Five pages were devoted to Georgia in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s federal indictment of Donald J. Trump with considerable mentions of activities that might pique the interest of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Georgia was mentioned forty-eight times in Jack Smith’s indictment which lays out the former president’s attempt to defraud the United States. The indictment referenced events including the November 25th, 2020 lawsuit against Dominion Voting Machines and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp erroneously claiming “massive voter fraud.” It also includes the December 14, 2020 meeting led by for-
mer Georgia GOP Chairman David Shafer to nominate Trump for President and the infamous January 2, 2021 phone call in which Trump asked for “11,780 votes.”
While Stacey Abrams officiated the real and ceremonial certification of the actual Georgia results, Shafer officiated what was described as an “education meeting” along with the following individuals:
Then-State Senator and current Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, State Senator Shawn Still of Norcross, Cathleen Alston Latham (the former Coffee County GOP Chairwoman), Joseph Brannan, James “Ken” Carroll, Vikki Townsend Consiglio, Carolyn Hall Fisher (former Forsyth County GOP Chair and former vice-chair of the Georgia GOP),-
Mark Amick, John Downey, Daryl Moody, Brad Carver and C.B. Yadav
The Georgia Republican Party has since retained legal counsel in efforts to protect these individuals from any possible legal entanglement.
Speaking of those results, the Special Counsel’s indictment also references Trump’s insistence of challenging the results in Georgia, even though he knew he was running a fool’s errand. Why? His options at that time were running out because his legal challenges in Arizona, Michigan, and Pennsylvania were unsuccessful.
The first recount revealed no fraud. President Trump would continue to fight the re -
sult, even though his wish for a recount was approved due to the percentage margins. Trump also falsely claimed that 10,000 dead people voted and there was rampant fraud at State Farm Arena.
“Working as an engineer throughout my life, I live by the motto that numbers don’t lie,” Raffensperger said. “As secretary of state, I believe that the numbers that we have presented today are correct. The numbers reflect the verdict of the people, not a decision by the secretary of state’s office or of courts or of either campaign.”
Meanwhile, Sidney Powell, a likely one of the six unnamed co-conspirators in
Continued from page 2
Special Counsel Jack Smith’s federal indictment, used the proverbial blow torch and fanned the flames. The following comments and her conduct have been referenced throughout Smith’s and Willis’s investigations:
“Georgia’s probably going to be the first state I’m going to blow up and Mr. Kemp and the secretary of state need to go with it,” Powell said. “Because they’re in on the Dominion scam with their last-minute purchase or award of a contract to Dominion of $100 million. The state bureau of investigation for Georgia ought to be looking into financial benefits received by Mr. Kemp and the secretary of state’s family about that time.”
On January 3rd, Trump infamously called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and told him, “I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have.”
Fani Willis announced she’d open her investigation into Trump’s activities in Georgia in February 2021.
Fulton County Sheriff says he’ll treat Trump like anyone else
With those events serving as a backdrop, Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat told everyone during a Tuesday afternoon press conference that his office would be ready to receive the former United States president if he were to be indicted.
“If an indictment came today, we would be ready,” said Labat. “We look forward to an opportunity to show the world that we are ready.”
Labat added that the sheriff’s office will follow, “normal practices, and so it doesn’t matter your status. We’ll have mug shots ready for you.”
Those practices also include fingerprints. For Trump’s sake, it may or may not include a photo-op for a perp walk.
Labat also said his team has learned from previous indictments in New York City, Miami and now Washington, D.C. The sheriff said they are preparing while collaborating with local, county, state and federal law enforcement.
Tuesday’s press conference comes after District Attorney Willis received disparaging and racist emails with threats to her, Sheriff Labat, and others within the county as Trump’s legal troubles can potentially shift to Georgia.
BY JULIANNE MALVEAUX
The Biden Administration has been pushing hard for credit for its significant economic successes. Coining the phrase ‘Bidenomics,’ the term is meant to direct attention towards the administration’s striking successful economic agenda. Under President Biden, the rate of inflation has been more than cut in half, employers have created more than 13 million jobs, wage growth has outpaced inflation, and the unemployment rate of Black workers is at a record-breaking, historic low. Now, the administration wants the public to give them credit.
Yet, the key to widespread public support is not through grandiose statements or flashy catchphrases. Instead, it is through the ongoing prioritization of policy that enhances the everyday, lived experiences of Americans—especially Black Americans. On this front, the FTC can play a crucial role.
The Federal Trade Commission is charged with protecting American consumers from everyday threats permeating the domestic marketplace. Appointed by President Biden, Lina Khan now serves as Chair of the Commission, and she has adopted a unique, ultra-progressive approach to the FTC’s mandate.
Soon after assuming leadership, Chair Khan de-prioritized the consumer welfare standard, a time-tested precedent that puts individual wellbeing at the forefront of any and all policy discussion, deeming it “too narrow.” Instead, the Commission has embraced a broad view of consumer well-being, focusing on antitrust cases that could theoretically have sweeping, long-term impacts on the economy. While I appreciate this approach, a loss of focus on the FTC’s bread-and-butter consumer protection issues could have a devastating impact on Americans’ economic wellbeing, especially those most vulnerable.
We have already witnessed the consequences of a loss of focus on fundamental issues at the FTC. As the Commission focused their energy on theoretical risks rather than real threats posed to consumers, consumer fraud cases soared. From 2021 to 2022, fraud losses increased by over 30%. Last year, alone, consumers lost $8.8 billion to fraudsters—and Black Americans are disproportionately suffering from the consequences of this tragic phenomenon.
According to the FTC’s Serving Communities of Color report, “predominantly Black communities filed consumer reports at a higher rate than predominantly White or Latino communities.” Beyond that, Black and Latino individuals have reported higher instances of fraud via
payment methods that do not have refundable protections. Without a solution from the FTC, they remain at a loss—exacerbating income inequality for consumers already working in traditionally marginalized communities.
Americans are increasingly turning to gig economy work to make up for losses to increasing fraud, to keep up with rapid inflation, or simply to gain extra spending money. In fact, Black and Hispanic individuals are most likely to take up gig-work, compromising over half of workers in the industry. Nearly one-third of Hispanic adults have earned money through the gig economy, while over a quarter of African American adults have earned money through these platforms.
Despite this trend, Lina Khan has now turned her attention to gig economy workers, with the commission vowing to “use its full authority” to investigate gig companies and worker practices. At an FTC Open Meeting, app-based workers warned the Commission against pursuing unnecessary legislation. Advocacy groups like the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and National LGBT Chamber of Commerce called on the FTC to consider that these apps serve as a resource to members looking empower themselves through another income stream.
Yet their pleas went unconsidered, and Khan decided to release a policy statement giving the FTC the power to regulate the American labor
market in the form of gig-worker regulation— despite the fact that opposing Commissioners claimed the decision “meanders in and out of our jurisdiction into matters of employment law.” Once again, Khan prioritized her own agenda despite what Americans were telling her they needed on the ground. In the name of individual American wellbeing, this trend cannot continue.
The Biden administration claims its goal is to “lower costs and help entrepreneurs and small businesses thrive.” To achieve this, the FTC must recommit to its most fundamental pillar: the consumer welfare standard. This commitment will especially benefit Black Americans, who have become innocent bystanders as foolhardy legislation renders them even more vulnerable at the hands of scammers.
When Americans feel the impact of thoughtful policy, they will be vocal in their support. From gig-economy workers to small business owners to high level corporate executives—every single American benefits from a vigorous FTC committed to protecting consumer interests. It’s time that the FTC recommit to the day to day needs of consumers, rather than distant, theoretical policy ideals that do nothing benefit lived experiences of Americans.
