filled with adventure and romance, all under the big top of a traveling circus.

Keith Arthur Bolden, a native of Los Angeles, has a busy schedule as an actor and professor.

Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

BY NOAH WASHINGTON

K

eith Arthur Bolden is an accomplished actor, writer, and director who has graced our screens in projects such as Till, Black Lightning, Bel-Air, The Inventor, and countless others. Born in Los Angeles, California, Bolden held an affinity for the stage from a young age, going so far as to perform his own original stage show around the age of 9.

“When I was about nine, I wrote a play, produced it at home. It was a play about the birth of Christ. I had never seen a play, and I wrote one. After my family saw it, nobody said we should get him into a theater class.

Nobody did anything. So in hindsight, that killed whatever I was trying to do up to that age. I was reaching out by drawing, dancing, and turning pots into drums. Nobody put me in a dance class, music lessons or anything.

So it just went dormant,” Bolden told The Atlanta Voice.

But nevertheless, Bolden persisted. Attending Fresno State for undergrad for journalism, Bolden’s love of the performing arts would be rejuvenated by his mentor and the first Black professor of theater at the institution, Thomas Whit Ellis. “Thomas Whit Ellis, my frat brother, my mentor, changed my life. He came to the university 101 classes to recruit people to audition for The Colored Museum by George C. Wolfe. I wanted to get to know people, I knew no one, so I did it, I auditioned, and subsequently changed my major. I've been a theater person ever since,” Bolden said.

Subsequently, Bolden found himself as an educator as an associate professor of drama at Spelman College, where he has been for the last ten years. Utilizing his own personal network, Bolden produces his own proj-

ects to help his students be prepared for the working world of the performing arts.

“Every time I direct a show, I start at home first. What's here first, what's in Atlanta. I've cast colleagues in productions I have directed; Hands Up started at Spelman and Morehouse with my students, but when I got the opportunity to do it at the Alliance, I tapped Alexis Woodard to be my co-director. I had three former students in the show. Initially, my lighting designer was a colleague, also at Spelman. The choreographer is a dance professor at Spelman. I directed Two Trains Running in North Carolina, and I cast a former student. I also gave two other local Atlanta actors the opportunity to join the actors' union by being cast in that show. So I try to create opportunities for people. I look at home first because I feel like that wasn't done for me a lot. And so opportunities were missed on me because I just wasn't allowed to be seen for a project. I didn't get better at auditioning until I moved here for TV and film because I just have more opportunities to do so,” Bolden told The Atlanta Voice.

A great part of Bolden’s resume finds him playing in period pieces. This includes work such as Till, a biographical drama about the murder of Emmett Till during the 1950s, and one of his newest short films, The Inventor, about the true life of Garrett Morgan, inventor of the modern gas mask. “Period pieces are my jam. I think I have a neutral kind of look and appeal that is traditionally handsome and non-threatening. But I can be threatening. I'm a character actor,” Bolden said.

Bolden is set to film a new movie with Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, and Pierce Brosnan followed by a new TV show, Clean Slate with Laverene Cox and George Wallace filming in Savannah.

Book by RICK ELICE Music by PIGPEN THEATRE CO. Based on the novel by SARA GRUEN Directed by JESSICA STONE

JUN 7–JUL 9 On the Coca-Cola Stage

Book your tickets today at alliancetheatre.org/elephants 1280 PEACHTREE ST NE // ATLANTA, GA 30309

Page 14 • June 2-8, 2023 • theatlantavoice.com

Sports

ONLINE

These simple daily activities can help ward off back pain

Atlanta remains unbeaten during past four matches, heading to LA next

BY DONNELL SUGGS On Wednesday night the attendance inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium was reported at 42,915. Not a single one of those people should have been shocked when Thiago Almada's seventh goal of the season found the back of the New England Revolution net in the 74th minute. So when Miguel Berry scored the go-ahead goal to put United ahead 3-2 the shock and awe factor in the stadium finally reached a fever pitch.

New England would tie the match in the 93rd minute, but United's unbeaten streak extended to four straight matches.

Atlanta has scored 11 goals during that stretch, including a 4-0 victory over Colorado and a pair of 3-3 draws.

