Champion Sound
DJ Kash (above) talks to the crowd at Bamba Tuesdays over the mic as he plays a set of amapiano hits and deep cuts. Bamba Tuesdays is a weekly amapiano party held at Rock Steady that aims to shine a spotlight on the music coming out of South Africa. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Military Influencer Conference empowers military-connected entrepreneurs in Atlanta
Meet the people behind Atlanta’s Afrobeats & Amapiano scene
BY LAURA NWOGU
There’s an inevitability when it comes to the sounds of afrobeats and amapiano music. As the upbeat rhythms, energetic melodies, signature drum beats and inventive productions command a speaker's soundwaves, the sounds born out of West and South Africa have the power to create a bubble of magic in a matter of seconds. That magic is felt in every lyric or shout of joy bursting through lips. Every point toward the sky or a friend. And every bounce and shake of the shoulders down to the soles of the feet.
What were once just terms echoed through the streets of Nigeria and fostered in the townships of South Africa are now global treasures with heavy influence. According to Spotify studies, afrobeats was streamed over 14 billion times and ampiano was streamed over 1.4 billion times in 2023. The music is leading the music charts, with artists such as Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, Rema, Ayra Starr, Tyla, and Uncle Waffles among the many who have pioneered and popularized the genres.
Many are finally catching up to what people in the continent already knew— that the music of Africa, in all of its distinctions, is unique and unparalleled. At the center of its rise is Atlanta, the mecca for Black culture that has become a second home for many in the diaspora and a galvanizing hub for the genres. Thanks to the many tastemakers and DJs across the city, afrobeats and amapiano are solidifying their strongholds in the music world.
The Soul of Afrobeats
The notorious red lights are dim, and the sectioned couches that line the inside of Red Room are nearly empty in the early evening save for those who come in to grab a bite to eat. But in just a few hours, the space comes alive with a set of afrobeats hits spun by local DJs in a rotating booth and live talking drum and saxophone performances. People order Nigerian dishes and drinks over music as a spectacle of dancing bodies (which may or may not include a famous Nigerian artist or two), LED robots and a notorious dancing gorilla suit surround them. That’s a typical night at Red Room, a popular party spot and Nigerian restaurant located on the diverse corridor of Buford Highway.
At the head of it all is business owner Samuel Omidele, also known as Mr. Soul.
There’s a running joke: if you want to “party with the Africans,” you must head to Buford Highway. But that joke holds weight, and for many, Buford Highway's reputation as the goto for partying to afrobeats is synonymous with the name Mr. Soul. The entertainment brand began in 2005 in the unlikely city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where Omidele owned a first-of-its-kind afrobeats radio station. The brand grew and later caught the interest of Nigerian superstars such as 2Baba and Davido, who Omidele said encouraged him to bring the culture of Mr. Soul to Atlanta in 2018, a city where the genre was already making waves.
From his radio station to Mr. Soul’s Bistro and Cafe, his intimate and lively late-night restaurant that rebranded and expanded into Red Room in 2023, Omidele said he has been at the forefront of the rise of afrobeats for the last 20 years. Through his desire to platform young talent and provide quality entertainment and food, he’s created a social hub for many in the African community.
“I feel like it’s a blessing on its own because I put my own little effort into this community, the growth of afrobeats and
Amapiano’s Ground Zero
DJ Kash, Bamba Tuesdays’ curator, plays a similar but different role in amplifying the sound of amapiano. Amapaino translates to “the pianos” in Zulu and is a relatively new subgenre of house music that reached its cultural peak around 2019.
Bamba Tuesdays is a popular weekly amapiano experience curated and created in May 2022 by DJ Kash, born Chener Dieudonne. From late
Tuesday night to early Wednesday morning, the dim music gallery located on the second floor of the Afro-Carribean restaurant Rock Steady becomes a bustling dance floor. In just two years, the event has become a sold-out event that rarely fails to garner long lines and attract celebrities from America to Nigeria and South Africa.
the growth of the artists themselves,” Omidele said.
As a result, he said he’s amazed but not surprised by the genre’s success in America. He described the sound of afrobeats and its worldwide appeal as “spiritual” and attributes its rise to decades of hard work.
“We’re happy that we are seeing the fruits of our labor. We're seeing the results of what we have pushed out there. When you plant a seed, you expect to see it grow, and that's exactly what we're seeing right now. We’re not relenting; we’re not backing down.
“I'm really excited that we're part of this journey. Especially in Atlanta, we are playing our role in making sure that afrobeats culture is heard loud and clear.”
For the Haitian-born Brooklynite, who was a staple of the V-103 radio station in the early 2010s, amapiano is a spiritual feeling that guided him away from his growing unhappiness in DJing hip-hop music into playing a genre that he said moved him. When the team at Rock Steady reached out to DJ Kash about curating a weekly amapiano night, he knew it was the perfect avenue to create an authentic amapiano party, the likes of which he hadn’t yet seen in the country or Atlanta. Soon, the city became what he called “ground zero” for amapiano in the United States.
“The thing about Atlanta is that it makes everything flourish. Atlanta already is a superstar city,” Kash said. “The reason why I say it’s ground zero [for ampaiano] is because when the ‘who's who’ of the industry want to learn about amapiano, they come to Atlanta.”
See AFROBEATS on page 7
Samuel Omidele, known as “Mr Soul,” (above) sits in a booth at Red Room Lounge. The lounge has become a popular latenight party spot on Buford Highway, a result of decades of hard work by the business owner who has been at the forefront of the rise of afrobeats music. Photos by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Boluwaji “BJ” Omodele, Olumide Omolayo and Victoria Olaogun are the co-founders of CRWN Entertainment, an Atlanta-based party entertainment service. Their events highlight Nigerian culture and music and promote social connections for the diaspora.
Riding for freedom: MARTA hosts John Lewis bus unveiling
BY ISAIAH SINGLETON
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation hosted a special bus unveiling and voter registration drive honoring late Civil Rights icon and MARTA advocate Congressman John Lewis and his wife Lillian Miles Lewis at College Park Station.
Throughout his life, Congressman Lewis was a tireless advocate for voting rights. In 1965, he helped organize voter registration efforts in Selma and was one of the Civil Rights leaders in attendance when President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law. Congressman Lewis’s work advancing voting rights continued throughout his political career until his death in 2020.
As long-time community leaders and activists in Atlanta, he and his wife, Lillian Miles, understood the significant role public transportation plays in providing opportunity for all. On MARTA’s 30th anniversary, Congressman Lewis said, “MARTA is a shining example of what can be done. We wouldn’t be the capital of the American South if we had not had MARTA.”
Additionally, Congressman Lewis was one of the original Freedom Riders who fought to desegregate the interstate bus system, and who was a tireless advocate for MARTA.
MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood said MARTA history is Black history.
“As part of our yearlong celebration of Black history, we want to recognize the profound contributions of Congressman Lewis who championed public transit and MARTA, and fought for voters’ rights his entire life,” Greenwood said.
Greenwood also said MARTA is honoring Lewis who throughout his life advocated for public transit, voting rights, and opportunities for all people.
“Congressman Lewis was a happy warrior who dedicated himself to helping others and into making good trouble in the face of injustice and inequity. A good example of his good trouble was when he joined the original group of freedom riders who fought to desegregate the U.S Interstate Bus System,” he said. “Congressman Lewis and his wife were tireless advocates for MARTA because they understood the significant role the public transit plays in providing opportunity.
In fact, Greenwood said on MARTA’s 30th anniversary, Congressman Lewis said, “Marta is a shining example of what can be done.
“We wouldn't be the capital of the American South if we hadn't had MARTA,” Greenwood said.
The event is part of a year-long celebration of Black history featuring Atlanta Civil Rights icons on a series of special buses. In the past, MARTA has honored icons like Dr.
from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.
