The Atlanta Voice E-Edition 021425 by theatlantavoice633

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Georgia Republicans push for hard-line immigration stance

‘I’m enjoying my life’- Alyce Ware

BY DONNELL SUGGS

When her guests arrived, Dr. Alyce Ware was seated at a table inside an Atlanta senior living facility. She was early for bingo, making sure to get a good seat at the table before the games began. The 94-year-old mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and former educator still makes sure to have her hair and nails done just in case she has company. On a warm Friday afternoon in early February, Ware, dressed in a black and white patterned blouse and matching pants, made her way from the table to a comfortable chair in the corner of the room so she and her guests could talk. She was going to talk to a reporter about her life and times but wasn’t sure why her journey was particularly worthy of a story.

“Why is this a special day?” she asked. “Well, allow me to reintroduce myself, I’m Dr. Alyce Ware,” she said. “I’m from Birmingham, Alabama.”

The visit was more about this year than about any particular day. The Atlanta Voice is turning 60 years old, and Ware, the wife of the late newspaper’s co-founder J. Lowell Ware and the mother of the newspaper’s publisher Janis Ware, played an important part in establishing what is now the city’s longest-running print Blackowned newspaper. The building at 633 Pryor Street was purchased in 1970 to serve as the headquarters for The Atlanta Voice in the city's Mechanicsville neighborhood. The newspaper has called 633 Pryor Street home ever since. The plan was for Ware to hold the building in her name in the event that the newspaper faced a libel lawsuit or similar issues. Current publisher Janis Ware said her father, the paper’s co-founder, always planned ahead. His wife was part of that plan all along.

She asked if the newspaper was still located within the building. When told it was, she said, “Oh, that’s good.”

Nearing 95 years of age—her birthday is June 19— Ware said she has a hard time remembering many of her times and travels, but she knows she had a good time.

“I’m enjoying my life,” Ware said. “You know, I’m 94, and that’s going on 100 years old. So there’s a whole lot that I don’t remember.”

The Importance of Education

Ware taught in Dekalb County and Atlanta Public Schools for 40-plus years, so education was an integral part of her and her two daughters' lives. She worked as a homebound instructor, teaching children at home because they were unable to attend school for various reasons. For example, some were injured in accidents, while others could not walk. Ware said each child was still a student and that it was her job to ensure they were caught up on their lessons.

“I’d go to the school first and see what their class was doing, then I would teach them at home,” she said.

Ware said she enjoyed teaching because that was the professional lane she was forced to be in at the time.

“That was the only thing I could do being a Black

See WARE on page 3

WARE

Continued from page 2

Seasoned Saints is a series of stories on Atlanta seniors who have helped shape the way the city is seen through local media, community activism, and a national lens. These stories are representative of Black History Month and the people who helped make Black history every day. Some are well-known the world over, while others’ names might only ring a bell within their respective communities. Black history is all around us.

-D. Suggs The Atlanta Voice

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“I only debate my equals. All others, I teach.”

— John Henrik Clarke

FOUNDED May 11, 1966 FOUNDER/EDITOR

Ed Clayton Immortalis Memoria PUBLISHER/EDITOR

J. Lowell Ware Immortalis Memoria

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

PUBLISHER

Janis Ware

PRESIDENT/

GENERAL MANAGER

James A. Washington 2018-2024

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO PUBLISHER

Chia Suggs csuggs@theatlantavoice.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF Donnell Suggs editor@theatlantavoice.com

GENERAL ASSIGNMENT REPORTERS

Isaiah Singleton isingleton@theatlantavoice.com

Laura Nwogu lnwogu@theatlantavoice.com

EDITOR AT LARGE Stan Washington swashington@theatlantavoice.com

MANAGING EDITOR, DIGITAL Itoro Umontuen iumontuen@theatlantavoice.com

ADVERTISING, SALES & CIRCULATION

ADVERTISING ADMINISTRATOR

Chia Suggs advertising@theatlantavoice.com

CIRCULATION MANAGER

Terry Milliner SALES

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SUBMISSIONS editor@theatlantavoice.com

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

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CONTACT INFORMATION

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

Spiritually Speaking: REBEL WITH A CAUSE

BY JAMES A. WASHINGTON

The Atlanta Voice

Isaw something the other day that literally made me stop and think. “Jesus, Revolutionary!”

It’s not the first time I’ve had the thought and I believe I’ve written about it in the past. But what made this different was my understanding, or lack thereof, about just how radical Jesus was. What prompted the pause this time had to do with what we consider today revolutionary and what revolutionary might mean in terms of Christ today. More importantly, this made me think of revolution in terms of me and my faith walk.

A core teaching principle about life and death and the life of Jesus Chris is that He focused on substance, not style. We have come to know through Jesus that the outward act of prayer has little to do with the internal purpose of prayer. The literal and technical interpretation of God’s laws has little value if not filtered through the intent of God’s will. Jesus was executed because He challenged the rigid practice of the intellectual/literal enforcement of rules and regulations. He was crucified because He simply

A Sunday seat doesn’t necessarily mean a Sunday heart.

asked those in charge, “Where’s the love and compassion in what you do?” To Jesus, church hierarchy had little to do with church purpose, and He challenged the hierarchy to forego practice for purpose. As a follower of Christ, is it not our duty to be just as vigilant against law and order in today’s church? Shouldn’t we be concerned and active in the church that Jesus left behind? Are we about doctrine or duty? See, this is where that revolutionary stuff comes up. Duty based on faith and belief in the Almighty demands certain actions. Doctrine demands little more than an external demonstration of understanding the rules.