FOUNDED
May 11, 1966
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Ed Clayton Immortalis Memoria
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J. Lowell Ware Immortalis Memoria
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“I did my best, and God did the rest”
— Hattie McDaniel
The Atlanta Voice
With the world in such a tumultuous state, you could say that this is when faith can and is tested.
For some people, tragic world events just might make you question the existence of the God we profess to believe in.
I have to often remind myself that most of what happens to me is a direct result of my doing, the choices I’ve made, the lack of having God internalized and called upon throughout my decision-making process.
In not doing so, a lot of the goings on in this world get simplistically reduced to what I call the view from a religious perspective. I mean think about it.
Most of today’s tension and conflict get interpreted at a very base level in terms of radical religious behavior in the name of one God or another.
News media, at times, tend to minimize, if not ignore, this and explain it in terms of territorial disputes, political power grabs, oil, and in some cases money and greed. But those who die in these conflicts are usually killed by someone of a different faith.
That faith, or lack thereof, sanction so-called terrorist attacks, suicide bombers and of course righteous retaliation. The God Christians serve
merely has a very different point of view and thereby dictates a different course of action for us.
Jesus teaches peace, love, and understanding and yes, I do know how trite and contrived that sounds.
But the Man was killed for living a life predicated on a love for fellow human beings and a definite intolerance of institutionalized persecution and oppression, particularly by the church, His.
We all know the source of His strength in the midst of what He faced. I guess my question to you is what is the source of your faith in the midst of what the world is facing with you and me in it? That is not a rhetorical question. I find myself in prayer asking God to give me
the wisdom to learn from whatever the experience is that I’m going through, good or bad.
Likewise, I’m also praying for the wisdom to understand what in the world is going on in the world in which we live. The end result is usually the same.
I ultimately have to put all things in the Lord’s hands. Faith demands that I do. His Divine Will certainly supersedes my secular understanding and that is as it should be.
I must admit to you though, that I do, at times, think that man has forced these issues and situations for the same reasons that I find myself feeling like I’m going through hell on some things; a lack of having the one true God embedded in the decision making process.
When that happens, peace (peace of mind in my case) prevails because the outcome is known. I win based on my faith in and acceptance of Jesus as Lord and all that brings with it. The world could use some rigorous training in this.
When it doesn’t happen, chaos reigns. Because in the end, I know what the outcome is going to be. God wins which means I win. Those who believe in Him will also be victorious.
Simply put, you win too. Think about it and you’ll know where your faith is.
May God bless and keep you always.
BY DONNELL SUGGS
BIRMINGHAM, AL. - See you in Chicago. That is where next year's National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention will be in 2024. This year's convention, which wrapped up Sunday morning with the annual Gospel Brunch and NABJ Board of Directors Meeting, took place in the heart of Birmingham, Alabama and the result is I was wrong again.
I once thought that NABJ conventions were for everyone but me. I didn't need to attend a convention with a massive job fair full of national organizations, hundreds of panels featuring professionals from all over the country, and in some cases the world, or be in the same place with thousands of Black journalists that look like me. My career started at Black newspapers in Atlanta- The Atlanta Voice and The Atlanta Daily World- in 2007 and I came up from reporting from the streets and the bleachers of BT Harvey Stadium and CAU Stadium in the Atlanta University Center. I covered the Atlanta Hawks for the past decade and Super Bowls, College Football National Championship games, NBA playoffs and major political campaigns. I didn't need to attend NABJ.
Year after year I would find an excuse to not pay for a trip to Boston, Miami, Washington, D.C., and most recently Las Vegas. Even after my career advanced to the point where I worked for newspapers that could afford to
send to conventions I didn't see why I needed to go. Some of the advertising for conventions seemed to market towards student journalists looking to impress editors, publishers and recruiters. There were also dinners and award ceremonies and that surely isn't my scene. I didn't need to attend NABJ.
I was wrong. Keyword: WAS. I did need to attend NABJ and I plan to attend the convention every year going forward.
Upon arriving Friday morning I immediately ran into Kari Cobham who I had known for years, but primarily through Twitter. We hugged like old friends and that set the tone for the rest of the weekend. Time after time I would see people or be seen by people that I am associated with in some fashion and it was all love. There is no place on Earth that I would see these people at one time, in one
room. Journalists like John Dorman, Marq Burnett, and Carron Phillips. We all have spoken by phone and been connected via social media for years, but in the case of Burnett and Dorman, have never met in person. Longtime friends like Crystal Edmonson and Eric Stirgus, both Atlanta-based journalists, were there too and it was great to see them. I hadn't seen either of them in months.
Over the next two days I attended panels on education justice hosted by the National Education Association (NEA), SWAC football in the post-Deion Sanders era, local reporting that serves your community, and politics of reporting in war zones and natural disasters. The latter had two of my favorite reporters, Sara Sidner and Shaquille Brewster, talking about how they do what they do under extreme pressure. That panel also introduced me to Elvina Nawaguna, the special projects editor at Punchbowl News, an online news outlet. Nawaguna's insights on covering breaking news, particularly regarding climate change, were brilliant. On making climate change stories more appealing to our readers, Nawaguna said, "Try to connect with where they are. Focus on the impact, focus on the community." Sidner added, among many other things, "Try to engage on a human level," while Brewster, who has reported from hurricanes in Florida and the midwest and seen everything that people own tossed away in violent manners, said,
"Put yourself in their shoes."
I believe I will be most impacted by the final panel I attended this weekend, "Recognizing the Elephant in the Room: Black Men in PR." The panel took place at 1:30 p.m. (CT) on a Saturday afternoon and still managed to be packed. It was a pleasure to hear Ron Carter, CEO of The Carter Agency and Neil Foote, president and CEO of Foote Communications and associate dean at the University of North Texas. Both men shared so many stories of their personal journeys, and in the case of Foote, a longtime newspaper reporter at The Miami Herald, Washington Post and Dallas Morning News, inspired me to keep going as I work towards being a better editor. The drive from Atlanta would have been worth it just to attend that panel. There were so many gems mixed in the stories these men told.
On being a Black man in the public relations field, Carter said, "You have to love pr to be a part of it because you're the first person to show up and the last to leave."
Foote left me with a simple yet powerful note about the amount of effort put into being a journalist when he said, "Time is our treasure."
I was wrong about NABJ and I will admit that. I needed to be in Birmingham this weekend. I needed to be around my fellow Black journalists, pr professionals, students, and the like. I'm glad I decided to attend.
See you in Chicago.
I find myself in prayer asking God to give me the wisdom to learn from whatever the experience is that I’m going through, good or bad.
‘Faith tested is real or maybe not’The National Association of Black Journalists convention took place in Birmingham, Alabama this year. Photo by Donnell Suggs/ The Atlanta Voice
BY JANELLE WARD
Atlanta is one of several economies based across the Southeast that appears to thrive from a small business perspective, even in the midst of widespread layoffs, inflation and previous national concerns over a possible recession.
The city has witnessed a surge in privately managed small and medium-sized enterprises over the past few years, contributing to a small business scene that has evolved into an influential sector of its own, making up a significant portion of the overall economy.
Liz Wilke, principal economist at Gusto, a producer of payroll and benefit-management software that helps small and mid-sized businesses operate their ventures, said that Atlanta joins the ranks of Nashville, Charlotte, Jacksonville and a handful of other steadily-growing cities in showing signs of firmness that could lead to increased financial prosperity in the future.
