The launch included a panel discussion about Atlanta culture moderated by UATL reporter Najja Parker and senior editor Mike Jordan, plus a screening of the movie “Hustle & Flow.”
Panel participants were rapper and producer Chris “Ludacris” Bridges and comedian Ryan Cameron from “Ryan Cameron Uncensored.” Both reflected on the film and shared their thoughts on Black culture and Atlanta’s evolution.
“In terms of Atlanta and being the Black Mecca as we call it, I’ve been traveling a lot … But since I can remember, it’s been that and still is that for me,” Ludacris said.
Cameron spoke about The AJC’s influence on Atlanta. He mentioned a recent AJC story which led to Sen. Jon Ossoff opening an investigation into companies buying homes in Metro Atlanta and how it led to companies kicking out current and potential future Black homeowners.
Ludacris and Cameron attested to the changes of Black culture in Atlanta and the strengths of the city while still recognizing the weaknesses, including gentrification and corporate ownership of houses that inhibits individual homeownership.
Leroy Chapman Jr., the AJC’s editor-in-chief spoke about the importance of UATL. “We needed to make sure that we had a relationship [with our Black audience] and could speak authentically to Black Atlanta,“ he said.
Previous UATL movie nights included “Love & Basketball” with Atlanta Dream players, “ATL” with producer Dallas Austin and “School Daze” with Jazmine Guy, Kyme and Otis Sallid.
Meagan Garret, a UATL member and Albany native, said she enjoyed the “Hustle & Flow” screening and intends to subscribe to UATL‘s new program.
“I subscribe to the newsletter, and I read it every week. I feel like the stories are definitely centered around the Black culture here,” Garret said.
Another attendee, Gina Smallwood of Washington, D.C., hadn’t seen the film for years, and seeing it through UATL was what she called a “wonderful experience” to further understand Black culture through media.
“It was wonderfully orchestrated, and the guests were wonderful and giving different perspectives … It was a reminder of how far we’ve come,” Smallwood said.
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