‘Let Me Put You On’: UATL begins new weekly series
There is a saying in Black communities that carries more weight than a recommendation.
“Let me put you on.”
It’s an invitation and a sign of trust.
It’s a way of saying: “Hey, I found something that moved me, made me laugh or simply made my life a little better. I think you might like it.”
“Let me put you on to this ice cream shop.”
“Let me put you on to this book.”
“Let me put you on to the church down the street with the new choir director.”
That’s the spirit behind this new Monday series.
Every week, someone from the UATL family will share one thing they love.
It might be an album that never gets old, a neighborhood tradition or an artist whose work deserves a wider audience.
Or it might be something wonderfully mundane: our favorite walking path, the place we go to think or the quiet hour of the day we cherish most.
These aren’t reviews. They’re conversations about the things we already tell our friends and family about.
Now we’re sharing them with you.
We spend a lot of time at UATL reporting on Black Atlanta, documenting its history and examining the issues shaping our communities.
But Black life isn’t defined only by the news. It’s also found in the books we reread, the meals we crave, the music we can’t stop playing and the quiet moments that make us smile.
That’s what “Let Me Put You On” is about.
That’s also why we’re launching it now.
As I begin my new role as senior editor of UATL, I’ve been thinking about what’s next for us. We’ll always pursue ambitious journalism that informs, challenges and celebrates our community.
But I also want UATL to feel even more personal, more conversational and more connected to the everyday experiences that shape Black life.
This series is one small example of that vision.
It’s one way for you to get to know the people behind UATL while giving us a chance to share what we’re reading, watching, listening to and discovering. I see this as the first of many new ways we’ll connect.
Behind every byline is a person with favorite songs, cherished traditions, beloved neighborhoods and small rituals that have become part of who they are.
Black culture is vast. It is art and literature, food and family, history and humor, creativity and curiosity. It is found in extraordinary achievements and ordinary moments.
Most of all, I hope you’ll join us. Tell us what you’ve been enjoying. Put us on to something you love. Some of our best ideas may come from you.
So every Monday, we’ll put you on to something worth your time. I hope you’ll return the favor.