Using data gathered from the businesses acquiring the company’s services, Gusto’s economists analyze current trends in the small business sector across multiple metrics and regions and predict future conditions to better assist their clientele. According to accumulated data, Wilke said that metro areas across the Southeast have maintained a steady rate of employee dismissals overall, the firing or laying off of workers usually during times of downsizing caused by fluctuating demand.
“Other regions have seen a little bit of cooling, mostly driven by lower hiring, but also an uptick in dismissals,” Wilke said. “But we really have not seen that in the Southeastern region.”
Instead, metro Atlanta’s small businesses are choosing to hold onto the employees they’ve already recruited, as opposed to hiring additional talent in the midst of nationwide economic uncertainty. Wilke said that this stagnation, along
with calming inflation and the persistent recovery of the global supply chain, has helped small business owners find stability in their practices, giving them a chance to prepare for future growth.
Following the pandemic, workers have exhibited an increased interest in forging their own small businesses and startups, drifting from the traditional 9-to-5 model in exchange for a work culture that allows for a more favorable work-life balance. The overall volatility of the labor market has also prompted workers to turn to “solopreneurship,” or the opportunity to pursue a personal passion and become their own bosses.
Entrepreneurship gives workers a chance to do away with the aspects of the conventional corporate workplace that have proved unpopular among many demographics of employees, which has manifested into attempted four-day work weeks and increased opportunities for hybrid and remote working. With small businesses, employers are able to create a more flexible and
personable work environment that makes it easier to value employees, and, as a byproduct, yields stronger retention rates among workers.
“There’s all these headlines about big tech companies laying folks off because they’ve overhired and they’re making corrections. But we, in our data, don’t see that uptick in dismissals for small businesses and small business tech, in particular,” Wilke said. “They are playing a role in economic stability that I think is unique and evolving and different from what we previously expected of small businesses.”
While small businesses have historically served as the backbone of America’s economy, they have progressed to have a much larger impact on the economy as a whole. It’s the small business sectors within mid-sized markets that have witnessed some of the most impressive growth over the years, fulfilling a need for additional jobs in local economies and helping change the definition of success for workers in the country.
50CURATED BY ANN HILL BOND, LAMAR STEWART, ODIE DONALD II In partnership with the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office
These letters are an ode of gratitude, a chorus of appreciation resounding through Atlanta's core. Here, we gather the penned sentiments of our city's luminaries—a mosaic of thank-yous dedicated to the heartbeat of our culture: Hip Hop. In Atlanta, Hip Hop isn't just music—it's our heartbeat, synchronizing with the pulse of our dynamic city. These letters, crafted by souls who've danced in spotlights and toiled behind curtains, encapsulate the ecstasy of that first bass drop, the artistry of lyrical tales, and the communal fervor coursing through crowds. We celebrate the beats and the ethos woven into Atlanta's fabric.
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop, I am pleased to reflect on what it means to me personally. I grew up in Southwest Atlanta in Adamsville when Atlanta’s Hip Hop scene began to blossom. Atlanta is the Hip Hop Mecca of the South. The music industry here is plentiful and diverse, producing noteworthy artists in various genres. So, it’s no surprise that some of the biggest names in Hip Hop call Atlanta home. Our city’s history as the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement is tied to the social justice themes often found in the lyrics of rap songs. Hip Hop has greatly influenced Atlanta’s culture, and in turn, Atlanta also transformed this lyrical genre.
I fell in love with Hip Hop when I was about six years old. I can remember hearing music coming from my older sister’s room. That was my first introduction to Hip Hop from artists like Kurtis Blow, Raheem the Dream, Run DMC, KRS-One and more. In high school, I participated in talent shows as a part of a dance crew. We used to gather at Greenbriar Mall and other places in Atlanta to have dance and rap battles with kids from schools throughout the metro area. Music has served as a roadmap for my life.
As a kid, music was an important creative outlet for my friends, and I. I attended school with some of the world’s greatest Hip Hop icons. Music moved us and inspired us to express ourselves in ways that helped shape who we are. I remember the ascension of Hip Hop in Atlanta around the late 80’s and early 90’s. Around that time, I started listening to my favorite Hip Hop group OutKast, as well as other Atlanta rap geniuses like Jermaine Dupri, Organized Noize, Goodie Mob, and Kilo Ali, to name a few.
Hip Hop’s influence will span generations, and our city is a huge part of that revolution. It touches fashion, art, and culture. Hip Hop produced an original sound with beats that stir something deep within us. That’s a feeling you never forget.
Sincerely,
Mayor Andre DickensWith a nod to DJ Kool Herc, a Jamaican pillar in Hip Hop's foundation, we embrace the cross-cultural ties that enriched this movement.
Let's journey through time and sound—a tapestry of heartfelt expressions illuminating Hip Hop's profound impact on our lives, city, and collective spirit. These letters honor the love, memories, and unbreakable bond we share with the beats that forever transformed us.
Crank up the volume, and let the symphony commence.
Hip Hop, you are appreciated.
Dear Hip Hop,
The beautiful thing about memories is that they choose us. We all have memories that we try to hold onto that somehow slip through our grasp. Yet, occasionally, there are times where a memory chooses us, and leaves an enduring mark on the way we see and respond to the world.
Music is central to all of my memories. I’m the son of musicians and the descendant of a bloodline of musically inclined people, so I like to think music is in my blood. Legend has it that my grandfather, John Sterling, sang like Sam Cooke. The sound of my Mom’s piano or my Dad practicing any number of instruments will forever be one of my most comforting memories. Of course, I could never forget those holidays where the Wilcoxson family, over 100 deep, crowded around said piano to form an ad hoc family choir. Between my Dad’s endless record collection of jazz, soul, funk (and an occasional folk album or two) my Mom’s gospel and classical taste, my siblings and I all developed very unique, distinct, and eclectic musical tastes. But for me, there was one genre that spoke uniquely to me that embodied the best of it all, hip hop.
The year was 1998. I was ten years old. I recall the world feeling so big at the time but for the first time feeling like I had the freedom to make my own decisions. This included starting to develop my own tastes in music and by spending more time outside of the house, I started to get exposed to more genres. My earliest memories of hip hop coincides with this time of exploration, running errands around Atlanta with my friends and their older siblings or hanging with my older cousins. Naturally, they are much cooler than we were, so you listen to what they like and start to get an affinity for the music they played. No matter where I was, Saturdays in East Atlanta with Kris and Kendrick, the songs my big cousins kept on repeat, or watching music videos at Torrin’s house all had one thing in common… Outkast and the Dungeon Family.
Dear Hip Hop,
Dr. Mark Baker, known as the "Hip Hop Politician," is one of the Founding Fathers of South Fulton, GA. The former two-term Mayor Pro Tem and District 7 Councilman is best known for bridging the gaps between politics and culture. The extreme Hip Hop advocate and former Congressional candidate was a catalyst for ending the long feud between Kanye West and Drake, as a ripple effect began from his creation of Larry Hoover and Prison Reform Day in South Fulton. When asked when he fell in love with hip hop, the Chicago native states his passion goes back to "The Message" by GrandMaster Flash and the Furious Five, culminating with G.O.D and Gaining One's Definition by Common and Cee-Lo. These two songs highlighted and acknowledged the circumstances of the culture and the method by which he would ultimately navigate through them.
