The Atlanta Voice E-Edition 051625

To Be REAL

The REAL ID signage around Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International as seen on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. The deadline for having a REAL ID in order to board a domestic flight was May 7. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

Georgia’s REAL IDs range in the millions

By DONNELL SUGGS

The REAL ID deadline has passed, and for Georgians looking to fly out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, that source of identification is crucial. REAL IDs are needed to board domestic flights and, in some cases, enter federal facilities.

With an average of 2,700 arrivals and departures per day, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport remains the busiest airport in the country.

Passengers may also use a U.S. Passport in order to be identification compliant for domestic flights, but to be REAL or not to be REAL, that is the question. If they are looking for REAL ID signage around the entrance to the security checkpoint, United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, the former Governor of South Dakota, will be there to help them.

The video monitors above the entrance play a non-stop loop of Noem talking about REAL ID. There are also red flyers that TSA agents have in hand for passengers to scan QR codes on if they need a list of acceptable identification.

The national REAL ID deadline was on Wednesday, May 7, and with it came many concerns about whether or not the IDs in Georgians’ wallets and purses were any good anymore. If you’re in Georgia, the odds are definitely in your favor. All Georgia driver’s licenses issued after 2012 are REAL ID compliant, according to the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS).

“While nearly all Georgia residents already have a REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification, it’s important for those who

don’t get one soon if traveling this summer,” said Mark Howell, TSA Regional Spokesperson. “TSA is expecting heavy travel volume this summer, especially during the holiday weekends, and passengers who are not “REAL ID-ready” could see additional screening and delays while at the security checkpoint.”

Gold and Black Stars

The sign that your driver’s license is a REAL ID is in the upper right corner of your card. The gold and or black star on the driver’s license is what the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer will look for when you approach the security check-in.

The difference between the gold and black star on REAL IDs is simple: there is no difference, according to Georgia DDS. The color only changed from gold to black due to a card design change within DDS.

Millions of REAL IDS

Georgia is currently 99% REAL ID compliant, according to DDS.

Of the 233 million licensed drivers in the United States, 7.5 million of those people are licensed to drive in the state of Georgia, according to the data site Stista. The REAL ID Act (2005) was signed into law and passed by Congress during the George W. Bush Administration. The REAL ID Act was implemented as a security measure following a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission.

On Tuesday evening, the line inside the main checkpoint at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International snaked along slowly. A passenger walked over to a TSA agent, and in his hand was what looked like a driver’s license. Moments later, he was handed one of those red flyers with the QR code.

The REAL ID era is here. Are you ready?

Georgia is currently 99% REAL ID compliant, according to DDS. Of the 233 million licensed drivers in the United States, 7.5 million of those people are licensed to drive in the state of Georgia. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

Georgians can fly domestically with their REAL ID, which is included in their driver’s license, and the TSA is expecting heavy travel volume this summer, so it’s important to be “REAL ID-ready” before heading to the airport. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

Education is Resistance: KSU students protest termination of Black studies, other majors

By ISAIAH SINGLETON

The new era of “stand up, fight back” is underway!

Dozens of Kennesaw State University students voiced their frustrations during a protest on the decision by the school to end its Black Studies degree program outside the University System of Georgia Board of Regents office.

Chants of “stand up, fight back,” “Who’s campus, our campus,” “Shame on you,” “Students united will never be defeated.” “KSU shame on you, students have rights too”, and “KSU says cut back, we say fight back,” echoed through the Atlanta streets near the board of regents’ office.

The Black Studies program, which is an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree program offered at KSU, has fallen victim to recent Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) cuts.

Unfortunately, news broke to students about the termination of Black Studies in emails last month, along with Philosophy and Technical Communications degrees. The school pointed the blame to “declining enrollment.”

KSU also plans to “reimagine” their LGBTQ+ center, Cultural Awareness Resource Center, Global Village, Women’s Center, Unity Center, Hispanic/Latino Outreach and Leadership in Academics.

During the protest, students and supporters alike carried signs with messages including “Save Black Studies,” “My Pronoun is the sound of your patriarchy collapsing,” “unite against facism,” “save philosophy,” “stop censoring education,” “stand with students”, “Black history is American history”, and many more.

Attorney Gerald A. Griggs, state president of GA NAACP, said we are under attack, but the protest symbolizes “what resistance looks like”.

“There’s a direct attack on anything regarding diversity in this state, and it’s important that organizations and students come together in the tradition of Atlanta,” he said. “That’s fighting back with civil rights and DEI. We say diversity is necessary and we will fight it on the street corners, courthouses, and houses of power.”

He also said what they want is for the elected officials to understand that in Georgia, a state that is 50% diverse, they will not allow one step back in Georgia on their watch.

“It’s our job to push back on all the illegal measures that are coming from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,” he said. “Let’s be clear, those executive orders have no force of law or no power. Courage will not skip this generation.”

Additionally, Griggs said it’s time for the board of regents to enter the new millennium and understand they won’t erase black people, women, and LGBTQ+ communities.

“They’re not going to erase people and communities simply because people are different from what you are used to,” he said. “This is

Georgia, we know how to fight from 1865 to 1965 to all the way to 2065, we were born for this fight.”

The university system’s Board of Regents has the final say over decisions by member institutions to end degree programs. However, the agenda for Thursday’s monthly meeting of the board does not make any reference to KSU’s Black Studies program.

Simran Mohanty, a junior sociology major at KSU and one of the demonstration’s organizers, said the school undercounted the number of students enrolled in Black Studies because it didn’t count double majors.

“Let’s be clear, this is not a legal mandate. This isn’t about compliance, it’s about power, control, and systematic erasure of students who ask too many questions and take up too much space,” she said. “If you want proof, just a few days ago, they quietly removed the declarations for the KSU LGBTQ+ center.”

Another KSU student protester, Stephen, said over the last few years and the last few critical months, he has been involved in the

struggle for DEI on KSU’s campus.

“I’ve worked with many other students to ensure our education reflects the basis of all our people, especially those historically excluded. I’m not here today because of that struggle alone, I’m here today because what’s happening at KSU is not only political, but also personal,” he said. “We aren’t here just because of KSU, we are here because of a far-right agenda that’s being carried out across this country.”

Furthermore, Griggs said it’s clear the students have spoken and saw what they did during the May 9 Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences graduation ceremony, where Brandon Moore was removed from the stage after he held up a sign that read, “Black studies matter” and “I am a product of Black studies”. Griggs said he was “immensely proud” students were taking a stand in what they believe in.

Griggs ended his speech with a message to elected officials.

“This is not the last time you will see us, we will be inside, and we will be outside. To the

governor, you still have an opportunity to tell the board of regents to take their hands off KSU. To the president of the university, you still have an opportunity to meet with the organization who have been asking for a meeting, but in a minute, we will not be asking nicely,” he said.

Dozens of Kennesaw State University students voiced their frustrations during a protest on the decision by the school to end its Black Studies degree program outside the University System of Georgia Board of Regents office. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice

Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice

Voices

To Close the HBCU Gender Gap, Help Black Boys Find Their ‘Spark’

By ALIX GUERRIER

When students see themselves in their education, it lights a spark. I know, because it happened to me.

In sixth grade, I signed up with some friends for a quiz-bowl style competition called the Black Facts Challenge. We studied as much as we could about Black Americans’ contributions to this country — Booker T. Washington’s founding of the Tuskegee Institute, the life of Duke Ellington, and more. The competition culminated in a citywide championship, which our team won.

I still remember how connected I felt to those remarkable achievements I studied. Seeing myself, my family and my history reflected in history books made me hungry to keep learning, and it directly influenced my path as a student and educator. It’s a big reason why I’m the CEO of DonorsChoose, a national nonprofit helping teachers provide their students with resources to succeed in the classroom and beyond.

That moment of recognition, connection and pride is a moment every child deserves. But recent news about the growing gender gap in college enrollment, particularly at our nation’s historically Black colleges and universities — and the profound shortage of Black men in the K-12 teaching ranks — could mean fewer Black boys in our nation’s K-12 classrooms experience that spark.