Does that make it revolutionary to question the intent and effectiveness of, say, a church’s Outreach Ministry instead of the choir’s budget? Does Jesus’ message demand that we reorder our thinking to go beyond church

walls and deal with those we would otherwise think we’re better than because we go to church every Sunday at the same time, in the same place, in the same seat? A Sunday seat doesn’t necessarily mean a Sunday heart. Does this sound revolutionary to you? When you break it all down, the revolutionary part gets exposed when you look at who Jesus helped. When you look at the targets for the miracles, they were, at times, the lame and the lost, the poor and the blind, the wretched and the vile. Jesus, Himself didn’t even fit the mold of who the church wanted to call King. He wasn’t kingly enough by the church’s interpretation of the rules and regulations, the definition of the king it wanted. Jesus hung out with the wrong crowd doing some terrible stuff, preaching some of the wall doctrine. Yeah, when He talked about forgiveness, you are the forgiver, not the forgiven. The

love He spoke about was that which you give, not that which you receive. The same was held for mercy and charity. I guess this was enough to get Him killed. The strange truth is if you preach these principles today, nothing will happen to you. If you practice these truths, you might fall prey to jealousy, envy, gossip, and death. I guess you know you’re a revolutionary if anybody notices you challenging the status quo to do God’s will. Is anybody paying any attention to you these days? Let’s hope so, at least that Satan is. Let’s hope he’s heard of you doing things in the name of the Lord.

May God bless you and give you strength to be His revolutionary today in your chosen church.

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.

Celebrating Black History Month

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Don’t Turn ‘em loose, Child

BY REBECCA TALIAFERRO

Student, University of South Carolina

Beaufort

(spoken as Nat Turner’s grandmother)

Depart from what you’ve always known as you soothe the ache in your mother’s back for this fight you fight demands the stone.

I’ve seen countless brethren broken and kneeled lash upon lash singing from relentless cracks

Depart from what you’ve always known.

He hung that silvered moon as a shield

And by God, may it be enough to guide your tracks for this fight you fight demands the stone.

Blood runs and grows inside this field where you sewed rice in your hair and made a pact

To depart from what you’ve always known.

Let that hunger for freedom be your only meal let it fill your belly where there is lack for this fight you fight demands the stone.

Repay how you must for your own killed as I give you my blessing for this attack depart from what you’ve always known for this fight we must fight, demands the stone!

Community

Atlanta Jewish Film Festival to premiere “Ain't No Back to a Merry-Go-Round”

BY LAURA NWOGU

The 2025 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is set to kick off from Feb. 19- March 16 with a slate of films that includes the documentary “Ain't No Back to a Merry-Go-Round.” Inspired by the Langston Hughes poem “Merry-Go-Round,” the film documents the fight to desegregate Glen Echo Park, a popular amusement park in Maryland. What started as five Howard University students being arrested for riding the park’s merry-go-round in 1960 led to the first organized interracial civil rights protest in U.S. history as Howard University students and Jewish members of the Bannockburn community, a historic neighborhood just three miles north of D.C., worked together to integrate the park.

The Atlanta Voice talked with Ilana Trachtman, the film’s director; Yvonne Thomas, wife of Hank Thomas, a freedom fighter featured in the film; and Lily A.C. Flores, Hank’s great-granddaughter and a contributor to the film.

The Atlanta Voice: The film's title comes from the Langston Hughes poem “Merry-Go-Round,” which ends with the line, “Where's the horse for a kid that's Black?” Ilana, for those who will be able to watch the film when it premieres at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, can you give insight into what the film is about and the significance of the poem to the story?

Ilana Trachtman: “The film is about what is the first organized interracial civil rights protest in America, specifically, the first time that a Black student protest was assisted by an organized white community. The poem was written 18 years before this happened by Langston Hughes, and he was talking about being a kid in the Jim Crow South and being subjected ridiculously to the back of everything. And where would one sit at the back of a merry-go-round, because merry-go-rounds don't have a back.”

AV: “There's so much untold history out there, especially when it comes to the Black experience. We know about sit-ins during the civil rights struggle, but when you dig deeper, you find these interracial protests and their impact. How does the story of this Black-Jewish alliance come across your desk and why was it important for you to tell this story?”

IT: “I actually grew up about 20 minutes away, and by the time I was growing up, the amusement park had long been closed. But there was a national park there that was built on the remains of the amusement park, and it was really like an arts colony. And so as a child, we went all the time, and it was just this beloved place that we went to for puppet shows, and I went to day camp there. And it was so beautiful because the merry-go-round was still there. The National Park Service even had photographs around of what the park had looked like since the turn of the century, and it just always felt like this magical place. I always thought about it as a wholesome moment of Washington, D.C. history that was gone.

“It wasn't until 20 years later, that I went back to see the park as a potential wedding venue, that we ran into a national park ranger who told us the story of how the park was integrated. And my first my first reaction was, ‘What do you mean, how the park was integrated?’ It never occurred to me that the park had been whites only, which is stupid, because I've been looking at those pictures my whole life, and it had never registered to me that I was only looking at white people in those photographs. That meant that there was an entire community that was denied access. And that was really a wake-up call; that was really shameful to me. I just felt complicit, and that was the beginning.

“When I learned more about who it was that integrated the

park — the white community that was largely Jewish and the Howard students — the white community was made up of people who were involved in the labor movement and the federal government. My dad had been a Jewish labor organizer, and when I started working on the film, my dad had passed away a couple years before that, so it was a way to understand him a little better. It was a way to stay connected to him, because those people in Bannockburn reminded me of my parent’s friends.”

AV: And Hank Thomas was one of the featured freedom fighters in this film who came from this small town in Georgia to being at the forefront of this civil rights struggle. Mrs. Thomas, what did you both learn from his perspective of this time in his life?

Yvonne Thomas: “I always say, Thomas was born to be an activist. He started very young. He grew up in Wadley, Georgia, and it was there that he'd gone into a store with all of the other kids that was owned by a white guy. He was walking down the aisle and brushed against a white woman, and she just put her hands on him, stopped him and said, ‘Just stand still and and go this way.’ And so he did that not thinking anything of it, but the guys he was with were so frightened that they all ran out and ran home. He didn't know what was going on, and when he got there, the kids had already told the parents that Thomas had brushed up against a white woman. Everybody was alarmed that, here's this kid, probably no more than five or six years old, and they were frightened. They didn't know what was going to happen. So, that really stuck with him. They didn't live there very long. They pretty much left and went to Jacksonville, and it was almost like he had just become an activist.