"The Message" is a widely recognized classic song that explains, "It's like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder how I keep from going under." G.O.D. Gaining One's Definition is a less amplified yet profound classic on Common's 1996 album One Day It'll All Make Sense, where he states:
"As a child, given religion with no answer to why
I just told believe in Jesus cuz, for me, he did die Curiosity killed the catechism
Understanding and wisdom became the rhythm that I played to And became a slave to master self
A rich man is one with knowledge, happiness, and health
My mind had dealt with the books of Zen, Tao, the lessons Koran and the Bible, to me, they all vital
And got truth within 'em, gotta read them boys
You just can't skim 'em; different branches of belief
But one root that stem 'em, but people of the venom try to trim 'em
And use religion as an emblem
When it should be a natural way of life
Who am I or they to say to whom you pray ain't right
That's who got you doing right and got you this far
Whether you say "In Jesus' name" or Hum, does Allah
Long as you know it's a bein' that's supreme to you
You let that show towards others in the things you do."
Hip Hop has now merged with popular culture and is 50 years old, causing all walks of life to have gravitated towards it. Dr. Baker laughingly states that we live in a time when we have grandparents with neck tattoos who fear being spotted in Freaknik documentaries. This indicates that Hip Hop has fostered a paradigm shift that can't be denied. Dr. Baker is connecting generations and engaging all demographics to bridge the culture gap by using my Instagram to share hip-hop quotes on various posts and his social media platform. Most recently, his work has culminated with him leading a group of artists and historians in an exploratory commission to bring about the first of its kind Hip Hop and R&B Museum and Hall of Fame…all for the love of the culture!
Mark BakerFormer South Fulton Council Member, Candidate for Congress
I was too young to watch the 1995 Source awards when Andre Benjamin now notoriously put Atlanta on the world stage. But between those Source Awards and the ’96 Olympics, it felt like Atlanta, and hip hop, became the center of the universe, overnight. My family had an on-again, off-again relationship with cable (and a strict daily TV limit to boot), so I depended on local radio to get my hip hop fix and my favorite time to listen I tended to listen was while I did my homework, enjoying the golden era of Atlanta radio. As I sat at my desk, headphones on, I listened intently for whatever song spoke to me in the moment and waited all day for it to come back on to add it to one of my tape-recorded mixtapes. I always had a thing for the B-sides and found out early that while the songs on the radio were good, the ones that didn’t get played were that much better (this later became a mixtape obsession and a constant search for emerging artists, but I digress) and that is what makes what happened next so unique, especially for the times.
Occasionally, when my parents left, I would turn up the stereo system and blast music across the house, turning our living room into my own music studio. One rainy afternoon as I was immersed in my listening pleasure, a song came on that absolutely left me mesmerized. To this day, it remains one of my favorite beats. The pace of the drums and the trippy hypnotic melody seemingly conflict, slowing time in the middle of the progression. I was mesmerized. Lyrically, the lyrics could be seemingly confused and easily overlooked but when you take the time to listen, it made me realize that what I loved most about hip hop was literally, Da Art of Storytellin’ (Pt. 1) and the idea of songs as allegory. Da Art of Storytellin’ was hardly Outkast’s biggest hit. It charted was #67 on the hip-hop charts. To this day that is the only time I ever heard it on the radio. Nonetheless, I’ve been in love with hip hop ever since.
Sterling Johnson Director, Just Opportunity Portfolio Partnership for Southern EquityDear Hip Hop,
Being the youngest of five kids, I often flirted with hip-hop in elementary school, but my full-fledged love for it started in middle school with the Black Rabbeye. I’m pretty sure he was originally from New York. I got invited to a lot of Bar Mitzvahs back then, and this dude was the go-to DJ for all of them. We’d typically be the only Black guys in the room. In 1996, one of his go-to tracks was “ATLiens” by OutKast, and I always anticipated him playing that. I’d ask my crush for a dance, wait for the moment that spaceship sound effect would come over the speakers, and then proudly belt out the line from the chorus – “if you like fish n’ grits and all the pimp sh*t, everybody lemme hear ya oh yayer!” – like I was the third member of the group. I was an outsider in school, but I felt seen in those moments with the Black Rabbeye working his mixes, that song playing. Like the lyrics from Andre and Big Boi, hip-hop culture gave me visibility, purpose, and confidence, the kind of support and love you get from family. I’ll never forget how she made me feel then, now, and forever.
Gavin Godfrey Atlanta Culture JournalistDear Hip Hop,
Ifell in love with you because you became the equivalent of a lion taking the pen and telling the stories of urban America that no one wanted to hear.
In retrospect, NWA told us to F **k the Police long before George Floyd, but we all wondered why they were so angry. Some say I fell in love with hip hop because it started in the East and West, but my southern playas like Andre told us they had something to say!
I fell in love with Hip Hop because it told stories of abandoned houses, drug deals, and hungry babies in the places we wanted to ignore!
I fell in love with hip-hop because T.I. said, I’m from
Bankhead; I’ll take your cookies!
I didn’t have to wonder what he meant because Bankhead is home!
I fell in love with hip-hop because it tells the truth. It’s the good, the bad, the ugly over a dope beat, so we listen even when it’s hard to hear the words.
I would love for the story to change at times, but I also know until the world opens up, including us all.
There will be music makers and storytellers who will make us all uncomfortable, just as Hip Hop did.
Genia Billingsly Writer + Grove Park ResidentDear Hip Hop,
Dear Hip Hop,
I’m young enough to have never known a time without Hip Hop. As a child in rural Alabama, it was a part of the soundtrack of my life. My ALL-TIME favorite artist is Usher and as he blended hip hop with R&B, I was hooked. Today, I love to tell everyone how much I love Trap music and how I have the honor of representing Headland and Delowe for all of my OutKast fans. Southern hip hop was a part of my soundtrack and so many of my teenage and college memories.
Now that I call Atlanta home, I’ve seen up close how hip hop has created economic opportunity for Black Americans. There is a multi-billion dollar ecosystem around hip hop for everyone from artists to producers, agents, lawyers–you name it. This made me fall in love with hip hop in a new way.
As a southern hip hop fan, I’ll say Hip Hop wouldn’t be what it is today without many of the cities I represent in Congress including: Atlanta, College Park, Decatur and East Point. You can’t tell the story of hip hop without the Fighting Fifth. I'm proud to sponsor the resolution that celebrates 50 years of hip hop, and I am a co-sponsor of the RAP Act, which protects the free speech of artists. Because hip hop means so much to me and the people I represent, I love that in my Congressional work I get to promote hip hop and ensure we have 50 more years plus of driving the culture.
Dear Hip Hop,
My love for you is not a moment but a process reflecting different sides of who I am. I first became connected with Hip Hop in college, and the Sugar Hill Gang came out with the famous song “Rapper’s Delight.” I was a fan of the Black oral tradition in music from high school listening to the Last Poets and Rudy Ray Moore. Both groups had their place in my teenage years. Neither was on the radio or underground. Some friends memorized their poems from the record albums of parents or older siblings and relatives and started reciting them on the streets.
I liked the cultural and political message and thrust of the Last Poets, which fit the militancy and Black Power nationalism for a generation wearing Afros, natural hair, rejecting calling ourselves Negros, and the spirit of self-determination and resistance in the air. The witty, naughty, and often vulgar humor and storytelling of Moore resonated differently. Young men like me loved Moore’s tales of Black masculine heroes Dolomite and Shine during a time when Black men would primarily appear on television and cinema as clownish buffoons or docile servants of white men. After high school graduation, movement folks introduced me to other powerful transmitters of the Black oral tradition, particularly Gil Scott Heron, the Watts Prophets, and Amiri Baraka. These artists put poems over African drums, R&B, and Black classical music (so-called jazz).
Moving to Atlanta in the 1980s, my students at Southside High (now Maynard Jackson) began to share their cassette tapes. They dropped Kool Moe Dee, Public Enemy’s (PE) “Bum Rush the Show,” and Boogie Down Productions “Criminal Minded” and “My Philosophy.” These artists not only continued the oral tradition but dropped the consciousness (I.e., the “science”) that inspired my teaching and everyday rhythm.