There’s no question that Black educators have a positive impact in the classroom. Studies have shown that Black students who have at least one Black teacher are more likely to graduate high school and attend college. Studies also have found that white students taught by people of color scored higher in reading and math.

When Black men are at the chalkboard, there’s an added bonus: The largest-ever survey of male teachers of color —performed by DonorsChoose — found that Black male teachers spent more time counseling and mentoring students than any other group.

HBCUs play a significant role in making this possible. They produce half of all Black teachers in the U.S., using teacher training programs that have been hailed as models for the rest of the country to follow. Studies show that HBCU-educated teachers are more engaged with their students and achieve better academic outcomes than their non HBCU-educated peers.

Yet Black men are still underrepresented in our classrooms, making up just 2% of the nation’s public school educators. And those already teaching are burning out at an alarming rate.

In a recent survey, one in three Black teachers said they felt strongly that they mightleave their jobs in the coming year, the highest of any group. There are many reasons, from low pay and high student loan debt to lack of support, disrespect in the workplace and more.

Fewer Black men in HBCUs means fewer Black

men in the classroom, which in turn means fewer Black boys will get the benefit — that spark — of seeing role models who can encourage their thirst for learning. One less Black male teacher means one less Black boy will see education as a career possibility, causing the pool of Black male teachers to shrink even further.

Fortunately, there are steps we can take, right now, to retain the Black teachers we have and strengthen the pipeline for the next generation of Black educators. It begins with supporting HBCUs so they can recruit more young men, help them pay for college, and help more Black teachers enter the workforce.

Teacher recruiting efforts can be strengthened through outreach to HBCUs and their alumni networks. Funders can ensure their investments support programs that help all students, including Black high school students, learn about and enter into teaching careers.

All of us can support HBCU-educated teachers

in our own communities — men and women who make such a powerful difference in the lives and futures of our children. Helping fill their classroom needs enables them to introduce innovative ideas, and has been shown to make teachers 22% more likely to stay in the classroom.

That’s why DonorsChoose launched a Quad to Classroom tool to support HBCU alumni teaching in public schools across the United States. It is one of several ways to help HBCU-educated teachers to tap into their own insight and expertise to provide the best academic experience for their students, as well as to spend less money out of pocket on necessary school supplies. The future depends on our ability to inspire every student, enabling them to connect and engage with their education. Investing in Black educators and expanding the pool of Black men teaching in our classrooms are crucial to making those things a reality.

Alix Guerrier is the CEO of DonorsChoose.

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Reversing the absence of Black men on college campuses starts with helping Black boys see themselves — by growing the ranks of Black male teachers in K-12 classrooms. Jonathan Ross

Spiritually Speaking: You Really Can’t Hide From God

BY JAMES A. WASHINGTON

The Atlanta Voice

By JAMES WASHINGTON

You know it’s pretty hard for people to lead with their weaknesses instead of showing off their perceived strengths. We all like to let the world see us in our best light. For other reasons, we want to keep our shortcomings hidden in the dark, hopefully never to see the light of day. Some of us can even trick ourselves into believing that our true self is the one we show to others and not the one we take to bed with us every night. The longer we hide from ourselves, the more we’re likely to have difficulty understanding and dealing with who we are. Some might call it denial. The problem with spiritual denial is that it’s impossible to do. You cannot deny your sinfulness. You cannot hide from your sin. There is no rationalization for the exclusion of God in your life.

Regardless of how much you want to show the world your high moral standards or perceived high spiritual standing, that dog won’t hunt when it comes

He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

to you and God. In order to get your life in balance, you must first recognize the futility of trying to come off to others as if sin is not a part of who you are. Then again, isn’t it how you come off to the Lord that’s the issue? After all, when the lights go out and it’s just you, are you alone? Maybe that’s why some people need to have anything but silence and solitude as companions. It’s not a very comfortable situation with God because you know in God’s eyes you’re never alone. You know, in God’s eyes, you can’t even run, let alone hide. Wherever you are, He is. Whatever you are, He knows. Whatever you did, well, that’s the nature of God. And the nature of the Lord says lead with your weaknesses. Bring Him your sins. Confess and then, maybe,

“YOUR

then and only then can you and your God take positive action about your life. But first, we’ve got to take care of the basics. Empty the closet.

Acknowledge the dirt. Understand its nature. Then bring it into God’s house. He’s the only one who can clean it up anyway. He’s the only one who can, and by His nature, will accept. He’s interested in. That’s one of the many beauties of Christ Jesus. His life and death paid for and took care of the need to hide your sinful nature from anyone. “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

Proverbs 28:13. Confession allows God to enter into the picture. Confession is

a declaration from a place inside you that you mistakenly think is controlled by you. Once you recognize and accept who is really in control, then from that point on, you become an example to the world that openly declares, My name is (insert your name) and I’m a sinner who has been saved. God has accepted me for who I am. It’s now your turn because without Him, I am nothing. With Him, I am everything. Look at me and learn.

Examine me and see Him. I am who I am, blessed in the sight of God. I pray that He will also bless you always. Amen…

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.

What is your overall experience dealing with Black businesses, and what advice would you give?

“My experience with black businesses has been good and bad. I would say good customer service has been a problem within the black business industry. So they have a lot of room to improve there. But overall, the products, the materials, and things that you get from black businesses are really, really good. A thing that I would give black businesses is to be open to critique. Allow others to provide feedback to you and be accepted.”

“One thing I feel like Black businesses should work on is being more professional and able to take feedback and push back against this criticism. My experience has been great. They need to learn how to work on constructive criticism, you know, being more professional, being able to answer questions without being upset, or just having an attitude. I love it.”

“My experience with black businesses has been 50-50. You have some businesses like Westside Cigars and ATL. Customer service is great. The product is great, the quality of the product is great, and you always have a great experience when you come here. I’ve been coming here for a long time. Never had a bad experience whatsoever. Then there are other black businesses that kind of want support because they are a black business. Experience is not always so good, but my advice to all black businesses is that just because you’re a black business does not mean you deserve support because of that. You have to offer a quality product. You have offered quality service as well. You do that, people won’t mind paying a price.”

“My experiences with black businesses have been... Good and bad. One thing I recommend is better customer service at some of the spots that I go to. My best experience has been Westside Cigars ATL. I come here often, every week. They have the best customer service and a nice experience. It’s my place to wind down, so that’s my favorite experience.”

Compiled by Vincent Christie

“My overall experience with Black-owned businesses is that, number one, I enjoy shopping and working with Black-owned businesses. However, I would like to see better customer service. Coming into a business, I wanna feel like somebody wants me there, I wanna feel like I am welcomed into the place, whether I look like I have the money for the product or not. If I’m going to a restaurant, I would like good service. If I am working with a contractor, I would like to feel like you are a professional working with somebody who’s giving you money. So yeah, my overall experience is I would like to have better professionalism and better customer service when it comes to dealing with black-owned businesses. And I own a black owned business myself, so, yeah”

VOICE”

LAMyAH JONES Atlanta

KyM HAyWOOD II Atlanta native

ROB CLARK Atlanta

KAyLA CHASE Atlanta

JARED FOSTER Atlanta

Atlanta airport graduates its inaugural class of small businesses

By STAN WASHINGTON

Finding out how to do business with the world’s busiest airport used to be as secretive as trying to get in to see the Wizard of Oz. This past week, thanks to Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, hopefully, that gate has finally been opened.

Twenty-five small businesses from Georgia and Florida made a huge step inside the airport’s golden privilege gates after completing the inaugural Gateway to Growth program sponsored by the airport.

A graduation ceremony was held at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), the largest center for entrepreneurs of color in the United States. The graduation was sponsored by Concessions International, one of the first sponsors of the Gateway to Growth program.

Dickens had an idea over a year ago to make the process of doing business with Hartsfield Jackson International Airport a lot simpler. His idea was developed into two programs - Gateway to Growth, which is an 11-week educational program designed to equip small business owners with the knowledge and tools necessary to do business at Hartsfield Jackson.