“These buses have given us the opportunity to celebrate the profound contributions the black community has made to our transit agency, to Atlanta and to the world. MARTA history is Black History,” he said.
Also, during the event, a voter registration drive, conducted as part of National Voter Registration Month, was held after the bus unveiling and short program.
Fulton and Clayton County Offices of Registration & Elections were on-site to conduct voter registration and education
“Lewis also spent his life advocating for voting rights, so what better way to honor him than to host a voter registration project,” Greenwood said. “There will also be events this upcoming Tuesday, Sept. 17 at seven of our railroad stations to honor national voter registration day to raise widespread awareness and promote voter registration.”
“We are excited to partner with MARTA on this special ‘John Lewis Bus’ and on the voter registration drive,” said Detria Everson, president and CEO of the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation. “Con -
gressman Lewis was inspired by the work of Rosa Parks and others to integrate transit systems across the country. He would be proud to know that a MARTA bus with his pictures and quotes was serving constituents he represented in Congress.”
The unveiling of the bus isn't just a bus, Everson said, but it’s a “symbol of progress and perseverance.”
The deadline for voter registration is October 7. Early voting in Georgia begins on Oct. 15 and Election Day is November 5. To register to vote or for more information, visit https://georgia.gov/register-vote. To check your voter registration status, visit https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/mvp-landingpage.
Martin Luther King Jr, Juanita Jones Abernathy, and Coretta Scott King.
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation hosted a special bus unveiling and voter registration drive on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. Photos by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
“Don’t follow the path. Go where there is no path and begin the trail.”— Ruby Bridges
DOJ and State Attorneys General file joint consumer lawsuit
BY CHARLENE CROWELL
In August, the Department of Justice and eight state Attorneys Generals filed a lawsuit charging RealPage Inc., a commercial revenue management software firm with providing apartment managers with illegal price fixing software data that violates antitrust law and artificially increases costs for millions of renters across the nation.
After a nearly two-year investigation, the agencies found an estimated 80 percent of renters are forced to pay falsely inflated rates while also denying honest landlords an opportunity to compete for these same customers.
The lawsuit claims RealPage’s practices are federal interstate commerce violations provided by the long-standing Sherman Act enacted in 1890.
“When the Sherman Act was passed, an anticompetitive scheme might have looked like robber barons shaking hands at a secret meeting,” stated U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Today, it looks like landlords using mathematical algorithms to align their rents. But antitrust law does not become obsolete simply because competitors find new ways to unlawfully act in concert. And Americans should not have to pay more in rent simply because a company has found a new way to scheme with landlords to break the law.”
Joining the civil lawsuit are the Attorneys General of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington.
Falsely-inflated rental costs worsen the already disproportionate financial strain felt by people of color. Tight living spaces that come at sky-high costs especially harm disproportionate numbers of Black and Latino renters. As Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies 2024 State of the Nation’s Housing noted:
“More than half of Black (57 percent), Hispanic (54 percent), and multiracial (50 percent) renter households were cost burdened at last measure in 2022… While racial income inequality explains some of the difference, burden rates remain disproportionately high for lower-income renters of color, at 85 and 87 percent for Black and Hispanic renters, respectively, as compared to 80 percent of their white counterparts.”
The complaint alleges that RealPage contracts with competing landlords who agree to share with the firm nonpublic, competitively sensitive information about their apartment rental rates and other lease terms. This data is then used with RealPage’s algorithmic pricing software to generate recommendations, including apartment rental pricing and other terms, for participating landlords. The use of rivals’ data trove of competitively sensitive information violates interstate commerce law aimed at preventing monopolies.
After a nearly two-year investigation, the agencies found an estimated 80 percent of renters are forced to pay falsely inflated rates while also denying honest landlords an opportunity to compete for these same customers.
The complaint further alleges that in a free market, these landlords otherwise would be competing independently to attract renters based on pricing, discounts, concessions, lease terms, and other dimensions of apartment leasing.
“Healthy competition in the rental housing market requires two key ingredients,” added Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “The market must be dictated by open and honest competition among landlords. And, renters must be able to negotiate prices with landlords — without the specter of collusion…. But RealPage has shut away those ingredients, changed the locks, and thrown away the keys.
That’s collusion — and that’s against the law.”
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, whose office filed the joint lawsuit on August 23 in the Middle District of North Carolina, also weighed in on the lawsuit’s importance.
“Few things are as important as our homes –but too many North Carolinians struggle to afford their apartment,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “Rents are already too high. I will not tolerate any company scheming to block healthy competition among landlords. It raises rent, and it’s illegal.”
For one North Carolina local official, the lawsuit is an opportunity to right a grievous wrong.
“Between 2010 and 2020 the median rent in Wake County jumped up 40 percent,” said Shinica Thomas, Wake County Board of Commissioners Chair. “That costs families an extra $4,200 a year.
For a household that’s struggling to make ends meet, that can be the difference between stability and eviction.”
A growing metro market, Wake County is home to the state’s capitol, Raleigh. But according to multiple independent housing research reports,
high rental rate increases have occurred throughout the nation, in communities of varying sizes and locales.
For example, monthly rents in Knoxville, TN reached $1,818 in February 2024, a 59.1 percent increase from 2019, according to this spring, SmartAsset.com.
More recently, Apartments.com found posted national rental rate averages by state and city. Nationally, the average national monthly cost of a one-bedroom apartment with 699 square feet is $1,563.
On a statewide basis, average rental costs in California, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York all surpass $2,000 for dwellings with as low as 631 square feet to no more than 727 square feet. Conversely, Oklahoma is one of the states with the lowest average rent of $880 for a 687 square foot unit.
Comparing costs and square footage by city, Apartments.com additionally found New York City had the highest monthly rental cost of $3,865, and the smallest square footage at 598 square feet. The only other city, Boston ($3,450), was the only other city with more than had over $3,000 in average rental costs. All of the following cities average rental costs exceed ng $2,000 for less than 700 square feet in Los Angeles, Miami, Oakland, San Diego and Seattle.
“Access to affordable housing options is becoming increasingly difficult,” said Monica Burks, Policy Counsel at the Center for Responsible Lending. “Anti-competitive practices that inflate already high housing costs disadvantage individuals and families working hard to secure this basic need.”
Charlene Crowell is a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending
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Spiritually Speaking: The Power of Knowing That You Know
BY JAMES A. WASHINGTON
The Atlanta Voice
You know, there is a phrase many of us take for granted, and many of us, including me, do not have a clue where it came from. We do, however, believe it as fact. “Knowledge is power.” Sound familiar? As we navigate life, it sometimes appears that the more we know, the easier life becomes. As I heard someone say recently, ‘Mistakes make up the price you pay for wisdom.’ Wisdom stated another way is the result of lessons learned from the mistakes we all make every day. So, if I’ve got this thing correctly, mistakes give you experience. The experienced person who has learned from their mistakes becomes wise; wisdom is the knowledge prerequisite, and knowledge is power. The question I have then is what kind of power one gets from the knowledge of God. I mean, isn’t knowing God the absolute pinnacle of human understanding? The power of that kind of knowledge must be awesome. Let’s not attempt a double standard here. We’ve already agreed that knowledge is power. Simply because the subject is God shouldn’t change our premise. Awareness of the
Mistake after mistake may be a part of the course that requires you to gain the wisdom necessary to allow God to mold us into vessels where He can reside
Lord, acknowledgment of who He is to us, understanding the purpose, and subsequent submission to His Word undeniably gives one kind of power most people don’t or cannot understand.