Hip Hop became an essential vehicle in my teaching, whether at Southside, Atlanta Metro Upward Bound, Morehouse, Clark Atlanta, Georgia States, and particularly in federal prisons. At the suggestion of the political prisoner Dr. Mutulu Shakur, we made it the focus of our curriculum. We organized a Hip Hop Summit at United States Penitentiaries in Atlanta and Coleman (in Central Florida). Utilizing Hip Hop in both institutions and witnessing the growth of some of the young prisoners there became some of the most valuable and rewarding experiences I’ve had in over four decades of being an educator.
Hip Hop is not dead. Its foundation is the oral tradition of our Ancestors from West and Central Africa, nurtured in the folk tales on the plantations. It is a vehicle to express different parts of ourselves, the sacred and the secular, the party and the pain. It continues to grow and is a vehicle to help us grow. Hip Hop is now 50, and guess what? It’s Forever!
Dr. Akinyele Umoja Professor + Author Department of Africana Studies, Georgia State UniversityAn Ode to Outkast from An Atlien 13th Floor / Growing Old featuring Big Rube, Atliens, 1996. The boisterous tenor of Big Rube on the open immediately followed by the harmony like memories of yesterday automatically triggers core memories of time spent in English Avenue with my grandmother and family growing up in Atlanta. As a fifth generation Atlantan, I have had the gift of sight to be a witness of the nostalgia of pre-1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta along with the thriving beauty of the Atlanta we are witnessing today. As I grow old in this amazing City, I am reminded of the love, struggle and fiber of my ancestors as they transitioned from the rural areas of Washington, Ga - a small rural town in Wilkes county, best known for being the place where the Confederacy dissolved itself effectively ending the Civil War as we know it.
Elevators (Me & You), Atliens, 1996. My mother was a single parent with an amazing extended village of which my grandmother served as root and soil for us. As she sought to firm her independence and path for her professional career, we would often ride the 86 Lithonia headed to Decatur together. While on the Marta bus ride, I would look intently out the window while also attempting to dodge the cool air blowing intensely from the window vent. Unknown to others, my Mom included, I would play a game in my head, also known as “Bingo”, coveting the kind of home I wanted, the car I would drive down to the fashion of the women we passed by. My dreams were real and very achievable as growing up in Atlanta allowed for me to experience black excellence in real time, all of the time.
Player’s Ball, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, 1993. This hip hop classic originally released on the LaFace Family Christmas compilation album was an anthem for my cousins and I as we cruised the parking lot of the Greenbriar Flea Market dressed photoshoot ready to see Mr. Harry. He captured the essence of Atlanta with the binders of images he saved, different colored backgrounds to match any fashion ensemble and the standard white pillars as background props.
Upon arrival at the parking lot, we would literally see people that came from far and wide, wearin' afros and braids, kickin' them gangsta rides. Despite my limited comprehension at the time that this classic was in fact a Christmas song as if the lyrical clue of ain’t no chimneys in the ghetto, so I won't be hangin' my socks on no chimney it was an audio illustration of the Atlanta that I’ve grown to love and respect.
Black Ice (Sky High) by Goodie Mob featuring Outkast, 1998. In this season of my personal life and professional career, I seek to find joy in even the smallest of things while marveling at God's wonder. I have the honor of leading the commercial efforts at the busiest airport in the world, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, serving a global community as they take flight and return to land. I am reminded each day that my role and mere existence in the aviation ecosystem is part of the late Honorable Maynard Jackson’s vision and legacy realized. Hence my goal each day to touch what I never touched before, seen what I never seen before, woke up and seen the sun, sky high.
Jai Ferrell Deputy General Manager, Atlanta AirportDear Hip Hop,
Music, in general, has always been a part of me. My father, Felix C. Williams, was a renowned musical genius in his own regard. Playing with such greats as Paul McCartney, Johnny Taylor, James Brown, Joe Tex, Micheal Jackson, just to name a few. My mother, "Ms. Martha," is musically inclined as well. I play several brass instruments which I will explore more in this career season.
But HIP HOP? My journey with you began in elementary school, E.L. Connallly. I was in a hip-hop collective, so to speak; there were rappers, break dancers, and beatboxers in the crew. We called ourselves "The Crusaders." Fast forward to 1985, I went to the OMNI (that's OG Atlanta) to see RUN DMC, L L Cool J, Whodini, The Fat Boys, and others at the "Fresh Fest." When I saw RUN walk out on that stage with such Savoir-faire and stage presence, I knew then that I wanted to do that. The way he and DMC controlled the crowd mesmerized me. I went home and immediately wrote my first rhyme. "Calibrator, modulator, master rap dominator alias a cold creator" was how it started.
Moving along, I met Ceelo Green hanging out in Greenbriar Mall long before we knew each other's musical calling. I recall he was 8 years old, and I was around 11. Who knew that one day we would reunite and become a part of the most incredible hip hop crews ever; The Dungeon Family. Slightly before that induction, I had the opportunity to rhyme on Kool Ace's first album. The song was entitled "Old School Player."
I was born on the right day in the right century at the suitable dispensation of time. A day later, it may not have happened that way. As hip hop turns 50, I am beginning to write my best offerings ever. I have a new three-part album entitled "The Eternal Triad," with the first installment called "Eternal (The Flesh)." It will be in the atmosphere real soon. So it's safe to say, "The rest is history."
Here's to you, "Hip Hop."
The Dungeon Family’s own Backbone
Dear Hip Hop,
First, let me start by saying I was born in Atlanta, Georgia, at Crawford Long Hospital. My mother and I lived off Washington Road in East Point before moving to Savannah, Georgia. Every summer after we moved to Savannah, I would return to Atlanta and spend time with my family. Then at the end of 2004, I moved back to Atlanta permanently and have been here ever since. Upon my return, I became very interested in hip-hop. Much of this was because of my growing interest in the legendary duo 'Outkast.' Outkast stood out because Big Boi was from Savannah, GA, and moved to Atlanta just like me. Big Boi is actually from the same side of town in Savannah and had close family members in my neighborhood 'Cloverdale.'
Nonetheless, their style and being unapologetically southern made them quickly become my favorite rap group. While I was in school, Outkast's "The Whole World" featuring Killer Mike was my ringtone on my phone. This song is where I would be exposed to Killer Mike, who also became one of my favorite artists. Right before I moved back to Atlanta in 2004, I listened to T.I's "I'm Serious" & "Trap Muzik" albums almost every day in Savannah! T.I. quickly became one of my favorite rappers; it was out of him and Savannah legend 'Camouflage' who I listened to most then. I wanted to be just like T.I. growing up; I loved his style and jargon. T.I. made me want to fly! Crazy how things would come full circle because Big Boi, Killer Mike, and T.I. would all become a part of my journey in the music industry.
Now I'm the CEO of my label, "Playas Club Music Group." I have an incredible roster of artists: King Elway, Charlise J, Pimpin Pablo, Big Smitty, Young Bo, and Respekk. I run the label alongside my partners Johnny Cedor and Messiah Freeman, aka Pimp Sweet Tooth. We've garnered a significant buzz as a label over the past couple of years, and Atlanta has supported my newest business venture. I love seeing the progress of my artists going from barely known to many people becoming familiar. I enjoy helping my people accomplish their goals and further their careers. I also own a studio on Covington Hwy called 'Sound Lynk' with my partners Chad Hampton and Roger Vidal. I knew I loved music before, but once I became a label owner, my love for music became unconditional, and now I'm connected to hip-hop more than ever.