The second program is Soar ATL, which provides concessions opportunities to small businesses. Completing the Gateway to Growth program does not guarantee a concession spot or a contract with the airport.

“Small businesses are really at the heart of the economy of Atlanta. This city was but on the backs of small business owners,” said Tyronia Smith, assistant general manager, Commercial Revenue for Hartsfield-Jackson

Atlanta International Airport. In the spirit of entrepreneurship and continuing the legacy of Maynard Jackson, who completely changed the opportunities for minority and small businesses, that was really the driving factor behind this program.”

During his first term in office, the city’s first African American mayor created the majority-to-minoirty program after an audit showed that less than one percent of the city’s contracts went to African American businesses despite a growing black population. He held up the work on the new airport terminal until the majority companies could join forces with a minority partner. His program became a model for other urban cities with large black populations.

His efforts dramatically increased the proportion of city business going to minority firms, significantly contributing to the growth of the Black middle class in Atlanta.

The downtown white business community was not happy with the Jackson administration.

As a native of Atlanta and a former small business owner, Dickens is thrilled to see the program graduate its first class of 25 cohorts.

“This gives small businesses who have been moving forward, but now they get to level up to be able to do business with the world’s busiest airport,” Dickens said. “ This is Maynard Jackson’s dream. He came up with the idea of economic inclusion and using the airport to do so. As mayor, this feels great to give small businesses an opportunity to thrive.”

One of the early African American businesses to benefit from Jackson’s program was Herman J. Russell Companies, one of the nation’s largest black-owned construction companies. Russell created Concessions International which is now run by his daughter Donata Russell Ross.

When she heard about the new program for small businesses, Russell-Ross said it was a nobrainer about becoming involved.

“Whenever you hear about a program in Atlanta allowing our entrepreneurs to grow and

develop you can’t help but want to be a part of it,” she said. “This is a city without a lot of resources but we are still trying to figure out networking. This was the perfect opportunity for us to participate and to support the airport.”

The graduation ceremony was held in the former headquarters of H.J. Russell companies.

Atlanta business owner Connell Reynolds of Travel Kots said the program was very valuable to him because his company has been trying to find the correct way of doing business with the airport for years. Founded in 2018, Travel Kots provides sleeping kots to any place in the world.

“We saw it as a perfect opportunity to make some inroads into the airport which we have been trying to do for quite some time,” Reynolds said. “The program has been amazing because it allows us to have a seat at the table with actual decision makers which helps us navigate the process of solicitation.”

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has an outstanding $66 billion economic impact on the state. It employs along with the airlines and other airport-related companies more than 63,000 people.

“This is a rare and great opportunity for small businesses. Airports are economic engines no matter what city they are based in,” said the airport’s new general manager, Ricky Smith. “Everyone should have access to that engine especially, small and minority businesses. Airports are complicated environments.”

Atlanta’s airport has one of the highest participation of minority businesses of any major airport in the country, Smith added.

The application process will open again in January, with the program starting in February.

‘It is a community answer’: APD Chief says city’s crime numbers are down

By DONNELL SUGGS

Crime is down around Atlanta, according to Atlanta Police Department Chief Darin Schierbaum. The Chief, along with other members of the department’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID), sat down with local media on Tuesday afternoon to discuss crime numbers.

“Today we are going to go over some successes we have had, and the community has been a key part of that,” Schierbaum said.

The combination press conference and Q&A session was labeled as a conversation, and an opportunity for Schierbaum and others to get the crime data out to the public.

“This is basically, like a sit-down, Atlanta Police Department Public Affairs United Executive Director Chata M. Spikes explained to several members of the media prior to the start of the conversation/press conference.

Schierbaum reported an overall 11% reduction in crime in Atlanta as of May 3. To be more specific, crimes such as homicide, robbery, and auto theft were highlighted as successful crime-fighting efforts by the Atlanta Police Department in

the year-to-date 2025.

Homicides are down 35%, aggravated assaults are down 27%, and auto theft is down. There have been 30 homicides in Atlanta this year, with the majority occurring due to what is called “escalating disputes.” Only two of those homicides are a result of domestic disputes.

“That is 30 too many,” Schierbaum said in regard to the homicides. The answer to that is not a police answer. The answer to that is a community answer. We don’t have the ability to be there every time.”

A deeper look into the homicide numbers tells a story of who is committing the crimes in Atlanta. The people being arrested for homicides are between the ages of 17 and 24 on average, according to the latest data.

“These reductions are being seen in key areas,” Schierbaum said.

Some of those other key areas are gangs and guns, where 1,042 were recovered this year.

“We are going to continue to remove them legally,” Schierbaum said about the guns, many of which are recovered during arrests.

Robbery and motor vehicle theft are down as well. A recent trend of auto theft in the parking

lots at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport forced Atlanta Police Department officials to add more patrols, under cover and in marked vehicles, says Atlanta Police Department Lt. Rodney Jones with the auto theft unit. Jones reported there were several other federal and local agencies, including the FBI, HSI, Cobb County, DeKalb County, Clayton County, and Gwinnett County police departments, chipping in.

“Due to the good work of our guys and those other agencies, we were able to make arrests of

key individuals,” Jones said.

Schierbaum said car break-ins have always been a “pressing crime in our city.”

During the presentation/conversation, mug shots of arrested and wanted criminals were displayed on a screen. These men were used as examples of high-level and recurring criminals breaking the law in Atlanta.

It wasn’t all good news, though. There has been a slight uptick in rape and property crimes, accorinding to the data presented on Tuesday. Schierbaum said the surrounding communities will be a huge factor in bringing those numbers down. Property crime is up 67%.

Another improvement in numbers comes from the E911 Communications department, where 911 call answer times are down by a significant margin compared to 2023 and 2024. In 2023, 911 calls were answered at an average time of 24 seconds, while in 2024, the calls were answered in 12 seconds. The 2025 numbers through the first four months of 2025 are averaging just under 10 seconds.

“It’s everyone doing their part. It’s a community answer,” Schierbaum said. “When we see trends developing, we commit more resources.”

Atlanta Police Department Lt. Rodney Jones (right) spoke to the media about auto theft, including at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport, being down compared to last year.

Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

The widow of the late former Atlanta Mayor Maynard H. Jackson, Valerie Jackson (center) joins current Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Airport General Manager Ricky Smith and the inaugural class of small business owners at the Growth to Pathway graduation ceremony.

Photo by Stan Washington/The Atlanta Voice

Georgia Governor Kemp signs 2026 State Budget

By ITORO N. UMONTUEN

Friday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed the $37.7 billion state budget for Fiscal Year 2026 inside the Georgia State Capitol. There will be $300 million allocated to fund the state’s Quality Basic Education K-12 student funding formula. Plus, $108.9 million in state grants will help local school systems pay for safety improvements on their campuses. Awhile $47.9 million is earmarked for student mental health programs.

“With $290 million dollars in additional funding going toward transportation projects, and $715 million dollars going to capital projects, including some for K-12 school systems, we are using the funds we have from years of growth to build stronger communities and encourage further investment and success,” Kemp said.

“We don’t follow the path that states like

California, New York, Illinois, and others do,” Kemp added. “They’re growing government and raising taxes to cover budget deficits.”

Also, this budget includes more than $141 million to launch the Georgia Promise Scholarship program. This school choice program offers eligible students $6,500 in public funds for use on non-public education expenses in grades kindergarten through 12th grade.

Those funds can be used for private school tuition, tutoring services, and other qualified education expenses. Republicans believe it is a valuable opportunity for those seeking alternatives to their local public schools. Moreover, if a parent wanted to use the money to pay for part of a homeschooled education, the money would be placed into a Promise Scholarship Account. If a parent wants to utilize funds to pay for a particular school, the state must determine if the

school is authorized to participate.

$47.9 million is earmarked for student mental health programs. This acknoledges tragedies at Apalachee High School in Barrow County last September after two students and two teachers were killed.