“He always had the sense of right and wrong and equal and what to do. Whenever he saw anything going that he thought was not the way all people should be treated, he always react-

ed. He just never accepted status quo.”

AV: A question in the film was, why Glen Echo? There were other fights to be had such as job opportunities. What did that fight to desegregate the amusement park signify for those protesters?

YT: “D.C. was, quote, an integrated area. There was segregation around Maryland, Virginia, and all around, but D.C. was supposed to be integrated. And when they learned that there's this community in D.C., and we've got dignitaries from around the world coming, and yet there was segregation. So when they saw it, they thought, if we don't have total integration here, then we don't have it, period. And what's the rest of the country to do? So, they saw it as something they had to get involved with.”

IT: “I think also it's easy to underestimate how pervasive Glen Echo was in popular culture. I mean, those radio ads, those jingles — anybody over 60 can sing them by heart. And the ads in the paper said, ‘Come one, come all.’ It was just part of being a Washingtonian. It's just that if you were a Washingtonian of color, that was off-limits to you. Not to mention, the metaphor of the fact that what could be more benign than an amusement park? And the fact that there's an amusement park that is off limits to children was just so hideous that, how could you not make that public?

AV: At the end of the film, Hank said American Jews were our most important allies during the Civil Rights Movement. For you all, when you look at the unity between Howard University students and the Bannockburn community when it comes to the fight to desegregate Glen Echo Park, what did the particular alliance between Black and Jews tell you about their unique experience in America throughout time?

Photo courtesy of the George Meany Library

Continued from page 6

YT: “The freedom rides, which is what Hank was a part of, was definitely an integrated movement. We're not that far removed from the Holocaust, and knowing that, in a sense, we're brothers in struggles against the system.

Lily A.C. Flores: “It’s trauma bonding.”

IT: I think that's a great way of putting it, Lily. I think that the experience in America of being othered is something that the Black community and the Jewish community shared. It doesn't start with the Civil Rights Movement. Even the founding of the NAACP was a shared enterprise. So, I don't think you have to look that hard to find examples of Black-Jewish partnership. But at the same time, I think it's really important.

“I’m personally uncomfortable with the film being described as a Black film, or a Jewish film, or even a Black-Jewish film, because it's not. It is not about the relationship writ large. It's not about the Civil Rights Movement writ large. It's about this one protest, this one period in time, this one group of individuals. I hope that I've done my best to be true to Hank Thomas's experience, true to Dion Diamond's experience, true to Esther Delaplaine and Helene Wilson's, and so I feel like I can only really represent what I understand from those individuals, as opposed

to the whole Black-Jewish relationship, because, as we know, it's complicated.”

AV: How important do you think it is to premiere a film like this with the state of the country that we're in?

YT: “I think it's very important. We've forgotten that we are one people. The whole idea was that, no one person is no better than the

other. It has nothing to do with race our creed; we are all equal. And we think of all the progress that African Americans have made in this country, and now to see things being rolled back is frightening. It's totally un-American, and I never thought we would be going in this direction today. I never thought she [gestures to Lily] would witness this.”

LF: “I think is very important for especially people my age, because they obviously concept what's going on in the country right now, but I don't think they really understand how far back the clock is turning instead of going forward.

IT: “And I think that it's easy to forget that the truth is, if they come for one of us, they're coming for all of us, right? It might be immigrants today, but I, sadly, think it's going to be other groups tomorrow and other groups a day after that. The only way that we have any power is by working together.”

AV: “After a year of protests, Glen Echo operated on an integrated basis. It led to interracial protests against local segregation across the country. How do you all hope this film upholds the lasting impact of this fight?”

IT: “One of the things I want people to take away is learning that the Civil Rights Movement wasn't just fought by Martin Luther King Jr. I think it's pretty easy to only hold on to the celebrity heroes of any movement, and you never learn about ‘regular’ people.

Celebrating excellence in every community.

During Black History Month, we honor leaders who consistently dedicate themselves to uplifting and supporting their communities. Through their tireless efforts, they preserve the legacy of those who came before and pave the way for future generations to thrive.

Join us in celebrating fashion entrepreneur Ngozi Okaro, STEM leader Dr. Calvin Mackie, Jamie Aranda, a resilient Air Force veteran, and astronaut Ed Dwight as part of our Everyday Excellence campaign. Their drive and achievements inspire us all, serving as powerful reminders that success is within reach for those who strive for it.

You never learn that, actually, thousands of protests took place where people just acted locally. There is plenty of Hank Thomas' and Helene Wilson's and people who were just like us. If we only learn about the famous people, then we give ourselves a pass and we say, ‘Well, I'm no Martin Luther King Jr. What can I do?’ But in fact, I really hope that people say, ‘Oh, she reminds me of my grandma. Oh, that's kind of like my seventh-grade science teacher.’ And if those people could do something, and didn't necessarily need to wait for a whole bunch of other people behind them to lift them up, then what am I doing? We actually do have agency. We do have power to make change, and we also have responsibility.”

YT: “I'm hoping people look at it and realize it's important that we all take action and that we can make a difference. It all starts with one, and I think we've got a young activist here, and I am so proud of the way she stands up when she sees things wrong.”

IT: “Hank Thomas is a local Atlanta hero, and I feel like this is an opportunity for Atlantans to embrace him and pay respect. I'm really thrilled that the film is playing in Atlanta at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival because I know that that's something that is really important to him. Not so much about not so much about glory, but the fact that this story is being told in the Jewish Film Festival is something that means a lot to him.”