Remember, knowledge, which is power, doesn’t come without a price. Does anybody want to know the price he or she paid to know the Lord? Who feels like giving testimony today that the price to know God is steep and requires as much pain and anguish as one can stand? After we all recognize and nod in unison, can anyone articulate the resulting power achieved from realizing your price has been paid? Does anyone want to testify about the repeated mistakes, false optimism, idol worship, and addictions? Does anyone want to share how the
“YOUR VOICE”
knowledge of the Lord made these once insurmountable obstacles into memories of past lives? Now that’s power. Now, let’s look at our shortcomings through the eyes of wisdom. Mistake after mistake may be a part of the course that requires you to gain the wisdom necessary to allow God to mold us into vessels where He can reside. I understand the temperature gets hot when pottery is put in the kiln. But this process must be adhered to if you expect a resilient, beautiful piece of pottery. I don’t know about you, but I have felt the heat, and I bet you have. If you let me know, I’ll testify that the resulting knowledge does give one power. It gives you an understanding of the meaning of joy. Power allows you to be vulnerable and forgiving, honor God, and love your fellow man. Unfor-
tunately, it also makes you feel stupid because once you get it, it’s hard to realize how easily it could have been acquired all these long years. Read Psalm 23 again and again. Someone I greatly respect told me that God will not compete for attention. So, if you want other…other things…other pleasures… other Gods, He will not stand in your way. But if you seek Him first, last, and always…well, you get my meaning. It’s all about power. Today, I wish you the power to know God. I hope that today is the day that brings you out of your darkness and into the light that is God. May you learn all the lessons you need to gain wonderful wisdom that will allow you to experience the presence of God in this life long before you enter the next. Talk about power! May God bless and keep you always.
This column is from James Washington’s Spiritually Speaking: Reflections for and from a New Christian. You can purchase this enlightening book on Amazon and start your journey toward spiritual enlightenment.
After her successful performance at the Presidential debate, what would you like to see Democratic Presidential candidate Kamala Harris do next?
“I would rather see Kamala Harris just keep campaigning, and I don't want to see a mudslinging competition. I'd rather see them double down or whatever they believe in this campaign and do it straightforwardly. Because I don't think there is a point to a mudslinging contest. We already know who each person is. We know the bad and the good. And now I'm just worried about the policies and what they will do when they get into office."
Atlanta
"What I think she needs to do now because she's not going to probably not want to get another debate, I think it's important for her to continue to put herself out there as much as possible with one-on-one interviews so that the American public get a chance to hear who she is and learn more about her, understand the position on policies. I think that, for the most part, most people have already decided who they're going to vote for. But a small fraction of Americans are still trying to decide. I think for those individuals, it's important that she continues to educate them on who she is, what she's all about, and what her policies are… The margins are so small right now, and every little vote will count."
PROMISED GOURDET
Atlanta
"Kamala has to have town hall meetings. She must put herself one-on-one with undecided people. I don't think she has to worry about people who have decided too much. But those who are undecided have questions about her policies, her record, and what she did in California. She should be able to answer those questions for those people. They want to talk about her work in California. I know a lot of people are on the fence about her incarceration policies out in California. People would like to know her policies, in general, outside of Joe Biden and the Biden administration; how she will step forth as a president and be a leader instead of a supporter.
ROBERT ROSS
Atlanta
"I think Vice President Harris should continue doing what she is doing now, which I'm not saying anything and I believe that it's important to do that because unlike President Trump, who can say whatever he wants to say, he still has the same people behind him, the people backing him. He can even go further into creating things, and they'll support him. Vice President Harris, right now, has the advantage of having a unified party. By not saying anything, she's not alienating anyone; therefore, everyone can continue to be behind her. We should start seeing specific things. She can run the risk of splitting the party, which we don't need right now. That's it."
LAVASHOIN LOWERY Atlanta
"I think Kamala should keep doing what she's doing. She should stay away from being polarizing. She should address everybody and keep smiling. It makes her more inviting. Another debate is warranted. She sounded very poised. She's not polarizing and making sure the party is unified. She's a spectacular candidate because she's very inclusive. Like I said, I know the media, from the other standpoint, is trying to make her seem facetious because she smiles and laughs a lot. But it, to me, is very inviting and allows many people to come in. And she should do it. She will keep her statements non-polarizing and ensure the party is unified."
Compiled by Vincent Christie
TRISTAN FULLER Atlanta
MARVIN NESBITT
Gov. Tim Walz makes first solo Georgia visit on National Voter Registration Day
City’s Blight Tax can assist rebirth of neighborhoods like English Avenue
BY DONNELL SUGGS
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens addressed a small crowd in an abandoned lot on English Avenue Monday morning. Standing in the shadow of multiple completely burned out homes that sit next door to a completely removed two-story home complete with a porch and Ring alarm system on the door, Dickens spoke about the issue of blight throughout the city and how the city’s newly installed “blight tax” will help restore neighborhoods like English Avenue to its previous glory.
The “blight tax” would allow the City to penalize property owners that fail to redevelop or maintain their property. With the amount of land being purchased in and around metro Atlanta by developers and development companies, this ordinance can help restore neighborhoods like English Avenue, one of the city’s historic Black neighborhoods. During the walk through up North Avenue, NW and James P/ Brawley Dr., NW there were several homes in disrepair. Others were unoccupied and had steel seals over the windows and doors.
Members of Atlanta City Council, Atlanta Housing CEO Terri Lee, Invest Atlanta COO Dawn Arnold, and Westside Future Fund CEO John Ahmann took part in the short walk and subsequent press conference along with Dickens.
One of the local homeowners that greeted Dickens and the others on the walk was Destiny Motley, a first-time homeowner. Motley, 36, was excited to see Dickens walking near her home because she knows that first-person appearance might mean there will be continued improvements on her street. Motley’s home is on North Avenue, NW and sits adjacent to an empty lot and to the right of a burned down home. Despite her surroundings she is proud of the okra that she is growing in her backyard.
“I’m ecstatic, this is my first home and just to be able to have my own home is amazing,” said Motley, who told The Atlanta Voice that she had experienced homelessness in the past.
The Mayor gave Motley a hug and listened to her and other residents talk about their experiences in the neighborhood. Dickens said the City’s Neighborhood Transformation Initiative is something his administration is taking seriously in order to keep the fabric of neighborhoods like English Avenue together. Dickens added that the City has to do more to support its legacy residents.
“In order to make Atlanta the best place to raise a child, projects like this are necessary,” Dickens said during the press conference that followed the walk around the neighborhood. “We know that vacant, abandoned, and deteriorating properties stand in the way of progress.”
An abandoned home (right) next door to a newly renovated home in the English Avenue neighborhood, one of Atlanta’s oldest former all-Black neighborhoods. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
English Avenue first-time homeowner Destiny Motley (above) is happy to see the residential improvements being made on her street and around her neighborhood. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
City of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens (left) talks with an English Avenue homeowner in front of her house on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Continued from page 2
DJ Kash leads the charge for that learning experience with help from his partnerin-crime, DJ Millz. During the sets, which he said are unplanned, the duo is often completely surrounded by a high-energy crowd as people vibe to the piano synths and log drum basslines of amapiano in the space that is packed from wall to wall. Still, DJ Kash controls them through it all, from chants calling on the ancestors to dance moves that have taken over social media.
Nowadays, where there’s afrobeats, there's amapiano, but DJ Kash’s goal is to dominate the space with predominately amapiano music. Through deep research into the music and its key artists, he said he was able to create a genuine experience that has received the nod of approval from native South Africans themselves.
“They're pleasantly surprised. That’s always a blessing when the people from the source give you the head nod like you're doing a good job.
“To see the support is just overwhelming.”
Afrobeats Creates Community
The rise of afrobeats and amapiano music
has led to a surge in cultural events showcasing and embracing African talent and culture, especially in Atlanta. While it’s creating safe spaces and gathering spots, that
growth has also shone a spotlight on the importance of building community, which is often led by Atlanta’s youth through party entertainment services such as Crwn Entertainment.