Could there be a Special Session later this year?

Democrats inside the Georgia State Senate sounded the alarms Thursday as the U.S. Congress could slash $163 billion from the federal budget. Those funds could affect education, housing, health, farming, and medical research next year in Georgia.

State Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones II is calling for a special session if the Trump Administration gets their spending cuts.

“Our call today is to put this state in front of saving Georgia’s families, farmers, and small business owners,” said Jones. “The Chair of the Federal Reserve stated that the tariff shock has not yet hit. The governor

himself has acknowledged that long-term tariffs will be extremely problematic for Georgia’s economy. So there is no point in waiting for the tariffs to hit, or the shock to our budget to occur before we actually start to act.”

According to the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, the Peach State receives $3 billion in federal funds for education. Additionally, 78% of Black or African-American children attending K-12 public schools attend Title I schools.

$594 million in funds would be lost if Congress defunds the Department of Education. Lastly, 7,251 teachers would be at risk of losing their jobs.

“So, should Trump and his sycophants make good on their promise to dismantle the Department of Education, I would expect us to go into a special session,” said Georgia State Representative and House Minority Caucus Chair, Tanya Miller.

Life is Golden for Trinidad James

By LAURA NWOGU

Bold splashes of colorful furniture, stylish streetwear and sneakers, and homages to WNBA athletes and hip-hop music have transformed the corner of Upper Alabama Street into a hub of expression, entrepreneurship, and education. Nicholaus Joseph Williams, better known by his stage name Trinidad James, has done his homework, and it’s apparent in his new retail store at Underground Atlanta.

Hommewrk is a space and apparel brand that, for James, echoes memories of the start of his career, which has evolved into a brand outside of the music scene. He worked in the same building 14 years ago at a store called Ginza, and in a corner at the front of the store is where he wrote parts of “All Gold Everything,” his hit 2012 song and debut single that catapulted him into fame. James said that the three years working at Ginza planted the seed of owning his own business one day.

Sitting on a mustard-colored couch in his store with a brown two-piece suit, gold boots and a gold pen necklace with ‘dad’ engraved on the cap, a plucked afro and bedazzled nails, the style —- inspired by greats such as Michael Jackson, Prince, Little Richard, Eddie Murphy and Morris Day—- is still as eye-catching as his gold teeth and jewelry were when hit the music scene. But since 2012, the rapper, songwriter, directo,r and business owner has evolved. From co-writing for female artists such as Kehlani and the City Girls to directing Muni Long’s music video for “Made for Me,” James has melted his gold into a brand that has spread into different avenues.

“It’s always great to bet on the things that you’re passionate about, not just the thing that you do. We have other ideas and other hats that we wanted to wear, but sometimes something else

“It’s

worked out,” James said. “I started here before music. I was in this store, working here, and loving fashion. So to be in here now, selling my own fashion, pushing my own stories, making my own sneakers it’s a blessing, but it’s also a lesson that I have to keep learning every day, because it’s still more goals I need to achieve.”

James established Hommewrk in 2020 with the goal of creating visual libraries of learning and referencing the past to build and innovate for the future. In February 2025, he opened the storefront in Underground Atlanta, another addition to a historical site revitalized by new development.

“Do your homework” is the everyday proverb of the apparel store and brand, and every corner is an opportunity to implement it.

“‘Do Your Homework’ is a saying

that I’ve always kind of just said coming up in this industry, because it was so much I needed to learn. I’ve only gotten better at the things that I actually did my homework in, that I actually put time into. And so it just felt right to translate that into clothing, into design, into intention, and that’s how we’ve been moving.”

James has brought together local talent and business owners, the majority of whom he built relationships with as a shopper himself. Some brands people can shop at Hommewrk include Wisdom Eyewear, 9inety3, Roygbiv, Four AM — a brand by SCAD students — and James’ own brand Hommewrk. His focus is community building and James shared he has collaborated with other Underground Atlanta businesses like Legends Barbershop and Dolo’s Pizza Co., worked with different nonprofits focused on food and housing insecurity, and is set to expand Hommewrk’s school uniform initiative to partner with local schools to provide students with exclusive uniforms.

His big aspiration is also for Hommewrk to become one of the city’s well-known hubs for mental health. He and his team host a wellness event called Reflection Sundays. It’s a time when creatives and entrepreneurs can come into the store, write their feelings on a piece of paper, place it in a jar and participate in community therapy all while enjoying banana bread baked by his mom.

“I think that being able to build a

safe space that has creativity under the umbrella, but the big overarching aspect of it is a safe space for entrepreneurs, creatives, women and the community is very important. Our goal is to build with the city of Atlanta on all tiers from the mayor of Atlanta and the streets of Atlanta because they all have a special part of me and identify with it.”

While cultivating this safe space for himself and others, James has continued to release music that reflects the same learning aspect he hopes to impart to others when they shop at Hommewrk. He revealed he has multiple projects coming out, each one a love letter to the cities that have supported him over the last thirteen years, from Atlanta, Houston, and St. Louis to New York, L.A., Detroit, and Chicago.

“I’ve just stayed a student when it comes to making music and art period, allowing each thing to influence the other thing. A great saying that we say in music is, ‘Don’t bore us. Take us to the chorus.’ I’ve learned to not waste people’s time when it comes to music,” James said. “I’m able to put out music — this is year 13 for me — that is being received well, but still challenging me to do better. I’ve been on my roller coaster, but enjoying it, because I don’t feel like I don’t know what I’m doing or I can’t accomplish what I want to accomplish. It’s attainable.”

James said Hommewrk is only the beginning, and he plans for more buildings and spaces in Atlanta

— where it all began for him.

“I wanted to make sure I was back in the city of Atlanta, Georgia, standing on business. Not just what I’m saying out my mouth, but what I’m doing with product and buildings and things like this.

“I’m really just getting started, so I’m activated.”

always great to bet on the things you’re passionate about, not just the things you do. James (above) said. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

Nicholaus Joseph Williams (above), better known by his stage name Trinidad James. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice

MARTA Five Points Transformation Project resumes May 17

By ISAIAH SINGLETON

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is resuming the transformation of Five Points Station with the first phase of construction restarting in May 2025. This phase focuses on the deconstruction of the concrete canopy and will introduce changes to bus services and customer amenities. The long-term vision is to create a more vibrant, accessible, and community-focused transit hub in Downtown Atlanta. The details of other impacts such as the closure of the Alabama Street, Broad Street Plaza, and Peachtree Street station entrances and the relocation of customer services will be shared once finalized, according to MARTA. During deconstruction, street-level station, and elevator access, as well as bus access will be kept on Forsyth Street. Rail service and transfers are not affected and will work as scheduled.

Key Timeline

• May 17, 2025: Downtown bus route changes and detours begin

• June 6, 2025: Closure and relocation of customer service offices and amenities

Bus Routes Continuing to Serve Five Points Station (Forsyth Street Access Only): These buses will continue to stop at the station

using Forsyth Street for pick-up and drop-off:

• Route 3 – Martin Luther King Jr. Drive / Auburn Avenue

• Route 21 – Memorial Drive

• Route 40 – Peachtree Street / Downtown

• Route 49 – McDonough Boulevard

• Route 55 – Jonesboro Road

• Route 107 – Glenwood

• Route 186 – Rainbow Road Drive / South DeKalb

• Route 813 – Atlanta University Center

• Bus Routes Detoured Away from Five Points (Will No Longer Stop at Station):

• Route 26 – Marietta Street / Perry Boulevard

• Route 42 – Pryor Road

• Route 816 – North Highland Avenue

New Terminal Locations for Detoured Routes:

At Georgia State Station:

• Route 21 – Memorial Drive

• Route 42 – Pryor Road

• Route 49 – McDonough Boulevard

• Route 55 – Jonesboro Road

• Route 107 – Glenwood

• Route 186 – Rainbow Road Drive / South DeKalb

At King Memorial Station:

• Route 26 – Marietta Street / Perry Boulevard

• Route 813 – Atlanta University Center

• Route 899 – Old Fourth Ward

At Civic Center Station:

• Route 816 – North Highland Avenue

Regional Partner Bus Service:

• CobbLinc, Ride Gwinnett, and Xpress bus routes are unaffected and will continue to operate as scheduled.