Find career resources to support your own everyday excellence at aarp.org/work

Photo provided by Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

Jobs report shows a hiring slowdown

The Black Nose Lab is open for business

BY NOAH WASHINGTON

From the streets of New York City to the fragrant corridors of Atlanta's West Midtown comes Chris Davis or as he is commonly known, “Chris Classic”. The founder of Savoir Faire Fragrances and curator of the Black Nose Lab, Davis has transformed himself from a church-going rapper to a pioneering force in the Blackowned perfume industry.

Born in Hempstead, New York, and raised in a Jehovah's Witness household, Davis’s early life was marked by strict religious boundaries that inadvertently fueled his creative pursuits.

Davis described his childhood as "Growing up totally sheltered from the world.” He created an environment where restriction bred innovation. This dynamic would later influence his approach to both music and entrepreneurship.

A pivotal moment in his life came when a teenage Davis found himself under the wing of his aunt Justine and her husband, Reverend Run of Run DMC. Living with the hip-hop legend from ages 16 to 20 proved transformative, allowing him to reconcile his faith with his passion for music.

"Through him, I was able to see that hiphop wasn't something that was against God," Davis said. "You could still love what you do and still worship God in your creativity."

His musical journey led him to Jam Master Jay's studio, where he earned his moniker.

"I used to go to his studio to record, but only on Sundays after church," Davis said.

His formal attire in Jamaica Queens' casual environment caught Jay's attention, leading to the name that would stick: Chris Classic.

The trajectory of his music career took an unexpected turn following Jam Master Jay's tragic death in 2002. A pending deal with Virgin Records dissolved, leading Davis to pivot toward music production for film and television. Over the next 19 years, his work would feature in major productions, including Transformers, Fantastic Four, and the entire Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise, accumulating over 300 sync licenses.

A legal dispute with a studio in 2015 forced Davis to reimagine his path once again. Accepting an invitation from his then-girlfriend (now wife) Ryanne, he relocated to Atlanta in June 2016. Though initially viewed as temporary, this move would become the foundation for his next venture into the fragrance industry.

The inception of Savoir Faire Fragranc-

es emerged from Davis's experimental sessions at The Gathering Spot, where he spent nine months developing scents while mentoring an aspiring entrepreneur. The brand launched on Black Friday 2017, with Davis as founder and principal perfumer. The name "Savoir Faire," meaning "to know how to do" in French, reflects Davis's philosophy that fragrance should speak for the wearer's taste and sophistication.

There are now 12 different fragrances, with a plan to release two new ones in 2025. Davis's latest venture, the Black Nose Lab, represents a culmination of his entrepreneurial vision and community-building ethos. Opening on February 1, 2025, during Black Fragrance Week, the Black Nose Lab (not shown) is located in West Midtown. It will house over 20 different Black-owned fragrance brands, creating a centralized location for customers to experience these artisanal scents.

“I have no place in Houston (or any other major city) that you can just go and try my fragrances,” Davis said.

Beyond fragrance, Davis's influence extends to fashion through his iconic crown logo, inspired by Basquiat and representing accountability rather than arrogance. This symbol gained significant attention in 2018 when his response to the infamous H&M controversy depicting a young Black model with a green hoodie displaying the text, “Coolest Monkey in the jungle,” went viral, leading to increased recognition for his brand.

“I literally took the crown that was in the IG emoji. I took my finger and drew highlighted stripes to make it almost like wings, and I put my Savoir Faire crown on the cover of the boy's hoodie, and I posted it, and then LeBron posted it, and then the world posted it, and H&M stock dropped 33% that week. They learned a valuable lesson,” Davis said.

Today, Davis balances his roles as entrepreneur, perfumer, and father of three, Julian (21), Omar (17), and Zhuri (6), while maintaining his creative spirit. His workspace in Atlanta's West Midtown serves as factory and showroom, embodying his vision for an approachable luxury brand that champions Black excellence in perfumery. As the Black fragrance community expands, Davis remains dedicated to uplifting fellow creators while solidifying his pioneering role. Through the Black Nose Lab, Davis is not just selling scents. He aims to build a lush aroma of legacy.

The Black Nose Lab is at 644 Antone St NW, Suite 1, Atlanta, GA 30318. Showroom hours vary; visit www.savoirfaire.store

Chris Davis (above) is the founder of Savoir Faire Fragrances and curator of the Black Nose Lab. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

Opening on February 1, 2025, during Black Fragrance Week, the Black Nose Lab (not shown) is located in West Midtown and will house over 20 different Black-owned fragrance brands, creating a centralized location for customers to experience these artisanal scents. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

Health

Dr. Lamar Frasier is helping patients sustain healthy lifestyles

Parents unaware of kids' ability to buy e-cigarettes on social media platforms

BY CLAYTON GUTZMORE

Social media is a constant hazard for parents and children in 2025. Without guardrails, social media can expose children to material that is not safe for the youth. The latest example of this matter is children's ability to buy illegal e-cigarettes online. The Truth initiative released survey data that reveals that 69 percent of parents are unaware that children can purchase e-cigarettes on social media platforms. Tobacco companies use popular social media influencers to tout illegal e-cigarette products to lure teens and kids into buying them. This tactic is a method to start a nicotine addiction in kids so they continue to smoke into adulthood.

"The Majority of parents being unaware is the most surprising discovery of the results. Online environments allow young people to talk to one another and get products. They are also exposed to the impact of social media influencers affiliated with the products," said Barbara Schillo, Chief Research Officer for the Truth Initiative.

The Truth Initiative released its survey data in August. 987 parents nationwide participated in the survey. Tobacco companies have made it relatively easy for these purchases to get past parents. E-cigarette products bought online usually come in deceptive packaging, like beauty products or gaming accessories. Online shops are also very comfortable with age limits. Their looseness on age verification allows young customers to reach the checkout page without proper confirmation that the shopper is the legal age of

The Truth Initiative released a survey that revealed 69 percent of parents are unaware that children can purchase e-cigarettes on social media platforms. Tobacco companies use social media influencers to promote their products to teens and kids, and they often bypass age verification. iStock.com/rez-art

21. More discoveries from the survey are Two out of three parents are unaware that only some e-cigarettes available for purchase online or at retail stores are FDA-authorized. 72% of parents say the government is not doing enough to keep illegal e-cigarettes away from children and teens.