Founded by Victoria Olaogun, Boluwaji “BJ” Omodele and Olumide Omolayo in the halls of Georgia Tech in 2020, the trio of Nigerian creatives has curated events such as themed day parties, cyphers featuring local talent and brand/ art showcases, all with afrobeats music at the forefront. From scratch, they’ve created a social space that encompasses Nigerian culture of music and a good time.
“As a DJ, that’s very important for me. One of our goals is to spread afrobeats in Atlanta and bring awareness to the culture,” said Omolayo, a DJ and music producer who also goes by DJ Olooo. “So, anytime we do events, we always make sure our culture is always represented. Music is a big part of that, but also through the food or vendors that we put at our events to showcase the brilliance of Africa.”
Omodele said the rise of afrobeats has given Crwn more exposure and been beneficial to the company, which has evolved and expanded since its inception to create more of an impact outside of Atlanta. Through their events, they’ve created a web of networking relationships with other young Africans
that has allowed them to continue the trend of platforming local talent — which often includes Nigerian musicians and DJs. So much so that the trio said people from different states have reached out for ways to create their own African-based entertainment companies.
“It's been a lovely thing that we’ve put together,” Omodele said. “We've always been open to supporting people. Relationship building is one thing that we see at our events, and that’s a big thing that we’ve always focused on, whether it’s a party or game night. That’s something we’ve always harped on — ensuring that networking aspect is there.”
For young Africans in the diaspora, many of whom may only get to visit their native country once a year or are trying to better connect with their culture, Crwn said they believe the spread of afrobeats in Atlanta and curated events like theirs allows them to tap into a more profound sense of belonging.
“It's been really nice to create something that brings other people joy. It's not easy to get people to want to leave the comfort of their homes, so for them to come out and know that Crwn is going to put on a good show and they're going to have a good time, I think it just pushes us to keep going and keep wanting to curate these vibes for them,” Olaogun said.
Attendees of Bamba Tuesdays dance to amapiano music at the weekly event held in the music gallery of Rock Steady. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Black Girls Lead: The Link Between Public Schools and a Voter Surge
How Racial Bias Warps the Narrative of School Shootings
BY QUINTESSA WILLIAMS
School shootings across the nation have long been a source of deep-seated anxiety for students, parents, and educators. But beneath the surface of this national crisis lies a troubling disparity: how Black students are perceived and treated in the aftermath of these tragedies.
Earlier this month, tragedy struck a Georgia high school when two students and two teachers lost their in a deadly mass shooting. The shooter, 14-year-old Colt Gray, was arrested and has been charged as an adult.
The shooting reignited a nationwide debate on school gun violence and overall student safety. But the incident has also reawakened conversations on how race plays a role in the treatment of shooters and victims.
Shortly after law enforcement announced the shooter’s name and age, WSBTV, a news station in Atlanta, posted an article on Twitter using a photo of Mason Schermerhorn, the 14-year-old Black victim in the shooting, with the caption, “A 14-year-old suspect, Colt Gray, was arrested.” The Daily Mail and The US Sun also made the same mistake, misidentifying the Black student killed in the attack as the alleged shooter. All posts have since been deleted, and WSB-TV released a statement online apologizing for the ‘error.’
However, Allison Wiltz, one of the journalists who first reported the story, tells Word In Black that this case of mistaken identity reeks of racial connotations.
“Spilling a glass of milk is not the same as portraying a homicide victim as the perpetrator,” Wiltz says. “While the former only requires a mop to clean, the other has a messier consequence. Even though Mason became a victim of gun violence, many Americans saw his face for the first time and portrayed him as the suspect of a horrendous crime.”
The National Association of Black Journalists also released a statement encouraging news outlets to “take all necessary measures to minimize any potential harm by ensuring that all forms of content shared are accurate.”
“NABJ was concerned to learn that local news station WSB-TV posted a 14-year-old Black male’s image on social media that portrayed him as the suspect rather than the victim of the shooting. In an age where images of Black men and boys are still unfortunately associated with violence and crime, we remind our colleagues in the industry to be sensitive and aware.”
Black Victims, White Shooters
In mass shootings, specifically school-related, racial identity can dramat-
ically influence how shooters and victims are perceived. Gray, despite being involved in a 2023 investigation over online threats of violence, faced no significant repercussions before the Sept. 4 shooting. His eventual surrender to law enforcement after the shooting further highlights how white shooters often benefit from a “gentler” apprehension by police compared to Black individuals, who are far more likely to face violence during police encounters.
“Two students and two teachers were killed in the Georgia school shooting, and nine more suffered injuries. And yet, the irony isn’t lost on the Black community that the only victim whose image was mistakenly paired with the suspect’s identity was Mason, the Black student,” Wiltz says.
Mistaken identity and the over-criminalization of Black students are not isolated occurrences. In 2015, Ahmed Mohamed, a 14-year-old Black Muslim student, was arrested in Texas for bringing a homemade clock to school, which was falsely assumed to be a bomb. Despite explaining the situation, he was handcuffed, arrested, and suspended. The same year, a Black student at Spring Valley High School in South Carolina was violently arrested by a school resource officer after refusing to leave the classroom. Though she was a victim of excessive force, she was charged with disturbing the school.
In 2016, 11 Black children at Hobgood Elementary in Tennessee were arrested for failing to stop a fight that involved two students. Despite their lack of direct involvement, these children were taken to a juvenile detention center, sparking outrage over the racial response to what should have been a routine school matter.
Black Students and Gun Violence: A Nationwide Crisis
According to CNN’s analysis of events reported by the Gun Violence Archive, Education Week, and Everytown for Gun Safety, there have been at least 46 school shootings in the United States so far this year — 33 of which were on K-12 school grounds.
The disproportionate criminalization of Black students is compounded by the reality that they are more severely impacted by gun violence in both their schools and communities. A report from the Giffords Law Center found that nearly 84% of gun deaths among Black children are gun homicides, and, in 2022, Black children were more than 18 times more likely to be killed in a gun homicide than white children.
How Do Black Students Cope With School Shootings?
Donnell Suggs, a Georgia school parent and editor-in-chief for The Atlanta Voice,
says the recent school shooting in Georgia led to one of the hardest conversations he’s had with his 10-year-old son.
“My son is a real 10-year-old who still plays Uno and watches cartoons,” Suggs says. “But I had to tell him as I always have to be careful and keep your eyes open. It’s scary that I even had to talk to him about this, especially at his age. But the shooter was only four years older than my son. And that’s why I decided to talk to him about it.”
In the wake of school shootings, the psychological toll on Black students runs deep. For those who survive such incidents, the trauma can manifest in lasting anxiety, fear, and mistrust. Research shows that students impacted by school shootings, particularly in majority-minority schools, face significant academic challenges.
According to a 2022 report in The National Bureau of Economic Research, survivors of school shootings are 124.5% more likely to repeat a grade and 27.8% more likely to be chronically absent compared to their peers .
Dr. Sonali Ranjan, an expert in health education from Columbia University, emphasizes the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in Black and Brown communities, noting that exposure to gun violence is considered an ACE.
“An estimated 30% of children report experiencing at least one ACE, which also disproportionately impacts children of color,” Ranjan says. “However, sufficient and ready access to these support services has always been hard to come by (particularly in communities where ACEs are the most prevalent). This often is the case in the aftermath of school shootings, where access to needed short- and, importantly, longterm supports for victims and survivors alike are not sufficient.”
Where Do We Go From Here?
Dr. Ranjan tells Word In Black that while she’s seen improvements, additional resources, and support will continue to be needed to address the impact such trauma can have on children, especially those from Black and Brown communities.
Wiltz says that as the conversation around school gun violence continues, it’s crucial to address the racial disparities that impact how Black students are perceived, treated, and supported.