What's Next: United will be back on the road Wednesday, June 7 when they face LAFC (7-4-1

overall). The Five Stripes will return home Saturday, June 10 to host D.C. United (5-5-6 overall) at 7:30 p.m.

Giorgos Giakoumakis scores again Greek import Giorgos Giakoumakis scored his ninth goal of the season Wednesday night. "Today we were using him way better in terms of the build up," Atlanta United manager Gonzalo Pineda said during the postgame press conference. Pineda complimented Giakoumakis' "overall performance and effort" during the 3-3 draw.

Giakoumakis played 84 minutes Wednesday night. Pineda said that he wanted to play him less, but couldn't afford to take him out of a match that was as hotly contested as the New England draw quickly became during the second half.

"I have to manage his load and today I took a bit of risk on the amount of minutes I kept

Atlanta United forward Giorgos Giakoumakis fires a shot on goal during the second half of a match against the New England Revolution on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Photo by Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice

Yako on the field," Pineda explained. "He needs to build his fitness and we are working on that."

The 84 minutes was the most playing time Giakoumakis has had in the past seven matches.

males ages 13 to 24 saw a 27% drop in infections — compared to 36% among Hispanic and Latino males and 45% among white males.

Rochelle P. Walensky, director at the CDC, said the nation’s “HIV prevention efforts continue to move in the right direction,” but barriers are getting in the way of equitable healing.

“Longstanding factors, such as systemic inequities, social and economic marginalization and residential segregation, however, stand between highly effective HIV treatment and prevention and people who could benefit from them,” she said in a statement. “Efforts must be accelerated and strengthened for progress to reach all groups faster and equitably.”

fective prevention and treatment options than ever before,” Robyn Neblett Fanfair, Acting Director of CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention, said.

To meet the CDC’s goal of reducing HIV infections by 75% by 2025, each group needs a 50% prescription rate, but that hasn’t happened yet. Systemic barriers — racism, stigma, homophobia, and poverty — make it difficult.

Among U.S. women, Black women account for 60% of new HIV infections. In a July 2022 study, a group of researchers at North Carolina University conducted focus groups to find out why.

After speaking with 48 Black women who lived in public housing in a southern town, the team found that medical distrust, discrimination, classism, gender power dynamics, and poor environmental conditions contribute to the disparity.

“Our findings confirm the need to develop HIV intervention programming addressing intersectional identities,” the researchers wrote.

The longer it takes to reach Black and other marginalized communities, the more dangerous the disease becomes. More than 290,000 Black Americans have died from stage three HIV, or AIDS, since the epidemic started in the 1980s.

“In prevention, patience is not a virtue,” Mermin said.

HEALTH

The Fight Against HIV: Progress Made, But Racial Equity Still Out of Reach New data from the CDC reveals that infections slowed over the last few years, but barriers limited progress in the Black community.

BY ALEXA SPENCER

A

mericans ages 13 to 24 are the second highest age group impacted by HIV diagnoses, but new data reveals a significant drop in infections.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, estimated annual infections dropped from 9,300 in 2017 to 6,100 in 2021.

The decrease occurred mostly among young gay and bisexual males, who account for 80% of new infections in the 13-to-24 age group.

The dip resulted in a 12% overall decrease in infections among Americans. Jonathan Mer-

min, Director of CDC’s National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, said the progress shows “what is possible.”

“But ending the HIV epidemic and achieving equity requires we expand this progress to all,” he said in a statement.

HIV Prevention and Care Isn’t Accessed Equally The data suggests that HIV testing, treatment, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) reached more males since 2017 — but the impact wasn’t felt across all races.

After several years of HIV prevention and treatment efforts, Black gay and bisexual

Black People Face Unique Barriers Black people make up more than 40% of new HIV infections, but account for only 13% of the national population. Despite their overrepresentation, they benefit from prevention and care the least.

According to the 2021 data, only 11% of Black folks who were eligible for PrEP were prescribed the drug, which reduces the risk for HIV contraction through sex by 99%. On the other hand, 21% and 78% of Hispanic and Latino, and white people received prescriptions, respectively.

“At least three people in the U.S. get HIV every hour — at a time when we have more ef-

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