"Mistakenly, parents could assume that if it is for sale and the FDA regulates it, it must be legal. Unfortunately, that's not the case. Recently, the FDA has taken action to get the top-selling unauthorized brands off the market. They have sent cease and desist letters,

but I think the FDA can't do it alone," said Schillo.

Nicotine is so harmful to kids and teenagers because their young brains are still developing. According to a release from the Truth Initiative, nicotine has been shown to negatively impact mental health by amplifying feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress. Information from the National Youth Tobacco Survey unveils E-cigarettes remain the most used tobacco product among U.S. youths. Almost 40 percent of teens who participated in the survey report that they vape nicotine often.

Tobacco companies have gone to extensive lengths to get their products into kids' hands. They create edgy campaigns and make youth-appealing sweet and fruity flavors. Ooze and Rama are e-cigarette companies that sell smart vapes. These products have gaming features and Bluetooth connectivity for under $20.

A separate report from the Truth Initiative explains Tobacco companies are using misinformation online and on social media to reach the youth. The report states that Tobacco industry players reframed their image and positioned themselves as public health advocates to market new tobacco products as healthier alternatives while continuing to sell deadly combustible products. In 2020, The Truth Initiative published research about how tobacco companies used Instagram to sell flavors that were not in stores because of FDA regulations.

The Truth Initiative is combating the negative influence with its group of young individuals who are making a social impact called the Quit Collective. Quenlin Blackwell, Vic Blends and Jesse Sullivan are influencers with a large following who have quit or are in the process of quitting e cigarettes and showing their journey online. The organization also has a resource guide and a dictionary with the vaping lingo for sellers and buyers who use products. The parent survey about kids buying e-cigarettes online has brought some stark information to light. The Truth Initiative wants to provide parents and caregivers with helpful equipment to combat this issue.

Small Sliders, a cheeseburger brand, opens location in Stockbridge

BY ISAIAH SINGLETON

The cheeseburger slider brand Small Sliders, has finally opened in Stockbridge.

Small Sliders specializes in fresh, cookedto-order cheeseburger sliders – small and BIG in taste. The “Can” stands out with a stream-lined slide-thru, walk-up window, and a unique modular setup built from Smorange shipping containers.

The “Can,” made from shipping container material, is 750 square feet with an outdoor patio.

Specializing in fresh, cooked-to-order cheeseburger sliders—small in size, big in taste—Frequent Sliders know they’re getting a quality product at Smalls Sliders.

The menu also features seasoned fries, shakes, queso, and Smalls Sliders’ signa-

ture Smauce®. Smalls isn’t just known for its iconic menu; it is also spotted from miles away thanks to its Smorange™ Can, uniquely made from shipping containers, featuring streamlined ordering through the walk-up window or drive-thru.

To celebrate the opening, as this marks the brand’s official entrance into Georgia, the first 100 guests at the Stockbridge location received a pair of Smorange™ slides.

The grand opening festivities also featured a special check presentation to Smalls Town Hero Caleb Sanders, a local changemaker who launched Kicks 4 Kids, a sneaker collection drive that benefits youth in Henry County.

Smalls Sliders says they are proud to support his inspiring work and commitment to the community.

“Opening the first Smalls Sliders location in Georgia is a milestone that means so much to our team and me,” said Vik Patel, local owner and CEO of Purple Square Management. “Stockbridge is a community full of heart and enthusiasm, and we’re honored to join it. From the moment we announced our Can Drop, the excitement and support from residents have been truly inspiring. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to the Can, serve our delicious cheeseburger sliders, and create lasting connections with the people who make this city special.”

Jade Christopher, a representative from Purple Square Management, said they are grateful and excited to finally be open after facing slight delays due to the recent snowstorms in the area.

“We’re so excited to be open finally. We were supposed to open at 10:30 a.m., but the lines were piling up, so we opened a little early,” she said.

Additionally, she said the Stockbridge community has been so supportive since announcing the new slider location.

“There's so many opportunities here in Stockbridge,” she said. “It's a diverse business area; they’ve been very welcoming overall. The headquarters are in Atlanta.”

The newest “Can” opening from the industry-disrupting cheeseburger slider brand is at 1660 Hudson Bridge Rd, Stockbridge.

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Beyoncé will host the final two shows of the Cowboy Carter tour in Atlanta

“We Say What Black That is” now open at Spelman College Museum of Fine Art

BY NOAH WASHINGTON

On Thursday, February 6, the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art held its opening night for its newest exhibit, We Say What Black This Is. The exhibit marks the Atlanta debut of MacArthur Fellowship-winning artist Amanda Williams. Running through May 24, the exhibition challenges and redefines the meaning of Blackness, inviting viewers to engage with Williams' mixed media and watercolor works.

Williams’ series, What Black Is This, You Say?, was born out of the social media phenomenon known as “Blackout Tuesday” during the summer of 2020. Initially, sharing humorous and poignant captions on Instagram, sparking a conversation about the complexities and nuances of Black identity; Williams explained how the series evolved into paintings.

"Midway through, somebody said, I’d love to see these as paintings,” Williams said. “Every day, the question was, 'What Black is this? You say?' It was a bit of an interrogation, a poke at the sudden rise of 'Black Lives Matter'—but what did that really mean? Whose Black lives? I know many different kinds of Black people. So how do we embrace our diversity while still being seen as valuable,” she continued.

Curated by Karen Comer Lowe, We Say What Black This Is features student-written didactic labels, contributing to a dynamic conversation between historical and contemporary interpretations of Blackness. During opening night several Spelman students testified to their experience working with the department and Williams. This included Robyn Simpson, senior art history major at Spelman College.