“The racial connotations of how Black students are perceived will only leave them to question whether their schools are truly safe places for them to learn and grow,” Wiltz says. “The systemic over-policing and criminalization of Black students must be confronted alongside the larger issues of school safety and gun control.”
The recent mass shooting in Georgia exposes the racial disparities in how Black students are perceived and criminalized in schools. Photo Credit: iStock.com/Debby Lowe
Vegan Social ATL: An evening of vegan delights and community connection Business
BY LENTHEUS CHANEY
Vegans and those who love them flock to the Westside Motor Lounge every Wednesday evening for The Vegan Social ATL event. Here you will find a gathering of unique small business owners and an array of vegan delicacies.
The lively atmosphere features a DJ, speed dating, prizes, and dancing mixed with opportunities to celebrate and connect with a growing community of health-conscious enthusiasts.
Artist Linia White, the founder of Paper Luxe Studios, decided to participate as a vendor and display artwork that she said resonated deeply with herself and her community.
White said that she felt her art would relate particularly well with an audience that values health and well-being at The Vegan Social ATL.
“I graduated from art school in 2004,” White said. “So, I've been creating artwork for corporations for decades, and I finally got to the point where I said, let me create some artwork for myself and for my people and my vision.”
She founded her company with a mission to offer unique coloring books aimed at promoting mental health and self-care.
"My coloring books are not just coloring books. They also have journal prompts," White said. “I wanted to create something to help us relax and calm down, but at the same time have imagery that reflects us as a people.
Mya Williams, another small business participant, was introduced to The Vegan Social ATL by her daughter and decided to showcase her business, Soil & Splendor, which sells live plants and plant accessories.
“My daughter is vegan, and I came here with her one time and was like, maybe I should be a vendor at the event,” Williams said. “But I actually came here because of my daughter just to check out the scene.”
Williams’ venture into the world of plants began with her personal collection of more than 800 plants. Encouraged by her husband, Williams transformed her passion into a business in 2024.
“My husband told me that, you know, this is my calling, and this is something that I should probably do,” Williams said. “And since I'm doing it anyway, I might as well just try to start a business and make money from it.”
Williams said that her favorite plant, the Anthurium Queen, is known for its dramatic beauty, and learning to grow plants comes with trial and error.
“I often hear people say, I don't have a green thumb. I feel like if you just have a love of plants and that's where it starts,” Williams
Atlanta’s Black Coffee Company opens second location at Morehouse College
said. "There is no handbook, and nothing is perfect. I've had some failures in my plant experience, but you learn, and you continue to grow.”
The Vegan Social ATL's centerpiece is a display of vegan food vendors. From pizza to soul food and Asian-inspired dishes, the row of food trucks is where the congregation of patrons begins.
Chef Key and Wendesay Key, co-owners of the mobile catering business Sometimeatarian, have been in business for five years, with
four of those years operating out of their mobile unit.
Although the duo primarily caters private events, Wendesay said that it was important for them be a part of The Vegan Social ATL.
“There are not a lot of vegan options here in Atlanta,” Wendesay said. “Here there's a diverse group of food vendors and non-food vendors. It's a vibe and it's just a really nice thing to do in the middle of the week.”
Wendesay spoke about her family’s deci-
sion to go plant-based and how this journey has positively impacted their health.
“My family was all experiencing health challenges, and the only thing that we could kind of relate to everybody was the diet. Primarily everybody was physical, healthy otherwise,”
Wendesay said. “So, we all went plantbased together, and it has made a difference ever since.”
According to Wendesay, Sometimeatarian’s standout dish is their Yakisoba Noodles, and it remains a community favorite.
Attendees Prince and Tori Ogakwu are newcomers to the vegan scene. Motivated by health concerns, the couple said that they phased out different types of meat from their diet while discovering the benefits of plantbased eating along the way.
“Last year we started, and we gradually got away from chicken,” Tori said. “Now we only eat seafood. We're trying to transition out of seafood, but it's hard to find good quality vegan food.”
The Ogakwu's said that The Vegan Social ATL has a variety of flavorful vegan dishes that make the transition from meat easier.
“My favorite dishes are the pineapple bowl from Vegan Ahava and the vegan hotdogs from Nut Café,” Prince said.
“There's plenty of vendors out here selling plenty of stuff that you would definitely like,” Tori said. “[The] energy is always right, and the people are always accepting. So, I would just say come out and enjoy it.”
Vegans and those who love them flock to the Westside Motor Lounge every Wednesday evening for The Vegan Social ATL event. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Linia White (above), an artist and founder of Paper Luxe Studios. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Election Central Harris promises brighter future in North Carolina campaign
BY CARLA PEAY
GREENSBORO, NC – Hours before Vice President Kamala Harris took the stage at the Greensboro Coliseum, there was already a party going on. Supporters stood in line for hours and once admitted, they were entertained by a disc jockey with a varied and popular playlist. There was dancing in the stands, and on the arena floor. When Harris finally appeared, she was greeted by a thunderously loud standing ovation in an area packed to the rafters with supporters. She wasted no time in keeping the crowd’s energy going.
“It’s time to turn the page,” Harris said. “We need to chart a new way forward with a new generation of leadership. I will be a president for all America and together, we will build a brighter future for our nation.”
Two days removed from her debate against former President Donald Trump, Harris chose the battleground state of North Carolina to resume her campaign, making a stop in Charlotte early Thursday afternoon, and in Greensboro later Thursday evening. According to a CNN flash poll taken right after Tuesday’s debate, Harris outperformed Trump 63 percent to 37 percent. The same poll also showed that among independent voters, Harris’ favorability increased from 30 percent to 48 percent. The cheers continued when Harris talked about the debate and what a future under a second Donald Trump presidency would look like.
“Donald Trump laid out a detailed and dangerous blueprint, called Project 2025,” Harris said.
“He will cut social security and Medicare. He will cut the Affordable Care Act. And he has no plan to replace it, he said he has “concepts” of a plan. He will institute a sales tax. Top economists have said that my plan will grow the economy, while his plan will send us into a recession.”
She also emphasized the danger of a Donald Trump presidency with “no guardrails”, due to the recent Supreme Court ruling granting him immunity, and restating Trump’s own words that he will be a dictator on day one.
“He has called for the termination of our constitution,” Harris said, before delivering one of the loudest applause lines of the evening. “Donald Trump is someone who should never again stand behind the seal of the presidency!”
Turning to reproductive freedoms, Harris stated emphatically that the government should not tell women what to do with their bodies.
“We will pass legislation restoring reproductive freedom, and I will proudly sign it into law.”
Harris stated that her legislative priorities will include passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and a ban on assault weapons.
Prior to Harris appearance, Greensboro mayor Nancy Vaughn took the stage and touted
How to stay safe from AI voice scams
Harris’ record on job creation, and capping the cost of copay’s for insulin at $35 per month.
Vaughn made the accomplishment personal, as she is a Type I insulin-dependent diabetic herself and called being able to afford insulin a life-and-death matter for her and millions of others across the country.
“She will fight for and protect our fundamental freedoms,” Vaughn said. “She represents joy and hope. Under her leadership, we will not just get by but thrive.”
Attorney General Josh Stein, Democratic candidate for governor, emphasized that the
road to the White House runs right through North Carolina.
“We must invest in our people and our future,” Stein said. “We must make sure our personal freedoms are protected, we must defend the right to choose and the right to vote.”
Stein also said that as governor, he would veto any restrictions on reproductive freedoms. Stein compared his vision with that of his opponent, Republican Lt. Governor Mark Robinson, who Stein called a conspiracy theorist with a vision that is all about division and hate.“Our vision, and Kamala Harris’ vision, is
about creating a brighter vision for everyone,” Stein said.
Governor Roy Cooper began his remarks with a recap of what he called a decisive victory by Harris over Trump during Tuesday’s debate.