Customer Services and Amenities – Changes

Beginning June 6

Temporarily Relocated Services (Relocation Sites TBD):

• MARTA Police Precinct

• RideStore

• Lost & Found

• Reduced Fare Office

• MARTA HOPE Team

• Temporarily Closed Station Amenities:

• Restrooms

Alternative restrooms available at:

• GWCC/CNN Center (Westbound): “SMART” restrooms with remote access

• Peachtree Center (Northbound): North concourse level

• Georgia State (Eastbound): Lower concourse level

• West End (Southbound): Lower concourse level

• Station Soccer Field

• Community Garden

• MARTA Market

• Information Booth

• Tunnel to Federal Building

Phase One Focus:

• Safe deconstruction and removal of the existing concrete canopy

• Maintain rail service, transfers, and street/elevator access on Forsyth Street

Future Phases Will Include:

• New canopy construction

• Enhanced bus hub connectivity

• Reimagined pedestrian access to Broad Street

• Public art installations

• Community spaces including urban agriculture initiatives

The total project cost is approximately $230 million, sourced from:

• More MARTA Atlanta half-penny sales tax (primary funding source)

• $13.8 million from the State of Georgia

• $25 million Federal RAISE Grant

• Additional funding from MARTA’s core one-penny sales tax

Spelman College Hosts Amanda Williams for Conversation on Black Art, Creativity

By NOAH WASHINGTON

On Tuesday, April 29, the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art hosted artist Amanda Williams in conversation with musician and Grammy Award-winning artist Corinne Bailey Rae to discuss Williams’ new book, What Black Is This, You Say?

The evening brought together two influential Black women from distinct creative disciplines, offering students and attendees a glimpse into the intersections of art, music, identity and process. The book expands on Williams’ acclaimed public art installation of the same name, originally displayed at New York City’s Storefront for Art and Architecture between 2021 and 2023.

Dr. Liz Andrews, executive director of the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, highlighted the value for Spelman students in attendance.

“The thing about art and creativity is that there are things that transcend genre,” Andrews said. “Artists are often skilled in many areas, but we rarely get to hear about their process. This conversation gave us insight not only into their artistry, but into their friendship and how they navigate creative lives as Black women.”

Williams, a MacArthur “genius grant” recipient trained in architecture, explained how the project began during the COVID-19 lockdowns, when she started posting daily images on social media with the question, “What Black is this?” These images and captions, which served as a satirical and introspective response to a time of racial reckoning, evolved into an interactive public artwork.

The publication features Williams’ work expanded through essays, poems and reflections by an intimate group of Williams’ peers and collaborators — including Roxane Gay, Jenna Wortham and Bailey Rae herself.

Bailey Rae’s contribution reflects on Williams’ Stevie Wonder–inspired pieces. Her essay, titled Stevie’s Eyelids Black, highlights the subversive power of Wonder’s work.

“Stevie’s got this thing of like, ‘a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down,’” she said. “His music is beautiful, lyrical, and washes through you — but it’s also deeply radical, tackling poverty, racism and institutional oppression.”

Bailey Rae shared why returning to Spelman was personally meaningful.

“This is my second time speaking at Spelman, and I feel a deep connection to this place,” she said. “It’s an academic space, an all-Black space, a female space — something I never experienced during my own education, where I was often the only Black student and had no Black professors.”

She reflected on her early career in the U.K.

music industry, where diversity was scarce behind the scenes.

“When I signed with EMI in the early 2000s, I sat at a table with 20 white executives. By the time I left, I’d worked with maybe one Black person in a leadership role. Yet, so many of the artists were Black. That’s why a place like Spelman is so powerful — it’s intentional about championing Black women’s work in spaces designed for and by them.”

Bailey Rae also emphasized the mentorship she has found through her friendship with Williams.

“Amanda’s amazing — she’s Black, a woman, trained as an architect, and an artist. Our paths may differ, but we’ve built this connection. I can ask her real questions — about

hiring, tough conversations, and managing a team. These are things I’ve had to figure out alone as an artist running a business.”

The exhibition marks the first time many of Williams’ pandemic-era paintings have been shown together. The show will run till May 24, 2025.

Left To Right: Dr. Liz Andrews, Executive Director of the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, Amanda Williams, Corinne Bailey Rae. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

On Tuesday, April 29, the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art hosted artist Amanda Williams in conversation with musician and Grammy Awardwinning artist Corinne Bailey Rae to discuss Williams’ new book, What Black Is This, you Say? Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

Joaquin Buckley wants to bring showtime to UFC Atlanta

By DONNELL SUGGS

The basketball court inside State Farm Arena was gone, and in its place were hundreds of cubic feet of concrete. The home of Trae Young, Dyson Daniels, the NBA’s Most Improved Player award winner, and the Atlanta Hawks was being prepped for a summer of concerts and events that will bring thousands inside.

Of the many events that will take place inside State Farm Arena over the next 90 days, UFC Fight Night will be one of the most anticipated. On Saturday, June 14, UFC Fight Night will feature a welterweight bout between Joaquin Buckley and Kamaru Usman, the number seven and four ranked fighters in their weight class, according to data provided by UFC.

On Wednesday, May 7, Buckley took his first visit to the arena to get a look around. He was also making his first visit to Atlanta, but wasn’t planning on doing much sightseeing. This trip and the one he is going to make a couple of weeks from now for training camp will be all about business, he says.

“Any time I’m landing anywhere, I’m trying to go straight to that work,” Buckley said. “Straight to business.”

Buckley and his team took their first look at the gym where training will take place, Lions Cage MMA, and he told The Atlanta Voice that

he liked what he saw.

When asked if he liked what little bit of Atlanta he had had the opportunity to see on his way from the airport to the gym and then downtown to State Farm Arena, Buckley said he did.

“The people here have shown us a lot of love,” he said. “We went to the gym and saw it, and they had everything laid out for us. There was good energy in the gym.”

The fight in Atlanta next month will be big for Buckley, who is working on becoming a household name in the mixed martial arts game. The St. Louis native has amassed an overall record of 21-6-0 and has won his last six fights.

Buckley said he was a big fan of Atlanta’s fight champ, Evander Holyfield, and wants to put on a show for Atlanta fight fans on June 14.

“Evander is somebody that I looked up to for sure. He’s one of the hardest-working guys in the business,” Buckley said. “With us being mixed martial artists, it’s really about the fight, and as long as you bring the fight, people will always love it.”

With his last fight, a third-round TKO of Colby Covington in Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, on Dec. 14, 2024, Buckley is looking forward to facing an opponent, even one as experienced as Usman.

“I’m itching, bro, I was hoping I was going to get in there a little earlier, but only in God’s

timing,” Buckley said. “June 14, I am expecting to go out there and put on a show.”

Buckley said he has been working on “some new stuff” between fights and “has something cooking.”

During the interview, Buckley complimented Usman as a fighter, even using “great” to describe his upcoming opponent. However, he was also clear about what he was coming to Atlanta for.

“I’m taking the same approach that I have for everybody else, I have to come get him,” Buckley said. I respect everything that he has done, I respect everything that he has been able to accomplish, but he ain’t never fought nobody like me. Never.”

Told that Atlanta hasn’t hosted a UFC fight card since April 2019, Buckley’s eyes lit up. He wants to make an impression on this city’s fight fans and UFC fans.

“This is a fight city, this is an event city, and they got a guy like me in the main event,” Buckley said. “I can’t speak on Kamara Usman, but I know that every time I step into that octagon, I’m looking to show up and show out. I‘m looking to give a memorable show.”

The eight-fight card also includes a women’s flyweight bout between American fighters Rose Namajuanas and Miranda Maverick.

