This is a feature called Community Notebook, filled with snippets of information, conversations, and reporting about the communities where we work. Canopy Atlanta Fellows and other community residents may contribute to this weekly reporting. The Community Notebook is featured in our newsletter Voices — sign up to find this in your inbox.
I read that T.I.—Atlanta native and rapper Clifford Joseph Harris Jr.—had a new song and that he had cut his hair long before I took the time to check it out. At my age, the radio stations I listen to often involve smooth jazz tunes or R&B throwbacks. Because my claim to fame is being from Bankhead and Grove Park, several people asked me if I liked the song.
I had to actively seek it out on my favorite medium these days—YouTube. The first version I listened to was the audio track. I liked it. My signal was a spontaneous bob of the head and a little swivel of my hips that transported me back to the 90s dance floor, when a night of dancing wasn’t so taxing on the joints.
I scrolled down a little more and saw there was also a music video. The opening scene captured my heart: the Center Hill/Donald Lee Hollowell cross street sign. Then the camera shots moved to familiar houses and spaces I’ve seen since childhood. There was something retro yet modern about the scenes. The houses and the beat felt the same as when we all knew this entire area as Bankhead, while the Donald Lee Hollowell signage reminded me of the changes we’ve all endured.
I listened to the bars that ended in “let ’em know.” I heard not just words, but instructions. Unwritten rules for survival in many underserved communities, coded in words set to a beat.
The video did exactly what artists do best. They make local places, people, and their music accessible to the rest of the world. They give places often never heard of a spot on the national stage. That’s what our local artists did for Bowen Homes, Bankhead, and the Westside of Atlanta. They shared our rhythm, our struggles, and our resilience.
As I write this, in the background there is a news story reporting a shooting at a local studio in northwest Atlanta, reportedly owned by T.I. It’s a perfect example of the complexity and nuance of the Westside of Atlanta—moments of extreme pride alongside reminders that there is still so much more to be done.
I don’t have the details of the shooting, but I pause and hope for less violence and more art.
I hope this story leaves you inspired by the power of community-focused journalism. Here at Canopy Atlanta, we're driven by a unique mission: to uncover and amplify the voices and stories that often go unheard in traditional newsrooms.
Our nonprofit model allows us to prioritize meaningful journalism that truly serves the needs of our community. We're dedicated to providing you with insightful, thought-provoking stories that shed light on the issues and stories that matter most to neighborhoods across Atlanta.
By supporting our newsroom, you're not just supporting journalism – you're investing in Atlanta. Small and large donations enable us to continue our vital work of uncovering stories in underrepresented communities, stories that deserve to be told and heard.
From Bankhead to South DeKalb to Norcross, I believe in the power of our journalism and the impact it can have on our city.
If you can, please consider supporting us with a small gift today. Your support is vital to continuing our mission.
Floyd Hall, co-founder