“He defends dictators, she defends democracy,” Cooper said. He drew a sharp contract over what Harris would do and what Trump would do as president.
“She is charting a new way forward,” Cooper said. “He is too focused on himself to get anything done for you. She showed us why we can’t let Donald Trump anywhere near the White House. Kamala will fight for you.”
As he repeated her accomplishments, Cooper soon had the crowd repeating, and shouting, his tagline several times – “Kamala will fight for you.”
Harris closed out her speech with an appeal to North Carolina leaders and voters to continue to fight for our freedoms.
“We are here because we love our county,” Harris said. “We need to fight for our ideals and the promise of America. We know the power is with the people.”
Polling data from the website 538 has North Carolina in a virtual dead heat, with Trump polling at 46.0 percent, and Harris polling at 46.2 percent. Harris will continue her swing across the battleground states with a visit to Pennsylvania on Friday.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris took the stage at the Greensboro Coliseum on Thursday, days after debating former U.S. President Donald Trump in Philadelphia. Photos by Julia Beverly/The Atlanta Voice
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White House hosts first ever Black Excellence Brunch
BY DONNELL SUGGS
WASHINGTON, D.C. – WASHINGTON, D.C. - The St. Augustine Gospel Choir was dressed in black robes with green and red stripes down the right side. Established in 1977, the world-renowned choir didn't have to make too long of a trip to the White House balcony overlooking the South Lawn. St. Augustine Catholic Church is located on V Street, NW, just a couple miles away from the White House.
The White House was the scene for a Celebration of Black Excellence Brunch, which took place on Friday, Sept. 13 and brought actors, actresses, authors, television personalities, journalists, writers, activists, and artists to the South Lawn. Friday was the first time a celebration of this order exclusively to celebrate the greatness of Black Americans took place on White House grounds. This wasn’t Black History Month or Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, or even Juneteenth, it’s a moment of history in the making, according to United States President Joseph R. Biden.
“The Black community has always had my back and I have always had theirs,” said Biden, who was dressed in his signature navy blue suit and aviator shades. Chants of “Thank you, Joe” filled the air as Biden thanked the large crowd for coming to the brunch and for contributing to America’s greatness. During his 15-minute speech, Biden made sure to let everyone know that this current administration that he shares with Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for the presidency, is the most diverse in the country’s history.
Biden was joined by Shalanda Young, the Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget. Young is the first Black woman to hold her position. Under the Biden-Harris administration Black excellence isn’t new as the first Black female Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black Vice President, and the first Black female queer White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre were able to break down walls to their respective offices of national power and prominence. Biden was sure to mention that he was also the Vice President under the first Black man to hold the office of the presidency, Barack Obama.
“Today we are here to honor this truth that Black history is American history and Black excellence is American excellence,” said Biden.
Jean-Pierre, a Haitian-American, spoke moments before Biden appeared and stated that there were “Hundreds of Black leaders on the South Lawn of the White House who exemplify Black excellence,” and that was because of the Biden-Harris administration’s support of Black Americans at the
dent Biden and Vice President Harris, who have worked hard to fight for families,” said Young, who shared a story of Biden telling her it’s OK to go home during an important meeting in order to pick Charlie up from daycare.
Guests to the brunch included inspirational speaker Iyanla Vanzant, actor Anthony Anderson, rapper David Banner, actresses Marsai Martin and Kyla Pratt, journalist April D. Rayn, and Black politicians and civic leaders from across the country, including Jonesboro (Ga.) Mayor Dr. Donya L. Sartor, Georgia Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock, Rep. Gregory Meeks (N.Y.), and Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives Hakeem Jeffries, to name a few.
“Well, representation matters, it impacts policy,” said Warnock. “We see this played out in this administration in terms of policy. “I certainly like what this administration and its agenda represents for 2025 versus Project 2025. That is a contrast we must remember as we go into this election.”
Warnock pointed out that under the Biden-Harris administration, Black unemployment is down, investments in Blackowned businesses are up, Black household wealth is up even when you allow for inflation, and there has been a record-setting investment in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
“This is the work that we continue to do, and we can ill afford to have someone take us back. We have to move forward,” Warnock said.
Meeks also believes representation matters and added, “Representation is not everything; it’s the only thing,” he said. “Trying to move forward without the appropriate representation, you can’t gain or get anything when you’re talking about health, cost, and representation matters. If you talk about affordable housing, representation matters. Representation matters if you’re talking about reducing or getting relief from student loans. Individuals have to have someone who represents them in the hall of government so that you can negotiate and create opportunities that better the lives of individuals that we represent.”
Having covered the White House for decades, Ryan said she knows how much representation matters inside the gates at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Young
“I’m
“It’s important that everyone matters. It is important at this moment when there is a presidential candidate that deals with race on a whole other level that they see Black people who are not eating dogs and cats,” said Ryan. “It’s important that they see Black people who rise above. America must see that we are not the picture they want to paint. This is that moment.”
White House and beyond.
added that she hopes her threeyear-old daughter Charlie has fond mem-
ories of walking around the White House where her mother works.
incredibly proud to work for Presi-
The White House hosted the first-ever Celebration of Black Excellence brunch on the South Lawn on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock (Ga.). Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Long-time White House correspondent April D. Rayn. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys
BY NOAH WASHINGTON
“This collection is your collection. This is everyone in here's collection. The Dean Collection is your collection,” said Kasseem Daoud Dean, record producer, rapper, and DJ, more commonly known as Swizz Beatz. Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys opened at the High Museum of Art on Friday, Sept. 13.
Dean’s statement encapsulates the essence of the exhibition—a celebration of Black art, culture, and legacy. Giants, which runs from September 14, 2024, through January 19, 2025, is the first major presentation of the Dean Collection in the south. There is a hope that the collection will leave a lasting mark on the region, according to Dean.
Friday the 13th, often considered a day of superstition, instead marked a historic moment for Atlanta as Swizz Beatz (whose birthday also fell on this day) and his wife, the Grammy award-winning artist Alicia Augello Cook, or as she is professionally known, Alicia Keys, visited the city to kick off their collection’s first stop on a national tour. The exhibition offers a focused selection of works by Black diasporic artists, ranging from 20th-century icons like Nick Cave and Gordon Parks to contemporary innovators like Amy Sherald and Deana Lawson.
The collection, curated by the Brooklyn Museum, represents 10 percent of the Deans' entire holdings and includes 115 objects, 98 of which are major artworks. Through this exhibition, the Deans seek to trace the evolution of their collection and highlight the social impact of Black artists on the global art scene. Thematically, the artworks tackle issues of societal relevance, monumentality, and the ongoing influence of Black artists on art history. In an interview with The Atlanta Voice, Alicia Keys illuminated the deeply personal significance of preserving and promoting Black art. “It’s bigger than transactional. It’s bigger than just one moment,” Keys said, speaking to the sense of purpose that drives their mission. Emphasizing the importance of breaking down institutional barriers, particularly those historically excluding Black artists, Keys hopes the exhibition will spark a sense of empowerment. “We belong everywhere,” Keys declared. "We created everything. It's a beautiful celebration of that power. You feel it when you walk in this room.”
This celebration of Black culture and creativity is central to the Dean Collection, which, according to Keys, was built with more than just a collector’s eye. She explained that the relationship between artists, whether musical or visual, is born from shared experiences and emotions. "You feel their pain, passion, story, vision," Keys said, describing the connection
she feels with the art. Drawing parallels between her music-making process and curating the collection, she spoke about the emotional and spiritual resonance that both mediums evoke.
The exhibition features paintings, sculptures, and photographs and includes non-traditional art objects that offer insight into the Deans' diverse interests. Visitors will find musical instruments, albums, and even BMX bikes the couple has collected over the years. This incorporation of personal memorabilia gives the exhibit a unique texture, blending cultural objects with fine art to create a holistic view of the
Deans’ lives as collectors and creatives.