“You don’t want to watch this on TV, you’ve got to watch it live,” Buckley said.

On Saturday, June 14, UFC Fight Night will feature a welterweight bout between Joaquin Buckley (above) and Kamaru Usman, the number seven and four ranked fighters in their weight class, according to data provided by UFC. Buckley sat down with The Atlanta Voice on Wednesday, May 7, to discuss the fight. Photo by Donnell Suggs/ The Atlanta Voice

Atlanta plant-based leaders examine the power of food

By LAURA NWOGU

Leaders impacting the plantbased industry gathered for a panel at Pittsburgh Yards on Wednesday to discuss the power of food and the power of choice. Organized by the Urban Oak Initiative, a nonprofit providing plant-based meals and education for South Atlanta, the panel featured Kevin “Chef Kev” McGee, executive director and founder of the Urban Oak Initiative; Leslie Zinn, CEO and founder of Arden’s Garden; and Kemi Bennings, founder of Carrot Dog. International speaker and author Kafi London moderated the panel.

Over 40 people sat in the audience as they were challenged to examine their relationships with food, particularly soul food, and learn about the journey of entrepreneurship in the plant-based space. From starches with lots of meat and little vegetables to more of a fast food diet, the panelists discussed how the way their plates looked growing up influenced the understanding of their palates of today.

For many people in the Black community, soul food looks and tastes a certain way, with classic dishes always at the helm. But McGee said that idea limits his expression as a chef.

“We have to begin to challenge those types of perceptions about soul food. Soul food isn’t the actual food. So it isn’t the rib, it isn’t the oxtail. It’s the preparation method, it’s

“People in underserved areas need to have access to fresh food, and if you provide that access, they will come and support your business. That’s what we have seen—We believe in good health for all, not just good health for people that have money.”

Leslie Zinn CEO and founder of Arden’s Garden

the history, it’s the love, it’s the culture,” McGee said. “So we can have vegan dishes that are soul food. I think we just have to kind of reimagine how we perceive our food.”

That reimagining of food and turning

that into a business looked different for each entrepreneur. Bennings shared how she went from a nurse to cooking for Kimerly Elise and Tyler Perry. McGee went from working in banking to the culinary space and increasing access to plant-based food. Zinn’s journey with Arden’s Garden started with a juicer her mom bought, which grew into selling juices in hair salons, then a plant, and now multiple locations in the Atlanta area in underserved communities.

“People in underserved areas need to have access to fresh food, and if you provide that access, they will come and support your business. That’s what we have seen, and so it is now part of our pillars,” Zinn said. “We believe in good health for all, not just good

health for people that have money.”

The panelists encouraged people to be more intentional about the food they consume. Bennings addressed the history of health issues in the Black community, such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease, and the importance of slowly changing food lifestyles in families.

“There are things that we can do, diet-related, to help us stay healthy or live longer. And that’s something that we not only have to do for ourselves, but pass that to generations,” Bennings said. “I do feel like we’re in a really unique time where people are slowly, but surely, choosing ourselves, choosing our wellness, choosing our happiness, choosing our joy, and I think part of the plant-based industry is really helping with that.”

The panel was organized by the Urban Oak Initiative, a nonprofit providing plant-based meals and education for South Atlanta. Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice

Over 40 people sat in the audience as they were challenged to examine their relationships with food, particularly soul food, and learn about the journey of entrepreneurship in the plantbased space. Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice

Jussie Smollett debuts new film

The Lost Holliday

By ISAIAH SINGLETON

Jussie Smollett returns to the screen with The Lost Holliday, a deeply personal and thought-provoking drama premiering May 9 on Amazon Prime Video.

Vivica A. Fox stars as Cassandra Marshall, who arrives in Los Angeles to plan the funeral of her estranged son, Damien Holliday (Jabari Redd). Upon her arrival, Cassandra discovers that the funeral arrangements are already being handled by her son’s husband, Jason Holliday (Jussie Smollett), a man and a marriage she knew nothing about.

Through Jason, their adopted daughter Arielle (Londyn Carter), Jason’s sister Cheyenne (Brittany Hall), and best friend Duck (Marquise Vilsón), Cassandra learns more about her son in death than she ever did in his life.

“The Lost Holliday” explores themes of family dynamics, friendship, fatherhood, adoption, mother-son and father-daughter relationships, grief, and the bonds of love that transcend time, generational trauma, and even death.

The film also celebrates LGBTQIA+ representation and the importance of acceptance, shining a light on the adversity and triumphs of a same-gender-loving couple navigating family dissension and societal presumptions.

Set against the backdrop of personal loss and rediscovery, the film marks Smollett’s first major project since stepping back from the spotlight, and he’s ready to talk.

As writer, director, and star, Smollett offers an unfiltered creative vision with The Lost Holliday, a film that explores themes of grief, reconciliation, and the often-complicated journey of self-forgiveness.

Smollett describes the film as “raw, resonant, and timely” and believes it will generate conversation well beyond the screen.

The Atlanta Voice sat down with Smollett to discuss the upcoming film, this next chapter in his life, the importance of spreading love, and more.

The Atlanta Voice: Your new film, The Lost Holliday, comes out exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on May 9, tell me a little about how you’re feeling about the impending release.

Jussie Smollett: I feel amazing. We had the limited release in theaters in September, and it did well, but not a lot of people or cities got to see it because it was limited. We were in like seven cities, so it’s exciting now it’s on streaming, and a broader audience will get to see it.

AV: What was the inspiration behind your film?

JS: The inspiration was my mother and my paternal grandmother. My mother, a Black woman, married into a non-black family at a

time when that wasn’t necessarily accepted, and the things she went through and hearing that my entire childhood. It wasn’t until my father passed away a decade ago that I saw my mother and my paternal grandmother really start to bond. I saw the beauty, the grace, and forgiveness my mother gave to my grandmother, and now it’s opened the doors for us to be able to have a relationship with her that we didn’t have before. So that was an inspiration for Cassandra, made by the truly iconic Vivica A. Fox, and me.

AV: The Lost Holiday marks your first major project since taking a step back, talk to me about returning to the big screen and what you think the public’s response will be.

JS: It’s interesting because I’ve been doing press for the movie for a couple of months now, and I hear that a lot. Obviously, as you would know, the outside looking in, it looks one way, but you know what is going on in your day-today life. So, to you, it does not really feel like it is a return because this time, I released B-Boy Blues on BET+, and it was extremely successful. That was my feature film directorial debut, and I’ve just been working and I try my best before craziness, after craziness, even during craziness, to put my head in the sand and keep working and living, because that’s really all I know how to do so, it’s exciting. I will say the welcoming to the film has been special and beautiful.

AV: This film has themes of grief, family dynamics, acceptance, LGBTQ+ representation, and more. Why did you think it was important to have these themes woven throughout the film?

JS: The world is confused and delusional in thinking that it looks one way and certain places, people, things, and creatures, are trying to make us believe the world does look, feel, smell, act one way, and it doesn’t. My mother would take us to art galleries when we were little, and she would look at the art galleries and we were broke, so it was something that you can do. You can walk into that art gallery and look at the art, and you don’t have to spend money, and I remember my mother asking each one of us, well, ‘what does this piece mean to you?’ And every one of us would have to say what it meant to us, and usually it meant something completely different, but that’s based on our own experience, on our own thought process. My mission while I’m here is to make someone feel a little bit less misunderstood, and it’s to show us all that we are.

AV: What does this film mean to you?

JS: It means love. Love is the root of everything. Love or the lack of love, is the root of every good thing in this world. It’s the root of every bad thing in this world. It’s love for each other, love for yourself, love for greed, love for

This new chapter is called peace and joy. If it does not bring me peace, get out of my face. If it does not bring me joy, get out of my face, because there’s just too much life to live, to be living it for someone else. This chapter is about discernment. I want for all the young people out there to really understand that you pray for humility, you stay humble, and continue to be a good person no matter what is thrown at you.

money, all those things are affecting the world in which we exist. So, love is what I hope for in everything that I do, whether it’s something that I created or it’s something that has been created. I’ve stepped into love, is what I’m always going to bring to it, no matter what is being thrown at me.