“As someone who never fully got abstract art, thank you for bringing your art to the AUC. You allowed me, through all of your guidance with the class, to explore my practice, to interpret art,” Simpson told The Atlanta Voice.

Williams views the exhibition as a reflection of the past and a response to present social and political realities. When asked about the importance of defining Blackness today, she said.

"It’s actually sad but powerful that we have something to lean on, that this went from being something that was so present to something that maybe was going to feel a little bit past tense and really mark a moment to being very important again. We’ve sadly been here before—not just in 2020, but in emancipation, Reconstruction, and Redemption. We’ve been here before and know there’s a way out. We have to be reminded. We got a little comfortable, and now it’s time to tight-

en up again and get to it".

This sense of urgency is woven into the exhibition’s narrative. As visitors move through the gallery, they encounter Williams’ work and pieces by other influential artists such as Beverly Buchanan, Deborah Roberts, Sheila Pree Bright, and Ming Washington.

At its core, We Say What Black This Is challenges preconceived notions of Black identity and empowers students to claim their definitions. Williams hopes that students who visit the exhibition will leave with self-affirmation.

"Even students that are not curatorial, students that are not fine art students, just the general student, can come in here and get enveloped in the beauty of some of these abstractions, but then also get a second message, or get something that may be speaking directly to them,” Williams said.

On Thursday, February 6, the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art held its opening night for its newest exhibit, “We Say What Black This Is.” The exhibit marks the Atlanta debut of MacArthur Fellowship-winning artist Amanda Williams. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

Spelman College Museum of Fine Art Executive Director Liz Andrews with MacArthur Fellowship Award-winning artist Amanda Williams (right) during the opening night of the “We Say What Black This Is” exhibit on Feb. 6, 2025. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

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State of MARTA 2025 lays a foundation for future services

Zahni Sylvester-Stewart is more than his status

BY ISAIAH SINGLETON

While scientific breakthroughs have occurred in the fight to reduce and prevent new HIV acquisitions—the lack of HIV awareness among Generation Z continues to put people of all ages and backgrounds at risk.

Further, it complicates the goal of achieving an HIV-free generation. It's an experience Zahni Sylvester-Stewart, 19, a sophomore communications major at Morehouse College, knows all too well.

In December 2023, Stewart was only four months removed from his childhood home in East Orange, NJ, and his memories as Student Council and National Honor Society President at Cicely Tyson Community School of Performing and Fine Arts when his life changed forever.

Inside a testing room at Morehouse School of Medicine, he waited for the results of a rapid HIV antibody test. Stewart, who was 18 at the time and identifies as queer, decided to get tested after a sexual encounter where he says he was "coerced" under the influence of marijuana into being the receptive sexual partner.

Stewart says he did not show any symptoms, and this was his first HIV test.

"In my head, I thought, Oh, I should be good," he said. "They just pricked my finger. The doctor told me that it came back positive, and then he asked me if I wanted him to double-check and test me again.”

Stewart asked the doctor for a second test, praying the first result was a false positive while bargaining with God.

"I promise, I won't do anything like this ever again," he recalls crying out. "And then it came back positive. At that moment, I felt numb. I didn't feel anything," he said. “It wasn't until I returned to my dorm, where I was just sitting in isolation, that everything hit me all at once. Initial feelings that I was experiencing were shame and guilt, as if I did something wrong that I stooped so low to where I had come from.”

Stewart said he had balanced academics, athletics, and personal relationships while in high school, so to go from that to entering his very first semester at a prestigious HBCU and learning he tested positive for an incurable disease was world-shattering.

“It hurt even more when I had to tell my mother, who lost her mother, my grandmother to AIDS. So having to tell my mom, it was re-traumatizing for her,” he said. “When I told her, I saw the hurt on her face, and she responded out of pure emotion. At the time, she said she didn’t even know who I was anymore and that hurt me.”

Stewart says since then, they have talked about it, have apologized, and learned to embrace this new part of himself.

As the reality of his diagnosis set in, and Stewart began showing his HIV status to his

immediate family and close friends, a message began weighing heavily on his chest that he said was "begging to be delivered."

So, he took that message to TikTok in true Gen Z fashion.

"I just pulled out my phone. No crazy filters, no ring light. I just hit record," he said. "I was talking to my camera for 7 minutes and giving my whole story."

According to Stewart, the initial video received over 55,000 views on TikTok. However, it was the direct messages from other young people living with HIV that reaffirmed his decision to go public with a chronic condition that stays heavily stigmatized.

"I had people as young as 17 years old DMing me saying, 'Hey, I saw your TikTok. I'm also diagnosed with HIV. I just want to say this story has helped me tremendously. And I'm very appreciative—we feel that we don’t have to feel so guilty about simply living with it,” he said.

The inspiration came from a conversation with his mom over the summer, during which he expressed to her that he didn’t know anyone else personally who was going through this experience, and he felt no one could relate to his experience.

“Ultimately, I knew people like me who are my age or within my age range who are dealing with being HIV positive or any other STDs/ STIs. We exist, but because of the stigma that’s so ingrained in our society, we’re afraid to come out, speak our truths, and use our voices because we don’t want to feel ostracized or discriminated against,” he said.

Stewart said he decided to take the initiative to tell people going through the same thing that while you don’t have to be proud, you don’t have to be ashamed.

“At the end of the day, you did nothing

wrong. This isn’t a curse, and you didn’t do anything to deserve this,” he said. “We’re all victims of life, and anyone who lives life knows that sometimes life happens, and we have no choice but to adapt and move forward.”

He said he created the TikTok video to tell his story and make other people feel less alone and isolated. Also, he said it felt powerful to receive immense support in the comments and from other people. Stewart also says removing the stigma and shame that goes with an HIV diagnosis is a daily exercise in self-worth.

"People think, 'Oh, if you've got it, you must be dirty, you must be [having sex] with all these people,'" he said. "In actuality, when I was diagnosed, I'd only had sex with two people at the time. It only takes one time.”