Kimberli Gant, the curator of modern and contemporary art at the Brooklyn Museum, emphasized the significance of bringing Giants to Atlanta. This city has long been a hub for Black culture. She pointed out that while the Dean Collection includes artists from various cultural backgrounds, this exhibition showcases Black artists historically underrepresented in major galleries. Gant explained, “This becomes an expansive presentation of art history that often is not taught in the giant catalogs we get while studying in school.” By presenting works by established and emerging
Black artists, Giants aims to fill gaps in mainstream narratives and offer new perspectives.
Gant hopes the exhibition will resonate with local audiences in Atlanta, a city with a rich art, music, and activism history. She expressed her desire for visitors to feel a sense of recognition and belonging when they see the works on display, regardless of their background. “I want visitors to come in and see themselves,” Gant said. “Whether or not you are Black, this is about human expression.”
The exhibition is as much a cultural statement as an artistic one. Swizz Beatz reflected on the challenges of building such a collection, explaining that it wasn’t just about acquiring the pieces. “A lot of works you see there, we had to fight to get those pieces, not because we couldn’t afford them, it’s because they weren’t used to us buying works on this type of level,” Swizz Beatz shared. For the Deans, the collection represents a way to reclaim space within the art world for Black creators. “We felt like, no, what is it going to do? Just sit in storage? Hang on our walls?” Swizz Beatz stated. Instead, they chose to share the collection with the world—and more importantly, their community.
Whether through the lens of music, visual art, or personal expression, Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys is a powerful reminder of the importance of representation and the enduring legacy of Black creativity.
In Gant’s words, “This is an expansive presentation of art history,” inviting all who attend to find something meaningful and perhaps even transformative.
The opening of Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys took place at the High Museum of Art on Friday, Sept. 13. Photos by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Alicia Keys and Swizz Beats at the opening of Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys, which took place at the High Museum of Art on Friday, Sept. 13. Photos by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Mental health jobs will grow three times the rate of all US jobs over the next decade
Racism’s toll on young Black boys: A call to action for mental health
BY CLAYTON GUTZMORE
Racism is a generational obstacle that is still affecting Black Americans today. Black people have persevered through this obstacle, but the encounters of discrimination and harm have taken a toll on people. One group under this umbrella who isn't considered enough regarding racism's toll is young Black boys. Young men are often told to man up and get over it when it comes to pain and discomfort. In regards to racism, studies have shown that they have either acted out or internalized it when they have been exposed to it.
Dr. Assaf Oshri is a College of Family and Consumer Sciences professor at the University of Georgia. He is the lead author of the report about racism's toll on young Black boys. He shares how racism has led to increased rates of depression in Black youth and illustrates why now is the time to step in for their mental health.
"I'm very interested in the emotional well-being of our youth. I think stressors that come from the environment, including cultural stress,
discrimination, and socioeconomic stress, accumulate. It becomes chronic and has implications on how we develop," said Dr. Assaf Oshri, a developmental psychologist and director of the Georgia Center for Developmental Science at the University of Georgia.
"The youth is our future, and this is when you can target, intervene, and help. You don't do it when somebody already has mental health issues or finds himself in jail and then put the blame on them," said Dr. Oshri.
The University of Georgia released the report in June 2024. Dr. Oshri co-authored the study with Dr. Sierra Carter of Georgia State University. Researchers collected data from 1500 young men over three years. The young men's responses to feeling mistreated or unaccepted because of their race were measured by Dr. Oshri and company.
The results uncovered the youth have been internalizing and externalizing their emotions. Dr. Oshir explains that internalizing involves withholding their feelings, which leads to depression and anxiety. Externalizing deals with expressing
their emotions, which can resemble aggression, acting out, and other forms of delinquency.
"I'm aware that cultural stress has dire consequences. We have hard evidence that we have something that we need to pay attention to. I want to study and document the mechanism of this stress so I can help prevent it," said Dr. Oshri.
The UGA professor depicts the psychological effects happening inside the youth's mind. A part of the brain called the amygdala detects threats and regulates emotions. According to Dr. Oshir, the data from the study reveals the amygdala of young Black boys shuts down when they are faced with these negative images of racism.
This shutdown causes the youth to internalize these emotions. The research shows that the suppression of brain activation in that area was correlated to less problematic behavior in the boys. On the other hand, High activity of the amygdala during exposure to negative racial experiences saw problematic behaviors. Both sides take an emotional toll on the youth.
Dr. Oshir suggested talking to children is a way to combat the problem. He elaborates that
asking how they feel emotionally can make a difference. For the young boys who internalize the pain, some signs parents can be aware of are withdrawal, quietness, anxiety, feeling sad, and depression. A follow-up step is to prepare them for potential racial bias they may encounter. Dr. Oshir shares that parents who teach their children to be proud of being black can guard against some of the harmful effects of racism.
Young Black boys do not have to bear the emotional toll of racism alone. If people step in and support them and provide a space for them to express their feelings when they experience it. We can have a lot more emotionally healthy children around us. Dr. Oshir encourages everyone to take this matter seriously, or it can grow into a more significant problem for everyone.
"We are all paying for the cultural assault our kids are experiencing. We're paying it emotionally in terms of the family and the community. We will pay for it financially because people who experience mental health stress will eventually have to treat it. That will have financial consequences for society," said Dr. Oshir.
‘The Barn’ delves into the lasting impact of Emmett Till’s murder
BY DONNELL SUGGS
“The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi” shines a light on a story that Black families have been sharing with their children ever since the death of Chicago teenager Emmett Till was featured in the September 15, 1955 issue of Jet magazine. Photos of Till's ravaged body still haunt memories till this day. And at the same time, the murder was also a major moment in the Civil Rights Movement.
Having been born 22 years after Till's murder in Money, Mississippi, and growing up some thousands of miles away in Brooklyn, New York, I had my opinion on Mississippi set in stone because of it. My first visit to the Magnolia State was this summer when I took my family on a visit to Jackson, the state capitol. During my interview with Thompson, who hails from Mississippi and felt this story needed a Mississippi Delta native to tell it in its proper context, called the book a, "historical math problem."
Thompson will be at McElreath Hall at the Atlanta History Center on October 2. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., he will have a conversation with Condace Pressley about "The Barn." Doors open at 6 p.m.
The Atlanta Voice: What is it about the Emmett Till story that feels so important to this country and the South's legacy?
Wright Thompson: There's a real joy in knowing that someone will come along next, read all of the other books, read my book, strip it for parts, and push the story forward. We cannot as a country be complete until this story is completely told.
AV: What is the best and worst part about writing about Mississippi, your home state?
WT: The good part is that I realized early on in this project that I didn't really know anything about the place that I thought I knew best in the world. That's a real gift, because if you don't know your home, you're not really from there, which means you're not really from anywhere.
AV: I can't wait to get your feelings on Mississippi when the book comes out on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
WT: The problem is I also love [Mississippi], but I'm not entirely sure what it's going to be like there in 15 days when this thing comes out. Mississippi doesn't like it when you talk out of school.
AV: Jumping right into the book, how did it feel when you first found out about the Barn where Emmett Till was murdered?
WT: When I first found out that the Barn existed I really judged the guy who lived there. So, if people are asking why should I read this if I'm not from there, well, America is too big to hold history in your hands,
which is why we have so many myths. So my hope is that if you could shrink America to 36 square miles, I think, maybe you could see it.
AV: What was that moment like when you learned the name of Till's cousin, Wheeler Parker, Jr., who made the trip to Mississippi with Till that summer?
WT: Let me tell you, the book as it was originally conceived and sold stopped in 1955. In the process of reporting it, I met Rev. Wheeler Parker. I think he should be on money. Just being around him forced me to reimagine the whole book because I couldn't believe he was still alive. He was in the house the night Emmett was taken.