AV: And that is important because I think that a lot of what we’re missing is that resilience, is that love and knowing that everything is going to be okay at the end of the day.

JS: And we have been here before. We’ve existed in times where we come from a legacy of people who have had to get through, and it doesn’t mean that I want to live my entire life walking around here like a survivor for the rest of my life, but at the same time, these things happen, and we will be okay, but what we got to do is not turn on each other.

AV: Those are some powerful words. So, switching gears a little bit. What was your

favorite part about either filming, working with a cast, directing, producing, writing, what was your favorite part about this whole experience?

JS: There are so many parts, I would have to say, though working with this cast and this crew has been incredible, but Vivica A. Fox, she is love. She is love, and she brings it every single time. I was just at the Beyoncé concert with her, and she just radiates it. What you see when she’s online, she’s gonna keep it 1000 but it always comes from a place of pure intentions, and I love her so much. She comes ready to work, but I think that’s also because she comes to the world, ready to live. I look at people like her, and I look at people like Taraji, and they show up with love, with grace, with generosity and with preparation. Vivica is one of the best scene partners that I’ve ever had, and I’ve had some incredible scene partners throughout my

Actor Jussie Smollett (above) visited The Atlanta Voice’s WAREhouse Studios to talk about his new film, “The Lost Holliday,” which explores themes of family dynamics, friendship, fatherhood, adoption, mother-son and father-daughter relationships, grief, and the bonds of love that transcend time, generational trauma, and even death. Photo by Martel Sharpe/The Atlanta Voice

Tina Knowles gets personal during “Matriarch” book tour

By LAURA NWOGU

Tina Knowles stopped in Atlanta during her “Matriarch” book tour, and the night was filled with gospel, reflection, tears, and laughter. The businesswoman and fashion designer released her book on April 22, and it hit No. 1 on The New York Times best-seller list.

The memoir pulls back the curtain on her family portrait, diving into her childhood in Galveston, Texas, her marriages, superstar daughters Beyoncé and Solange, and the instrumental role she played as a mother and designer in the stardom of Destiny’s Child. But beyond that, it paints a personal picture of who Celestine Ann “Tina” Beyoncé Knowles is and how she became the Knowles matriarch.

Award-winning actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry hosted the fireside chat. He walked onto the stage in an all-white ensemble and embraced gospel singer Le’Andria Johnson, who, just moments earlier, brought the house down and to church with a performance of her song, “Deliver Me,” at the request of Knowles. Tyler Perry began the chat by

SMOLLETT

Continued from page 13

career. She is just unselfish.

AV: If you could name this new chapter in your life, what would it be called?

JS: This new chapter is called peace and joy. If it does not bring me peace, get out of my face. If it does not bring me joy, get out of my face, because there’s just too much life to live, to be living it for someone else. This chapter is about discernment. I want for all the young people out there to really understand that you pray for humility, you stay humble, and continue to be a good person no matter what is thrown at you. But also watch what’s around you, watch your surroundings, and look out for that.

AV: What do you want people to take away from seeing this film?

JS: Just love. We are in such a place right now, in our nation and in our world, where we tend to be talking at each other, and I feel like if we took a little bit more time to talk to each other, we would be in a better situation. I think we are also dealing with an extreme amount of battle fatigue, and it’s alright sometimes to just rest and take a moment, not too long, because we’re needed, but to just take a moment and laugh and cry, and have a moment where you look and you’re watching something that isn’t

asking the question at the root of the book: “When you think of a matriarch, what does that mean to you?”

“A matriarch is a mother figure. It doesn’t have to be your biological mother. It can be someone in your life as a mentor. It can be an aunt. It can be a godmother. It can just be someone you met on your job, but they’re that person that you go to when there’s strife, when there’s turmoil, when there is decisions to be made that concern the family,” Knowles said in a white off-shoulder top and long navy blue skirt. “And in my case, my mother was definitely a matriarch. My grandmother was a matriarch. My great-grandmother was a matriarch.

necessarily about the world that we deal with on a regular basis, but it still taps into those emotions and those things we go through as human beings, just trying to exist in this realm,

AV: And that is tough because the nation is in a bit of turmoil, and there’s so much going on, so this type of film is necessary and needed to spread that love.

JS: Thank you for saying that, and I believe the same. I also think understanding, grace, and love, and even from the side of the character of Cassandra, who Vivica plays, at first glance, you would assume she’s this homophobic crazy gal, but in actuality, she’s a complicated, layered human being that has her flaws and also has certain beauties about her that she brings to the table. It’s also about recognizing we don’t all exist in the same life, in the same issues, but at the same time, if we start again, if we start talking to each other, start getting to know each other, start figuring out what is this that you went through, instead of me making the assumption that I understand when I don’t, but if I ask you, maybe you can enlighten me. I could get to understand you.

AV: What kind of advice would you give to anyone or aspiring actors about not giving up and staying resilient in your dreams and just in life?

JS: You must have the audacity of tenacity. You must believe not

Both of my great-grandmothers were enslaved, but they managed to keep their kids together.”

That idea of a matriarch was apparent on the screen that hung above the stage. As audience members waited for the chat to start, pictures of Knowles and her family flipped across the screen. At the start of the event, they played voiceovers from Angela Beyincé — Knowles’ niece — Beyoncé and Solange where they described how much Knowles’ meant to them as a mother figure.

Throughout the night, Perry weaved his classic humor with

insightful examinations into what made Knowles a matriarch. They touched on Knowles’ unruly childhood, the history of her last name, Beyoncé, the dynamic between her seamstress mother and her husband and ex-husband, her nephew Johnny, who inspired the “Renaissance” album by Beyonce, and the racism they experienced in Galveston. Knowles was vulnerable about her marriage with her ex-husband, Mathew Knowles, with whom she was for 31 years, and her eight-year marriage with actor Richard Lawson. Insight into Destiny’s Child and

solo career years included how she had to fight for respect from the record label as the girls’ designer after her outfits were viewed as “country” and how she championed Beyoncé and her debut album.

“My mom used to say, change the world. Don’t let the world change you,” Knowles said. “They have to follow. They’ll get it. They might get it tomorrow, they might get it next year, but they’ll get it eventually.”

In April, Knowles revealed that she’d been diagnosed with stage-one breast cancer after a missed mammogram. She shared that she initially took that revelation out of the book because of her privacy, but put it back in with the hopes that it could help and bring awareness for other women.

“Thank you for writing this book, and the way you wrote it, and the stories that you tell. They’re so real. They’re so rich. They’re so true,” Perry said. “Because there are a lot of people who would write books and do it to leave bodies in the street. You wrote this book with such grace and class, and you gave grace and class to so many people in this book that I just wanted to say job well done.”

only are you capable, but you are valuable, and you are necessary. If you are an actor or an artist in general, you must create. You cannot sit around waiting for an audition, waiting for someone to pick you up, waiting for something to

happen. You gotta make it happen. I don’t care whether you grab your phone and your homies and y’all create something because somebody is watching. I’m so inspired by people like one of my closest friends Corey Knott, and my friend

Dave Bridgeforth, who has DBQ magazine, they just do it. That’s what’s also inspiring about Atlanta, it’s a city of events and event spaces, but it’s also the land of people doing things; everybody is doing something.

Jussie Smollett (above) returns to the screen with The Lost Holliday, a deeply personal and thought-provoking drama premiering May 9 on Amazon Prime Video. Photo by Martel Sharpe/The Atlanta Voice

Tina Knowles stopped in Atlanta during her “Matriarch” book tour, and the night was filled with gospel, reflection, tears and laughter. Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice

The “Matriach” fireside chat took place at the Tabernacle in Atlanta on Thursday, May 8. Award-winning actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry (right) hosted the fireside chat. Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice

Street Lines-2025 BMW X3 xDrive30i

By DENNIS MALCOLM ByRON AKA ALE SHARPTON

Off the bat, I was impressed with the 2025 BMW X3 xDrive30i in many facets. Although it is categorized as a compact luxury SUV, the X3 goes big regarding luxury, technology, and overall performance remarkably coming from a four-cylinder engine.