Although Stewart now has a great support system, he understands that might not be everyone’s journey. To others who may not have a support system, he says you only get one life; with that one life, it’s important you don’t live it in regret.

“Live your life truthfully, happily, and unapologetically. You should always be 100% in yourself. You're not going to be for everybody, and truth be told, you should not want to be for everybody,” he said.

To this day, Stewart says sometimes the feeling of shame and his diagnosis still eats away at him, but he reminds himself of all his blessings to halt being consumed by those feelings. He reminds himself of his accomplishments, accolades, family, and friends.

“I tell myself being diagnosed with this disease; it doesn't change the work I've done. It's not going to change the work I continue to do, whether it's academically, my career, or personally and it hasn't changed any of the dynamics I've had with the people closest to me,”

he said.

He recalls telling his childhood best friend about his status and being terrified of his reaction, but his best friend reaffirmed to him, “Nothing in the world could change our friendship.”

Also, throughout the past couple of years through this journey, Stewart says he has learned of his resilience, perseverance, and grit to keep going, knowing he came out of this situation better than ever.

“It has instilled in me nothing can stand in my way. I’ve learned I’m unstoppable, and I was put on this earth for a reason: I have something to do. I’m here to fulfill my purpose and to live a happy life,” he said.

He says he wants to graduate from Morehouse, travel, and establish his career.

As far as advice for anyone recently diagnosed with HIV, he says to take it one day at a time and to not rush the healing.

“Don’t think there’s a certain amount of time where you must get over it,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s a grieving process, and it takes a while to get accepted, so don’t rush. Continue to see the value and beauty of your life; it cannot be replicated, and everyone who was put on this planet was put here for a reason.”

He also said that we need to be more empathetic as a society because you never know what people are going through and experiencing.

“Those of us living with HIV, we’re everywhere. We’re the students you sit next to in the classroom, your co-workers, teachers, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, and cousins,” he said.

Additionally, with the Trump administration disrupting the distribution of HIV medication and other preventive measures such as PREP, Stewart says it’s scary, but he wants to continue to hold onto faith and optimism.

“Wallowing in fear isn't going to do us any good. We should be cautious, but at the same time, it's important to have a sense of hope,” he said. “I feel as though hope has always got a generation through any obstacle because hope instills grit, and with grit instills work, and that instills perseverance, and that can rally people together to continue to push forward.”

National Black HIV Awareness Day, Stewart says, means a day of progress and a day that shows as a society slowly but surely moving on from the stigma that has been placed for so long with HIV, AIDS, STIs, and STDs.

“It shows we are educating ourselves as a country, and we’re making strides in innovation, medicine and education,” he said. “We’re not shunning it as much as we used to. I'm much bigger than my status. It's a part of me, but it isn't me,” he said. “I’m living a life that’s completely worth living.”

Zahni Sylvester-Stewart, 19, found out that he was HIV positive at the age of 18. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

Street Lines: 2024 Nissan Rogue SL AWD

The Nissan Rogue continues to make its presence known since entering the market with its inaugural 2008 version. Reviewing the 2024 version in an SL trim with all-wheel drive, the Rogue should be a strong consideration in the compact SUV segment regarding comfort, cabin amenities, and welcomed exterior upgrades.

My review car was dressed in a two-tone Deep Ocean Blue Pearl/Super Black exterior combination, and the new front facia looked more refined. The SL version gets 19-inch wheels that come painted with a machine-finished alloy (an upgrade from the standard 18-inch wheels); gloss black door pillars and rear-side spoilers; silver-painted roof rails; heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signals; and the always valued motion-activated power liftgate.

Under the hood, of course there won’t be any drag racing with the adequate 1.5L DOHC 12-valve, three-cylinder turbocharged engine, topping off at 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque, but that’s not what this SUV is for. It’s all about efficiency (28 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway), convenience, and great maneuverability with the all-wheel drive capability. Nissan’s signature Xtronic CVT is coupled with a manual mode,

and numerous driver-assist features will keep the mind at ease. We loved the ProPILOT Assist 1.1 for semi-autonomous highway driving, traffic sign recognition, and sensors to alert the driver of any happening surrounding the SUV.

Nissan’s dedication to the interior emphasizes the upgrading of the 2024 model.

control, rear door sunshades, personal rear lighting, and an overall roomy interior to make long trips a breeze. The cabin was primarily themed in light gray.

Tech also shines in the SL version, starting with the introduction of the prominent 12.3-inch digital dashboard display, and 12.3-inch color HD infotainment screen that is conveniently vibrant to better flaunt the new applications—built-in Google Assistant, Google Playstore, Google Maps, and Alexa Built-In. The wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, hybrid radio with enhanced voice recognition, Wi-Fi hotspot, and HD Enhanced Intelligent Around View Monitor (I-AVM) with 3D views and Moving Object Detection collectively have the Rogue staying on course with the latest tech advancements.

The SL delivers very cushy, leather-appointed seating that comes heated in the front; a leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel; an auto-dimming inside mirror the reduce glare during nighttime driving; interior LED accent lighting to set the mood; and a wireless charging pad. The passengers get some love too, with the optional tri-zone climate

With its stylish exterior, premium interior, and high-tech applications, it’s a solid choice for families, commuters, and adventure-seekers for sure.

Fuel Economy: 28 city/ 35 highway Price: 2024 Nissan Rogue SL AWD fully equipped is $36,670

For more information, visit Nissanusa.com.

Photo courtesy of Nissan

Target Hit with Class Action Lawsuit

The Fight for Free School Meals: What’s at Stake for Black Students

BY QUINTESSA WILLIAMS

In Oakland, California, 55 years ago, a group of Black children gathered at St. Augustine Episcopal Church for a free breakfast before school. However, it was the Black Panther Party that provided the food, not the federal government.