Clay James @whoisclayjames
Curator of the City of Atlanta's HH50 activation at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
Dear Hip Hop,
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of your birth, it’s impossible to put into words the depth of appreciation and gratitude I hold for you in my heart. Hip Hop has touched every corner of my life, from influencing my style as a six-year-old begging my mother to buy me a pair of Jordan I’s that were one size too small, to shaping how I view the vibrant culture that shapes and reflects the heartbeat of communities around the globe.
My journey to leadership, fatherhood, public service - manhood has been shaped by Hip Hop. I strive to represent the core values of unity, creativity, and community that Hip Hop champions. My childhood was filled with connections to the likes of future doctors, lawyers, community leaders, athletes and Hip Hop superstars like my next-door neighbor Dungeon Family’s Own Backbone or an occasional baby-sitting session by my childhood friend Willie Brown’s big brother John better known as Little John. Hip Hop’s profound impact on my life ranges from fostering relationships and connections to navigating pathways that go beyond music.
Dear Hip Hop,
Istarted out with a crush when I bought two tapes... Naughty by Nature and Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince. That was '91 or '92. I know... two extremes... fun rap and thug rap. But I've always been complex, and Hip Hop, you allowed me to be different. I loved those tapes, but "Aiesha" by A.B.C. was my favorite song. I remember my older sister playing it in the car, and I had her run it back so many times she got annoyed with me. I was amazed by the power of the music.
It started with a crush, but I fell in love in '94 when I heard "Nappy Heads (Remix)" by the Fugees. Man, I love that song. And then they followed up with "Vocab" and Hip Hop, and we became connected at the heart. The Fugees did it for me. Lauren's genius, Wyclef's musicality, and Pras' weirdness were the right combination. It was perfect. So I thank the Fugees for my relationship with you, Hip Hop. And after the Fugees, it was "Ready to Die" by the greatest rapper of all time, the Notorious B.I.G. He was from Brooklyn, and I'm from Brooklyn. So we connected on a different level. Biggie showed me a path to coolness and originality, and I followed suit.
I love Hip Hop, all your positives and negatives. You gave voice to generations unlike anything before. I hope youth culture preserves the art form. Thank you, Hip Hop, for everything you've done for me.
Ian Ford Atlanta Influences Everything Co-founder
Reflecting on this milestone of fifty years, it’s not lost on me that on August 14th I’ll celebrate my own forty-fifth. Hip Hop and I have grown up together. The intertwining threads that have woven you into the fabric of my existence. From summer camps at Adams Park with Bobby “Valentino” Wilson to teaming up with Jamal Jones aka Polow da Don and Jonathan Tabb aka Moss B as young hoopers or playing alongside Southside superstar Tauheed Epps now known as 2 Chainz during AAU basketball, I learned the relation between the stories that accompany the pulsating rhythm of the music and the bold strokes of fashion and expression that challenge convention. You’ve gifted us a unique tapestry that celebrates diversity, resilience, and self-expression, while equipping us to lead our community.
My heartfelt thanks extend to the countless artists who have poured their souls into your lyrics, melodies, and beats. You’ve provided a platform for previously unheard voices, shedding light on the struggles, dreams, and triumphs of individuals who found solace and strength in your embrace.
The halls of Frederick Douglass High School, where legends like Jarvis and Jonas Hayes, Killer Mike, Jamal Lewis and TI also walked, stand as a monument to your ability to unite individuals. You’ve been the bridge that spans generations, backgrounds, and experiences, creating a common ground where stories are shared dreams are nurtured, and communities grow.
So, on this milestone anniversary, I raise my voice in unison with millions of others with similar experiences and backgrounds to express our deepest gratitude. Thank you, Hip Hop, for the music that has become the soundtrack of our lives, the culture that has enriched our existence, the fertile ground that shaped us, and the unity that has bound us together. May your legacy continue to inspire, uplift, and ignite the flames that inspire generations of leaders to come. Your biggest fan, Odie Donald II
One hundred young Black girls from East Orange, Newark, and Hillside took a trip to Yale University to participate in the Black Girls Go to Yale initiative.
The initiative, which was created last year by Dr. Ijeoma Opara, brings young Black girls to New Haven, Connecticut, to tour the Ivy League campus, meet the many Black women who work there, and see for themselves that higher education is an attainable goal. The theme for their trip was “You Be -
long in the Room.”
Dr. Opara, director of Yale University’s Substances & Sexual Health (SASH) Lab, founded the Black Girls Go to Yale initiative under the auspices of her research-based Dreamer Girls Project (DGP). The DGP employs Black girl focus groups that develop sexual health and drug use prevention programs for Black girls.
The DGP has also morphed into a Black girl empowerment project, Dr. Opara explained to the AmNews.
“It basically gets Black girls interested in public health so that they could be the ones
actually making public health studies in the future,” Opara says. “It’s my way to bring Black girls into public health, to get them excited about research, so that they could be the ones leading these prevention projects that are for Black girls, by Black girls. One of the ways that I want to get Black girls interested in public health is by bringing them to a place like Yale.”
The 100 girls who visited the university were preceded by 25 girls from Patterson. This past January, Dr. Opara also brought 9-year-old Bobbi Wilson to Yale to ensure she was honored for the work she’s done eradicating spotted lanternflies in her hometown of Caldwell, New Jersey.
Born and raised in Jersey City, Dr. Opara says she knows the challenges young Black
girls face in urban communities. After her parents passed away when she was 16, she had little exposure to places like top colleges.
“Nobody is telling them you can go to Yale, you can go to Harvard, you can go to Dartmouth, nobody’s exposing them to these things,” she said.
Working with community partners throughout New Jersey, Dr. Opara envisioned the Black Girls Go to Yale initiative. Her ultimate goal is to bring 1,000 Black girls to Yale over the next couple of years. Young Black girls interested in participating in the Black Girls Go to Yale initiative can contact Dr. Opara at www.oparalab.org.
The article appeared first on New York Amsterdam News, a member of the NNPA
In partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Destination Tomorrow recently launched their first food pantry in Buckhead.
Access to fresh and healthy foods is essential to the health and wellness of communities, and food scarcity/food deserts are huge issues across the U.S., especially for low-income Black and Brown communities.
The pantry is stocked with fresh fruits, vegetables, canned goods, meats, and more. The food bank is widely available to community members around the Destination Tomorrow center.
Destination Tomorrow is an LGBTQ+ center based in New York and opened its doors to the Atlanta community in May 2022. Known for providing crucial services including healthcare, career readiness, financial literacy, Destination Tomorrow headed south to expand access to underserved communities in a city with a large LGBTQ+ population of color.
Alex Santiago, chief operating officer of the Atlanta Destination Tomorrow location, said he is excited to be able to provide services for Black and Queer people in Atlanta.
“I’m excited but it’s crazy that we even have to do it, because I feel like in this country, we treat animals better than we treat human beings and no human should ever walk the street hungry. So, for us to be able to provide this service, I’m happy about it,” he said.
He also said although they aren’t the first food bank to open in Atlanta, they are the first food bank to focus on the LGBTQ+ community.
Destination Tomorrow, Santiago also said, believes everybody deserves to have access to a space where they can grow, learn, and flourish, regardless of their sexual identity or gender expression and without having to leave their own neighborhood.
“We’ll feed anyone, but I think our community is underserved in a lot of areas so that’s why we thought it was necessary to create something just for us,” he said.
Santiago, also an Atlanta-native, said he had known and been a part of the community of feeding the homeless all his life.