Meeting Rev. Parker has made me reexamine everything I think about God, because I
can't think of another explanation for why someone could be this full of grace, forgiveness, and love.
AV: Sounds like a great man.
WT: I just couldn't admire someone more. It's my hope that one of the things that happens with this book is that he is forever cemented as a central player in the great American story.
AV: As the EIC of a Black-owned and operated newspaper, I'd like to thank you for referencing the work of Black publication reporters, such as Simeon Booker (Jet Magazine), and Moses Newsome (Tri-State Defender) and their coverage of Till's murder. Why was that and other levels of research important to put in the book?
WT: You'll understand this. Some things you do because it's an assignment. I spent a lot of time researching this before it was a book. I needed to know how Emmett Till was murdered in a barn 23 miles from my family farm and not only did I not know about the barn, no one I knew really knew about the barn, and the barn wasn't a museum and there was no historical marker. It was just somebody's barn.
At its simplest level the book is an investigation of how any of those things could possibly be.
AV: What would you like readers to take away from reading "The Barn"?
WT: That we know a lot about this particular murder, but the register of what we don't know, I found to be startling. And the reason we don't know it is not an accident. There has been deep, intentional erasure of this crime, so the book ends up being about the conflict between memory and erasure. It's the erasure of this crime and the concentric circles of complicity in it.
AV: So in other words, there's much more to the Emmett Till story to learn?
WT: The story that is told so often is that two people killed a child. First of all, it was way more than two people. After four years of reporting my guess is eight. The other six people went unpunished and unrecognized, so we are still sorting all of this out. There will be new information about this killing and the hope is that you learn the history of 36 square miles in America to learn the history of all of America. You learn the history of one killing to understand all of the killings. It feels urgent.
This isn't something that happened. This is something that is still happening.
AV: Lastly, why is Emmett Till's story still so polarizing, powerful, and poignant heading into the 70th year of his murder and impact on the Civil Rights Movement?
WT: I have thought about this endlessly. The reason why we can't escape this murder, to me, is the power of the physical barn itself, because in it lies the truth about all of us. We have lots of myths about who we are. We are what happened to this child, and we also are the response from so many Americans that to make sure he did not die in vain. In the battle between erasure and memory over the story of Emmett Till lies the entire future of the United States of America. If we have a future it will be in the victory of memory over erasure. If we don't it will mean erasure, in this particular instance, has triumphed over memory.
This is a murder that happened to a race of people and also a nation of people.
Thompson, who lives with his family in Oxford, Mississippi, is a senior writer for ESPN and author of several books, including Pappy
Wright Thompson’s latest book, “The Barn” (Penguin Press), will hit bookstores around the country on Sept. 24. Thompson talked to The Atlanta Voice about his inspiration for the book.
Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Vanessa Bouie’s Fancy Homebody revolutionizes home fashion, sets new standards
STREET LINES
2024 GV60 Performance EV
BY DENNIS MALCOLM BYRON AKA ALE SHARPTON
Once again, Genesis comes prepared to impress everyone by following a successful combination of style, innovation, and overall luxury to whatever they produce. Going the all-electric route, the 2024 GV60 is a curvaceous, futuristic SUV coupe pampering up to five adults in a posh cabin, complemented with a plethora of technology and upscale amenities, backed by the renowned warranty Genesis provides. The GV60 comes in three trims—Standard, Advanced and Performance—and I was honored to review the latter, which boasts to be the most powerful of the three.
Staying in character, Genesis knows how to captivate when it comes to stunning onlookers. The slanted, bi-level LED light configurations occupying both the front to back retain the automaker’s signature appearance, leaving other competitors often emulating them. Add the 21-inch alloy shoes, “Vision” roof complete with a power shade, and
optional Hanauma Mint exterior, you have one fine-looking vehicle.
Upon entrance, passengers are greeted by a highly recommended ash gray/glacier color combination, Nappa leather appointments throughout, aluminum trimming, signature quilted seating, an instrument panel wrapped in leatherette material, shades for the rear windows, pull-out glove box (like a drawer), wireless charging, surround-view monitor, a 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation at the center, and the ultimate conversation starter—a lighted crystal sphere that turns to expose the transmission controls. Speaking of futuristic, there is also the Genesis Digital Key, the ability to start the engine with fingerprint authentication, and Face Connect to make the use of keys yesteryear. The ears get love as well with a theateresque Bang & Olufsen sound system, active noise control, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
Now let’s ride. Justifying the “Performance” label, this GV60 uses a 77.4 kWh battery, and two 160-watt motors for the front and rear, de-
livering up to a 483-horsepower flex and 516 lb-ft. of torque. Already equipped with four droving modes—Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Comfort—the “Boost” button on the steering wheel gives an extraordinary thrill with an immediate 0-60 jump in four seconds. At a combined 90 MPGe per charge, the driving range is a decent 235 miles, complete with a charging time of 7.2 hours using a 240-volt station. Of course, there are perks to being an all-electric vehicle as well. The ride is quiet and smooth thanks to the electronically controlled suspension, while utilizing the all-wheel drive ideal
for the tightest of cornering.
The cost for all the bells and whistles takes the GV60 into the $70K range, but it’s all about how far buyers are willing to go to get what they want. In this case, if the wallet allows it, the Performance will electrify every driving experience, literally.
Fuel Economy: 82 city/97 highway/90 combined
Price: The 2024 Genesis GV60 AWD Performance is $69,550 MSRP. (As reviewed with optional paint, plus destination, $71,320) For more information, visit Genesis.com.
RFP for Residences at Chosewood Park located at 1211 McDonald Drive SE, Atlanta, GA.
BIDS DUE: September 26, 2024, at 2:00 pm
PRE-BID MEETING will be held on site on September 4, 2024, at 10:00 am.
PLANS: Hard Copies of plans available upon request and at subcontractor’s expense from A1 BluePrint (www.a1blue.com), Phone: 404-524-8881 OR for a link contact Linda at Lstache@ gormanusa.com.
Contact Info: Linda Stache, Gorman & Company, Phone: 608-835-5177
CERTIFICATIONS: SBE/MBE/ WBE/EBE/DBE/VBE, SECTION 3 and a prevailing wage rate project. This project is also NGBS Bronze and +45L ZERH Credits
Sealed bids for 24ITB091324K-CRB - 2025
Standby Miscellaneous Construction Wastewater System Services 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, October 30, 2024. All bids submitted must be received no later than 11:00 a.m. local (Eastern) time on the stated date.
Bids will be publicly opened and read at 11:05 a.m. on the stated due date via Zoom. Bid Bond: 5%
Scope of Work: Fulton County, Georgia (“County”) The Project consists of the following major elements: providing all labor, equipment, and materials necessary for the construction, installation, and emergency repair of miscellaneous wastewater mains, wastewater service lines, and other required improvements to the wastewater collection system with Fulton County. In order to obtain complete information about this solicitation, please click the link below where this document and supporting documents can be downloaded,
https://www.bidnetdirect.com/georgia/fultoncounty Fee: N/A Term of Contract: One (1) year with 2 One year Renewal Options.
A Pre-Bid Conference, will be held on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at 10:00 a.m., local time, via Zoom to provide bidders with information regarding the project and to address any questions.
Link:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcpcOuopjsoHNDrccIt-OPHmhCyia_H63a0
Proposals must be submitted online through the WebGrants System at https://www. bidnetdirect.com/georgia/fultoncounty MANDATORY:
The selected vendor(s) must have the capacity to provide such services in a facility located within Fulton County.
If you have any questions regarding this project please contact Craig R. Bogan, Assistant Purchasing Agent, at Email: craig.bogan@ fultoncountyga.gov. Fulton County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids and to waive technicalities.
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