The Free Breakfast for School Children Program would eventually help reshape how America should feed its students. In 1975, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) established the School Breakfast Program, an initiative that now feeds millions of students nationwide. Such programs also influenced the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a federal initiative under the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program that enables schools and districts in high-poverty areas to provide free school meals to all enrolled students without requiring application or documentation.

However, more than half a century later, the revolution over free school meals still plays out in public cafeterias — especially for Black students.

During a recent appearance on CNN, Rich McCormick, a Republican Georgia State Representative, dismissed school meal programs as a “handout” and argued that students benefiting were merely “sponging off the government.”

His remarks have sparked national outrage but also speak to Project 2025 and Republican lawmakers’ push to scale back universal meal programs and limit access to only low-income students. While supporters of this effort frame it as “cutting government waste,” critics argue that it is yet another policy that will further heighten racial and economic disparities, especially for Black students already disproportionately impacted by food security.

The rhetoric is infuriating and hypocritical, says Georgia Flowers-Lee, United Teachers Los Angeles NEA vice president.

“These are the same people who rant and rave about protecting the unborn,” she tells Word In Black. “But once they take their first breath, they don’t care. These beautiful babies deserve to grow into thriving, productive adults. And one of the most basic ways we ensure that happens is by making sure they have adequate nutrition.”

Why Black Students Avoid School Meals

According to the CDC’s recent “Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report for 2013-2023, only 24% of Black high school students reported eating breakfast daily in 2023. This is a significant drop from 30% a decade ago and falls below the national average of 39% for white students. Although the report did not indicate the underlying reasons behind the data, recent research has suggested that skipping breakfast isn’t just

Flowers-Lee of United Teachers Los Angeles

iStock.com/SeventyFour

a matter of choice — but is linked to a more devastating reality for Black students.

In 2023, Feeding America reported that over 9 million Black people could not access enough food and that Black children were found to have been three times as likely to face hunger, with a reported 1 in 4 living in food-insecure households. While the organization pointed to low wages, unemployment, and food deserts — areas without grocery stores or other places with access to healthy foods, as underlying reasons for food insecurity in Black households, Flowers-Lee says that it wasn’t just about access but about stigma, too.

“When I was a Black student in the LAUSD, I was entitled to free meals, but I preferred to get a dollar, cross the street, and buy a bean and cheese burrito at Taco Bell,” Flowers-Lee says. “Why? Because the stigma of handing over a free meal ticket was humiliating. And I completely understand why students today make the same decision.”

Stigma plays a significant role in why Black students opt out of free school meals. Especially in states without universal school meal programs, students who receive free or reduced food are often singled out, further discouraging their participation.

“I had a student whose daily lunch was

a bag of chips and a Capri Sun. That’s not a meal, and it’s not enough to help a student stay focused and learn. Universal meals mean that everyone has the access to eat the same thing at the same time,” Flowers-Lee, a former special education teacher, says. “It builds community and eliminates shame.”

Project 2025 and State-Level Variations

Project 2025, a conservative policy blueprint, proposes significant changes to federal education programs, including the scaling back of universal free breakfast school initiatives like the CEP.

While the plan suggests that only children from low-income families should receive meals, the policy would, one, — reverse policy changes from the Obama administration, like the CEP, that allowed entire schools or districts to provide free meals without individual eligibility, and two, — could further eliminate similar initiatives without federal oversight, given that Trump has proposed shutting down the Department of Education. If implemented, the conservative policy will also create more administrative hurdles, such as requiring more families to submit paperwork and strengthening state-level variations on school meal programs.

“When you put food security in the hands

of states, the reality is that some won’t care,” Flowers-Lee says.

As of August 2023, only eight states have implemented universal free school meal programs, regardless of household income. States like California, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Vermont, which adopted the programs, have reported a 6% increase during the 22-23 school year. Meanwhile, the USDA Economic Research Service reported that states without universal free school programs during the 22-23 school year saw 1.5% more kids facing food shortages in the states without free school meals.

Free School Meals Should Not Be a Civil Rights Issue

Ultimately, the same spirit that fueled the Black Panther Party’s breakfast program back in 1969 — ensuring that every child, regardless of background, is ready to learn —remains just as critical. And if the push to dismantle or weaken free breakfast programs succeeds, it won’t just roll back decades of progress; it will also widen the educational gap for Black students who rely on these meals the most.

“Food is not a privilege. It’s a necessity,” Flowers-Lee says. “And we’re not going to let them take that away from our students without a fight.”

Georgia

says the union will not let students’ right to food be taken “without a fight.”Photo Credit;

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, GA (Atlanta Housing, “AH”) will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, March 6 at 230 John Wesley Dobbs Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30303 from 6 - 8p to present and receive comments on its Fiscal Year 2026 MTW Annual Plan (Plan). The Plan outlines AH’s vision and describes planned activities that AH will undertake during the fiscal year. A draft of the Plan is available for review at https://www.atlantahousing.org/about-us/plans-reports/ and at AH-owned communities through Friday, March 7, 2025. You can comment on the Plan in person at the Public Hearing, by email at strategy@atlantahousing.org, or by US mail: Atlanta Housing, OSPRA MTW Office, 230 John Wesley Dobbs Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30303. Comments received before March 12 will be included in the Plan. All interested parties, esp. families assisted by AH, are invited to attend the Public Hearing. If you require special assistance or accommodation(s) to review the Plan or attend the Public Hearing because of (1) a disability or (2) limited English proficiency, please call 404.817.7458 or send an email to accessibility@ atlantahousing.org by February 20, 2025 to request reasonable accommodations for your needs.

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THANK YOU, GEORGIA!

Every time you play the Lottery, you’re helping our kids get one step closer to their dreams. For over 30 years, the Georgia Lottery has contributed more than $29 billion to education. On top of that, over 2.2 million HOPE scholars have gone to college, and more than 2.2 million four-year-olds have attended a Lottery-funded Pre-K Program. That’s a lot of students, so we’ll just say “Thank You, Georgia!” for all of them. we’ll