“In doing that, we recognized there’s not one place for our community that they feel safe going to. We took the model from New York based on community needs here and decided it was needed,” he said.
Additionally, Santiago said the importance in giving back to both LGBTQ+ and
Black/Brown communities is crucial.
“We must look out for ourselves, and we are definitely a ‘for us, by us’ model,” he said. “Black people, historically, have always paved the way for other Black people. Never have been able to depend on other races to do it for us and I don’t think we expected it, I think it’s something as Black people, back from slavery, we instilled in our character and DNA to help each other.”
Although he is happy to give back, Santiago said there’s still a lot of work to be done.
“Unfortunately, it’s not where it needs to be because if it were, I don’t think we’d have
homeless and food insecurity problems that we have, but it’s engraved in us to take care of our own first,” he said.
The food pantry is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, however Santiago said they are at the center 24/7.
“If someone calls and needs something, we will never turn anyone down. Even though we have published hours for two days a week, we’re available 24/7,” he said.
Other than food, the organization offers clothing, personal hygiene products, and more.
The Atlanta Community Food Bank allows
Destination Tomorrow to pick what items they can choose from, however, Santiago said if they see there’s a need the food bank doesn’t provide, they will get it on their own.
Additionally, Santiago said the organization in Atlanta have a lot planned for the year including the opening of a homeless shelter for Transgender men opening later this month.
“We have a lot of things planned for the year. We’re about to open a Trans house for Trans men, which is unheard of,” he said. “We felt we really needed to do this because with homeless shelters, you either have female shelters or male shelters, where do Trans people fit in that? There’s a Trans house for women that another organization started, but there was still nothing for the guys.” v
The center is located at 1419 Mayson St NE, Atlanta. For more information, visit https:// destinationtomorrow.org.
BY CLAYTON GUTZMORE
Dealing with all that we went through, It took remembering who God is and how he showed up in my life to come back to music. That is what helped me not to shut down. I had to draw from those experiences to say we will continue to do this. This is what my mother and sisters were about. We honor them by continuing to do what we do,” said Latrice Pace, Gospel artist.
The words of Latrice Pace as she explains her return to music after a four-year hiatus. Pace is one of the Anointed Pace Sisters, a Grammy-nominated gospel music group of nine sisters. She is a music veteran with over 20 years in the industry. She recently released her solo album Exodus: The Journey of Obedience Volume 2. What makes this album special is this is her first project since the passing of her two sisters. Pace is now ready to be active in music again. She hopes this album will inspire others to surrender to God and allow him to provide when you don't have what you need to proceed.
"At some point, we are all required to follow a directive God has given us. This album will help you and inspire you to follow through with that directive no matter what. We won't always have the answers, the capital, or the connections right now. As you move with obedience, it will all come together," said Pace.
Exodus: The Journey of Obedience Volume 2 debuted on July 14. The album is composed of seven songs and was produced by Brien Andrews. It's Morning is the first single off the album. It is dedicated to Pace's late mother, Bettie Ann Pace, and sisters Duranice and LaShun Pace.
"Much of the world went through a threeyear period of mourning. We mourned the loss of social life, relationships, and careers. This song is perfect for now because, in Psalms 143:8, David said he was tired of his enemies trying to kill him. He said, "Let the morning bring word of your unfailing love." That is why the song is called It's Morning. We are moving in a season of sunshine and replenishing after so much loss," said Pace.
Latrice Pace encountered a challenging season of her life in the last few years. She lost her sister Duranice Pace in 2021 to health complications. Latrice Pace suffered another devastating blow in 2022 when her other sister, LaShun Pace, died of organ failure. These two events and her mother's passing due to Kidney failure in 2018 brought overwhelming pain and grief. After healing, Pace compromised with the grief and allowed the
emotions to come and go.
"I think you have to honor the feelings grief allows you at any moment. Grief can bring uncontrollable laughter, joy, or uncontrollable crying. I say lend yourself to whatever emotion grief has you in because you never know what will flow from it," said Pace.
Pace wrote all the songs in Volume One and Two in 2017. According to the gospel artist, Her fans say that Vol. 2's songs have more
impact because of the events of Pace's traumatic season. Pace credits god for the timing and positive feedback on Vol 2.
"God knew years ago that we would be facing this. He knew these songs had to live in a different space and relay a different emotion. God knew if I had gone through my season of mourning and then tried to write the songs, they wouldn't land the same. Trying to create through compounded grief is something I can't imagine," said Pace.
Pace is an example of an artist returning to their craft after a harrowing experience. She hopes listers of Exodus: The Journey of Obedience Volume 2 are encouraged and motivated by the music. She wants people who hear the album to leave inspired to take a deeper spiritual walk with God through any storm they pass through. Exodus: The Journey of Obedience Volume 2 is available on all streaming platforms.
BY CLAYTON GUTZMORE
This summer has seen higher than normal temperatures compared to previous years.
As WSB-TV recently reported, July 3 was the hottest day on Earth since 1979, according to the U.S. National Centers for Environmental Prediction. As more hot weather comes, we must stay safe from the heat and humidity. Dr. Larry Kenney is a professor of physiology and kinesiology at Penn State University. Kathleen Fisher is Dr. Kenney's Ph.D. student at Penn State University. Together, they explain the caution we must take with our health regarding heat and humidity this season.
"People should be cautious if they're going outside,” especially if they’re exercising, Fisher said. Being active produces “metabolic heat” in muscles, she explained. And that limits “your ability to tolerate the heat," she said.
High humidity affects how our bodies naturally operate. Humidity is the amount of
water vapor in the air. The primary way the human body releases heat is through evaporation of sweat. According to Fisher, if there is too much humidity in the air, the body cannot evaporate the sweat, which causes more heat to build up. Heat buildup can lead to severe consequences like heat stroke.
When we start to sweat, Fisher said, "The humidity in the air creates a gradient with the water on our skin.” When the air becomes more humid, she explained, that gradient diminishes, and “we have less powerful cooling mechanisms at our disposal."
Dr. Kenney explains that climate change is the reason for the higher temperatures we received this summer. He elaborates that climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of these sweltering days. Dr. Kenney encourages everyone to stay hydrated and be aware of how long they stay in the heat.
The Penn State professor discussed the second but more taxing way the body cools down from the heat. The body pumps blood
to the skin when it can't cool down from sweat evaporation. Depending on how hot it is, the body will pump as much blood to the skin as it does for the entire human body. All the extra pumping is taking a significant toll on the heart.
"The other way we deal with increased body temperatures is by pumping blood flow to the skin. This is unique to humans as blood flow goes to the skin and dissipates into the environment. This method puts a great strain on the heart, which can be a hazard to some in vulnerable populations," said Dr. Kenney.
Two groups of people that need to be closely monitored during the humid heat are infants and older adults. Infants are at the mercy of adults to ensure they are appropriately clothed, fed, and hydrated from the heat. Dr. Kenney shares that infants' ability to release heat from the body is not developed. Heat-related deaths of infants are tied to adults who don't make proper decisions. For example, adults who leave infants in the
car by accident contribute to that unfortunate statistic.
Older adults are vulnerable to humid heat because their cooling mechanisms are less functional than younger people. Older adults have a lower ability to produce and evaporate sweat, and the second method to cool the body pumps less blood but strains the heart even more. Dr. Kenney reveals socioeconomic factors can play a role in older adults' vulnerability to humid heat.
"Socioeconomic factors like lack of access to air conditioning and daily habits make older adults particularly vulnerable to high heat and humidity conditions. Becoming more sedentary and not going outdoors makes older adults vulnerable to heat stroke," said Dr. Kenney.