At first glance of this edition of the fourth-generation X3, the exterior is redesigned, brandishing a larger kidney grille that literally glows, curvaceous dual-lined headlights shaped like “Ls” you could recognize from afar at night, and an overall more muscular frame. The highly recommended M Sport package brings even more eye candy with the 21-inch wheels in jet black—the largest of the trim—a rear spoiler, and “Arctic Race Blue” metallic paint which comes highly recommended.

The aforementioned 2.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder heart delivers an impressive balance of power and efficiency, supported by a 48V mild-hybrid system that boosts acceleration and respectable fuel economy averaging 29 miles to the gallon. BMW’s signature STEPTRONIC automatic transmission smooths out gear changes, while Driving Dynamics Control offers three modes—Personal, Efficient, and Sport—and I constantly went with the latter for a punchier experience. Of course, the M Sport Package is more than just racing-inspired looks, with the M Sport

Suspension and xDrive all-wheel drive further enhancing the handling to take on curves and various roads effortlessly

Inside, the “Calm Beige” perforated “Veganza” upholstery—basically a vegan leather produced by BMW—complemented by the satin aluminum line exterior trim and anthracite headliner collectively step up the passenger pampering. Front riders benefit from heated, ventilated sport seats with lumbar support, while ambient lighting and a sky lounge panoramic roof make the cabin airier and exquisite. Comfort Access keyless entry ensures effortless convenience, and the travel and comfort system make especially long journeys more desired.

On the tech side, BMW shines and continues to push the envelope with its curved 14.9-inch display featuring a Head-Up Display (HUD) which I always find necessary, seamlessly integrating navigation and infotainment. The BMW iDrive system—operated via voice, touchscreen, or the iDrive Controller—hits us off with an intuitive experience for easier programming demands. The interior camera adds an extra layer of security, while wireless device charging, Apple CarPlay/Android capability, My BMW app, and personal eSIM 5G connectivity keeps everyone connected and entertained on the go. The premium sound system delivers theateresque sounds as well. Keeping worries at bay, safety remains a

Seeing the Future in Style

By NOAH WASHINGTON

On Saturday, May 10, Bloomingdale’s Lenox Mall location hosted “Framed Elegance: Anwuli Eyewear Frame Fashion Show”.

When Dr. Nwamaka Ngoddy first began practicing optometry in the metro Atlanta area over a decade ago, she quickly noticed a persistent problem that had less to do with eyesight and more to do with design. Despite the growing diversity of her patients, the eyewear available to them remained stubbornly uniform, often built with narrow bridges, limited sizing, and little regard for facial features that deviated from European standards.

“I wanted to create a brand that considers diverse facial features within its design so people can feel included and have statement pieces,” she said.

That vision sparked the creation of Anwuli Eyewear, an inclusive eyewear brand founded in 2019, before releasing products in 2021 due to COVID-19. Named after the Igbo word for “joy,” Anwuli Eyewear reflects Dr. Ngoddy’s mission to celebrate individuality, honor cultural heritage, and elevate style, while

addressing a long-overlooked gap in the optical industry.

A first-generation Nigerian American and Atlanta native, she earned her undergraduate degree from Xavier University of Louisiana before completing her doctorate at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. After finishing her education, she returned to Atlanta to practice, where her work in clinical optometry began to intersect with her love of fashion and design.

The transition from optometrist to brand founder didn’t happen overnight. “We started the business in 2019, but the pandemic hit shortly after,” Ngoddy said. “There were delays prototyping, manufacturing, all of that. But we pushed through.”

By 2021, Anwuli Eyewear launched its first collection, offering thoughtfully designed frames in an array of sizes and styles. Today, the brand is carried by independent optical retailers across the United States and will be in Bloomingdale’s this summer.

In 2024, Dr. Ngoddy’s hard work received a national spotlight when she won the

Macy’s Retail Readiness Program, securing a $100,000 grant and a key partnership opportunity with Bloomingdale’s. Through that partnership, Anwuli Eyewear has hosted multiple trunk shows at Bloomingdale’s Lenox Mall, offering customers a first-hand look at Anwuli’s collections.

Among those walking in the upcoming show is Anaiah Jones, a 19-year-old model who began her career at age seven but is stepping into eyewear modeling for the first time.

“I’ve done smaller projects, but this is the biggest thing I’ve done,” Jones said. “Modeling eyewear is different—it’s actually easier. You don’t have to move around as much. And walking at Bloomingdale’s? That’s a first.”

Jones received the call a few weeks before the event and joined a Zoom orientation to prepare. “We were told to wear neutral spring colors to match the frames,” she said. “It was a really good experience. The DJs were great, the whole setup was beautiful.”

The fashion show, held in the eyewear department at Bloomingdale’s, highlighted eight distinctive frames from the Anwuli

priority with the Driving Assistance Professional Package, which includes active blind spot detection, forward collision mitigation, and lane keeping assistant. The Parking Assistance Package features a Parking Assistant with a trailer and reversing assistant, making maneuvering in any situation virtually effortless. BMW’s Head Protection System (HPS) and seat-mounted front side-impact airbags further ensure safety for every passenger.

Starting at $49,500, this X3 trim review totals $60K when loaded with all the optional packages which collectively put a stamp on its luxury designation. The 4-year/50,000mile new vehicle limited warranty and 3-year/36,000-mile BMW Ultimate Care maintenance program certainly boosts the confidence of a potential buyer.

The 2025 BMW X3 xDrive30i does a solid job of combining luxury, performance, and technology in this highly recommended compact SUV comfortably fitting five adults thanks to the rear’s extended legroom. For those seeking a dynamic and attractive automobile with a plethora of high-tech appointments in this class, the X3 xDrive30i remains a standout.

Fuel Economy: 27 city/33 highway/29 combined

Price: The 2025 BMW X3 xDrive30i starts at $49,500 MSRP and reviewed at $60,875 including the optional packages (M Sport and Premium); handling; processing; and delivery. For more information, visit Bmwusa.com

Eyewear collection. As Dr. Ngoddy shared, “It’s about creating space for people to feel celebrated and seen—for who they are and how they show up in the world.”

Photos courtesy of BMW

On Saturday, May 10, Bloomingdale’s Lenox Mall location hosted “Framed Elegance : Anwuli Eyewear Frame Fashion Show”. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

SOFTWARE ENGINEER

TECHNICAL

(Atlanta) 14703812552,95553542320#,*547343# US (Atlanta)

Scope of Work: Fulton County, Georgia “County” is seeking a Peer Support Specialist to provide services to Family Treatment Court (FTC) participants. The Peer Support Specialist will: Conduct weekly phone calls and in-person visits with FTC participants, Schedule weekly office visits with FTC participants, Assist FTC Case Manager with developing a case plan, Assist participants with identifying community resources, Assist participants with locating in-person and virtual AA meeting groups, Collect weekly Alcohol Anonymous meeting sheets from program participates,

Cisco Systems, Inc. is accepting resumes for multiple positions in Atlanta/ Alpharetta/ Lawrenceville, GA: Software Engineer (Ref#: ATL103B): Responsible for the definition, design, development, test, debugging, release, enhancement or maintenance of software. Telecommuting permitted. Technical Solutions Architect (Ref#: ATL381B): Meet with customers to provide overviews, demos, Bill of Materials (BOMS), Request for Proposal (RFPs)/ Request for Information (RFIs), and proof of concepts on the company’s Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) technology and product line. Telecommuting permitted and up to 30% travel may be required to various unanticipated locations throughout the United States. Please email resumes including position’s reference number in subject line to Cisco Systems, Inc. at amsjobs@ cisco.com. No phone calls please. Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship. EOE. www.cisco.com