Issue 2: Atlanta
Black Life Everywhere: Atlanta Week 11
Christopher James Parker, a Springfield native and Atlanta resident since 1997, is an artist blending classical and modern styles. A SCAD graduate, his live paintings, influenced by Impressionism and Fauvism, capture whimsical, melancholic moments. As an Art Director and leader of The Human Center Arkive, he documents diverse life stories, aiming to foster empathy, visibility, and community through his work
“I believe art is the intentional expression of the spirit. My art contemplates existential themes such as mortality, purpose, legacy, and the essence of human existence. Currently, I engage in live painting sessions inspired by the Impressionist and Fauvist movements, creating portraits “en plein air”—capturing the spirit of individuals in whimsical yet melancholic moments. The aim is to convey the essence of the person, their spirit, in a particular moment in time, a la Mattisse.”
Black Life Everywhere: Atlanta Week 10
meet Dehjah Vaughn, From the vibrant streets of Oakland, California, to the scholarly halls of Clark Atlanta University (CAU), Dehjah embodies a fusion of artistic flair and academic dedication. As a dynamic poet, rapper, and writer, Dehjah crafts verses that weave together powerful narratives and socio-political commentary, reflecting a deep understanding of both personal and collective experiences. Currently a PhD candidate in Political Science at CAU, Dehjah is exploring the intersections of policy, identity, and community through rigorous research and creative expression. Her journey through academia is complemented by her role as an educator, where she inspires and empowers students with her innovative teaching methods and commitment to social justice. Whether on stage, in the classroom, or in her written works, Dehjah continues to bridge the gap between creative innovation and academic excellence, leaving a lasting impact on both her audiences and her students.
in Dehjah’s latest piece for BLE, she offers several pieces from here poetry catelog to reflect her experience of Black Life in Atlanta, today.
Black Life Everywhere: Atlanta Week 9
meet tiara mbonisi, womanist, writer, educator, and community historian. She holds a BA in Africana Studies from San Francisco State University and is currently starting her 2nd year as a masters student in the Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies (WGSS) Department at Georgia State University. She is researching the impact of Black women journalists and activists as changemakers and discourse leaders.
in tiara’s latest piece for BLE, “How Strip Culture In Atlanta recognizes the Economic Impact of Black Femme Bodies”, she begins her journey in a local club, nervous and eager to understand strip work more intimately. throughout the essay, tiara interviews sex workers, seeking to understand them as professionals whose labor often goes unseen. lyrics, one of the interviewees says this about her work, “it’s true that people come to the club to explore their desires, to get their egos stroked, and to decompress. But they also seek [me] out to find themselves, to process emotions, orientations and identities in a safe space”.
Black Life Everywhere: Atlanta Week 8
Meet crystal Autumn: At 15, Crystal began singing jazz standards, eventually receiving formal training in Negro spirituals as a member of the renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers. She earned her first Grammy in 2021 for her contributions to the album Celebrating Fisk, where she is featured as the lead soloist on “Wade in the Water.”
Crystal’s music weaves together classic soul, ancestral rhythms, and futuristic textures, captivating listeners with a comforting sense of home. Through her work, she invites audiences to revisit the warmth of their youth and hopes to inspire them to remain connected to their emotions in an increasingly digital world.
Black Life Everywhere: Atlanta Week 7
MEET LASALLE: Muralist and multidisciplinary artist based in Atlanta, Lasalle is engaged in hosting exhibits and events that focus on community enrichment. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Valdosta State University and has been actively involved in Atlanta’s vibrant arts scene since high school.
Lasalle’s cultural organizing and artistry work has supported several local Atlanta community based organizations including, “Cuz I Love You Atlanta” an organization that supports and fundraises for the Trans Housing Coalition. Lasalle has recently collaborated with the “Paint Love Organization” helping children to express their emotions through art.
Black Life Everywhere: Atlanta Week 6
From the album, the Clay | Breathe by Gira Soul
Her music focuses on themes of liberation, exploring the complexities of the human experience, reimagining the future, and reflecting on the past. Intent on creating meaningful music, Gira Soul’s work is a pursuit of freedom, both for herself and her listeners.
Black Life Everywhere: Atlanta Week 5
Stop Cop City: The Social Movement Re-defining Community Safety
written by opal gay
While working as a community educator for Southern Center for Human Rights (SCHR), I traveled around the city speaking to residents and forest defenders in each Atlanta Police Zone about their visions on public safety. Over 90% of the 100 residents my team surveyed, most of whom were Black, desired increased funding for wrap-around services, such as health services, counseling, family care, and housing support. As well, nine out of ten respondents supported decriminalizing the traffic code, deprioritizing drug and quality of life offenses, and expanding alternative crisis response programs throughout the city.
The most important takeaway from my experiences: the U.S. police system not only makes us less safe, it also perpetuates our nation’s most neglected crises.
Black Life Everywhere: Atlanta Week 4
Portraits of Black Womanhood by Blaze Heru
Portraits of Black Womanhood are a series of vignettes documenting Black women in a state of being. Through candid interviews and intimate storytelling, this series delves deep into the diverse experiences, challenges, and triumphs that define Black womanhood, celebrating their strength, resilience, and beauty.
Heru originally from New Orleans and now based in Atlanta, he started his career as a professional photographer before moving into the film industry. As a creative and cultural worker, his journey reflects a dynamic evolution in the arts.
Black Life Everywhere: Atlanta Week 3
Introducing Spoken Word Artist Chris P.
Christopher “Chris P” Charles is a songwriter, creative, poet, and spoken artist. Georgia raised, he has a passion for writing and performing, fueling his creativity for more than a decade. The poem, Sometimes is about facts getting lost in translation. It delineates the tensions between falling in love with the “idea” of someone instead of meeting the standard of unconditional love. Sometimes, in the personal and within the political, we tend to get lost in the infatuation stage.
Black Life Everywhere: Atlanta Week 2
Selected Photos by Angela Hill
Angela Hill is a masterful storyteller, weaving compelling narratives through her camera lens to capture life’s profound depth and complexity. Hailing from Columbus, Georgia, Hill’s photographic journey is driven by a deep-seated passion for preserving moments that resonate deeply. Her dedication to working with non-profit organizations allows her to document historical events that might otherwise remain unseen, ensuring these crucial stories are told.
Hill shares “Through my photography I’m most passionate about understanding the complex human condition of Black people in Atlanta who are at the center of political struggle. Here are a series of my images that I want to spotlight. These images are about knowing and being aware that Black people have a divine unlimited source of power and joy within us. I’m most passionate about sharing that message and being light and love through my cultural organizing work”.
The opening image—created for the organization Sister Song, during Black Breastfeeding Week—showcases the beauty and reality of breastfeeding. Hill notes that these images are important for two main reasons: they highlight Black individuals engaging in everyday activities, which is crucial, and they support programming for Black Breastfeeding Week while normalizing and celebrating the natural and nurturing act of breastfeeding within the Black community.
Black Life Everywhere: Atlanta Week 1
Introducing Penelope French the gypsy soul healer. The Soul Empress, continues on the deep legacy of music that is connected to Black struggle in America! Melanin is the first of many expressive jams that are genre bending yet so full of soul to represent the Black Life Atlanta Cohort. More music coming soon.
Black Life Everywhere Atlanta
Launches on Juneteeth 2024
On Juneteenth 2024, co-creators of Black Life Everywhere, Amber Butts and Jonathan Lykes, spoke with local Atlanta co-editors about the exciting launch of BLE: Atlanta and what is to come for the second edition of the digital magazine.