This summer's heat and humidity encourages everyone to take precaution when going outside. This information should not hinder you from enjoying the outdoors but make you prepare enough to hydrate and stay cool while you are stepping out.
people, African Americans, cause for concern.
Hank Aaron Week came to a triumphant conclusion on Sunday, July 30, with the Hank Aaron Invitational. The invitational, which was played at Truist park, is put on by Major League Baseball-Major League Baseball Players Association (MLB-MLBPA) Youth Development Foundation (YDF).
Every year 250 of the top high school baseball players in the nation are invited to compete, become better athletes and even better young men at the Jackie Robinson training complex in Vero Beach, FL.
While at the training complex, players receive instruction and coaching from former MLB players within the MLBPA.
Out of the 250 players, 44 of those players are chosen to compete in the Hank Aaron Invitational. Twenty-two players represent Team Jackie Robinson and the other 22 represent Team Hank Aaron.
The Hank Aaron Invitational was previously known as the Elite Development Invitational, however, in 2019, the invitational was
renamed to honor the legacy of former Atlanta Braves great and Baseball Hall of Fame inducteenHank Aaron. That same year, players were fortunate enough to meet Hank Aaron, and compete in front of him.
“I think Hank’s dream was to give a kid an opportunity to learn and play the game and to really give them an opportunity to do their very very best at what they are good at,” expressed former Atlanta Brave, Marquis Grissom.
Since 2019, there have been 40 alumni of the invitational, including three from this year’s roster, who have been selected in the MLB draft.
In fact, Atlanta Braves center fielder and 2022 Jackie Robinson National League Rookie of the Year, Michael Harris II, is an alumni of the Hank Aaron Invitational.
MLB Hall of Famer and Special Advisor to the Executive Director of the MLBPA, Dave Winfield, estimated since the creation of the Invitational in 2015, “We have probably coached and worked with a minimum of 750 to 1,000 kids. We have impacted the trajectory of their baseball involvement,” said Winfield. Participants shared what they learned during their time in the invitational.
“This invitational helps you make long term relationships, especially with the coaches,” said Justyn Hart. “The more you grow and the more you excel in this sport you are going to see them down the road. You are going to have that long term relationship that you made back when you were in high school at the invitational.”
Bruce Wyche said, “I learned to stick to your approach and stick to what got you here. As a person, just staying humble and staying level headed. We learned a lot about Hank Aaron and one of the things they kept saying was how humble he was, and I feel like that is very important.”
The Hank Aaron Invitational is played in Truist Park to honor Hank Aaron’s legacy and his career with the Braves. The Invitational also honors the careers of former Braves like Bill Lucas, who spent over 20 years in the Braves organization and was the first African American General Manager in MLB history; Fred “Crime Dog” McGriff, who was inducted in this year's Hall of Fame Class and won the World Series with the Braves in 1995; Ron Gant, Ralph Garr, Cito Gaston, and many others.
Reggie Waller, a consultant on behalf of the MLBPA and former minor leaguer, addressed the role of Hank Aaron Invitational in MLB’s effort to build diversity.
“I think more than anything else is visibility. It has gotten to a point where they said that there are no young Black players, and we know that is just not the case,” said Waller. “The players are out there. It is now just a matter of making sure that we highlight that and help afford opportunities for them to get into college and for MLB organizations to become familiar with who they are. That is the main thing. We provide hope, that is what the Hank Aaron Invitational does.”
Kindu Jones, the Senior Coordinator of Baseball Development for MLB, added, “Obviously, the goal is to identify players of color, most importantly the African American players. That is only going to help us enhance our game on the field level, but then, also, we discuss the other avenues that are in the game such as my role, my supervisor's role, our security staff’s role. We try to expose those guys to those other avenues to let them know that there is life after baseball.”
Sealed proposals for 23RFP139069K-BKJ - Project Management Software for the Fulton County Public Works Department, will be accepted by the Fulton County Department of Purchasing & Contract Compliance, electronically through Bidnet Direct at https://www.bidnetdirect.com/ georgia/fultoncounty, on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, no later than 11:00 a.m. local (Eastern) time on the stated date. Proposers names will be publicly read at 11:05 a.m. on the stated due date via Zoom.
Proposal Bond: N/A
Anyone with an ownership interest in this vehicle should contact the following business immediately:
Business name: Southern Style Towing Address: 1314 Brookwood Avenue Jackson, GA 30233 Telephone#: 470-344-1634 96628-3/8,3/15,2023
Scope of Work: Fulton County Government (“County”) is seeking a qualified firm to provide a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution to fulfill the project management needs of the county. This requested solution should also be flexible enough to manage projects of other disciplines and departments of the county adjusting for scope and purpose as needed. To achieve this flexibility, a
Cisco Systems, Inc. is accepting resumes for multiple positions in Atlanta/ Alpharetta/Lawrenceville, GA: Business Systems Analyst (Ref#: ATL112C): Optimize operational efficiency and develop systemic process solutions. Telecommuting permitted. Business Systems Analysis Manager (Ref#: ATL153C): Analyze business requirement to configure rule management and define systems solution. Telecommuting permitted. Site Reliability Engineer (Ref#: ATL178C): Design, implement and operate global network to improve the functionality, reliability, availability, and manageability of the company’s internal sites. Telecommuting permitted. Systems Architect
(Ref#: ATL410C): Provide business-level guidance to the account team
fully scalable SaaS solution is required. Currently, Fulton County uses the Oracle-based Primavera Contract Management and P6 enterprise applications. The data from Primavera and P6 will need to be migrated from its current state and location into the SaaS solution chosen by Fulton County. Through the issuance of this Request for Proposal (“RFP” and/or “Proposals”), the County is soliciting efforts from qualified Proposers to provide a SaaS solution to fulfill the project management needs of Fulton County including the migration of data from the currently used project management enterprise application software into the chosen SaaS solution.
The detailed scope of work and technical specifications are outlined in the Scope of Work, Section 3 of this proposal document. In order to obtain complete information about this solicitation, please click the link below where this document and supporting documents
on technology trends and competitive threats, both at a technical and business level. Telecommuting permitted. Technical Consulting Engineer
(Ref#: ATL101C): Responsible for providing technical support regarding the company’s proprietary systems and software. Telecommuting permitted.
Technical Project Manager (Ref#: ATL416C): Responsible for defining IT project requirements, plans, schedules, and resources for small to large/ complex projects. Telecommuting permitted. Please email resumes including position’s reference number in subject line to Cisco Systems, Inc. at amsjobs@cisco.com. No phone calls please. Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship. EOE. www.cisco.com
can be downloaded, https://www.bidnetdirect. com/georgia/fultoncounty
Fee: N/A
Term of Contract: 1 Year
A Pre-Proposal Conference, will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at 10:30 a.m., local time, to provide proposers with information regarding the project and to address any questions.
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom. us/s/91788804212?pwd=OGszcENMOUh6SEdoTHVPMFFCeHJ6QT09 Passcode: 162473
Registration Required https://zoom.us/webinar/ register/WN_eKQFIbaIR6qFaFiwKtWuhA
If you have any questions regarding this project please contact Brian K. Jones, APA, at Email: brian.jones@fultoncountyga.gov
Fulton County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals and to waive technicalities.
The Environmental Protection Agency is o ering this program to train local residents for environmental jobs. This program will provide participants with multiple certi cations at no charge and prepare them for careers in environmental cleanup work.
To learn more and apply, you MUST attend ONE of the 60-min. information sessions held on: August 24, 25, 31 or September 1
To register, scan this QR code or call 404-282-5183 or visit WestsideLead-SJTI.eventbrite.com
