I’ve recently relocated to Atlanta. Even though I’m an Alabama native, and I’ve lived for a number of years in the metro DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland area. At this point in my life I’ve decided that I want to move, live and settle back in the south.
My brother and his wife live here in Atlanta, and have graciously opened their home to me and are allowing me to reestablish myself. I have visited the ATL over the years, and whenever I did, I’ve loved the city, the presence of being here, the warm weather, the familiar change of pace, the friendliness of the people, the feeling of freedom, and openness of the suburbs.
I’ve recently relocated to Atlanta. Even though I’m an Alabama native, and I’ve lived for a number of years in the metro DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland area. At this point in my life I’ve decided that I want to move, live and settle back in the south.
My brother and his wife live here in Atlanta, and have graciously opened their home to me and are allowing me to reestablish myself. I have visited the ATL over the years, and whenever I did, I’ve loved the city, the presence of being here, the warm weather, the familiar change of pace, the friendliness of the people, the feeling of freedom, and openness of the suburbs.
In the process of my relocating here, my brother wants me to be more familiar with the city, its legacy, and for me to learn and know my way around. He often encourages me to get out and explore the area, and when time allows, he takes me out personally, to show me the city he now calls home and all that he has come to love about it.
He shows me everything, emphasizing the state as a whole, but especially highlighting Atlanta, specifically. Showing me among other things, the Atlanta university center, underground Atlanta, the world of coca cola, the dome, the stadium, the amphitheaters, the King center, various neighborhoods, and almost always pointing out the beautiful skyline, crowning so many of the things, sights, sounds, people of the city, that makes Atlanta a special place, all so rare and unique.
He always promises and strives to show me something new every chance he gets, hoping that I will gain a better sense of why being here specifically is the place to be. To that end, we rode through Bankhead today although this wasn’t for the first time that we had made the trip. Everytime we’ve done so, the journey has left me with more or less a broken heart, and a feeling of lost potencial. I always arrive and leave with a feeling, I’m lost among a neighborhood of lost people. Let me explain, as I have said my brother has lived here for a number of years, and he knows the city like the back of his hand. It has always been his gift to somehow, no matter where he was to somehow, and in short order, find his way around. Conversely, I on the other hand, am hindered by the process of navigating “here to there” and rely heavily on GPS. The city however in having to navigate a much more involved, complex and far reaching journey and undertaking, does not have that luxury. Still and all the same, it would seem that neither of us has a valid excuse for being so consistantly lost. For myself if my brother can find his way, then I certainly should be able to do the same. After all, he has found his way initially long before GPS even existed. So why should I do any less? But I ask myself has the city lost its dream or just not realized it’s true potential? True enough the same could be said of so many places, cities, states, and nations all across the world, I’m not trying to say Atlanta could or should have succeed where other locations have failed. Especially in the midst of what has been said to be a worldwide recession. But the city’s loss may not even be necessary. I think the present way of doing things may be some the reason for, our current state of affairs. Maybe a new perspective and a new way of thinking, could find a way to right the ship. Maybe we needn’t to have it be said or thought that we’ve lost that potential and that moment where we might be able to truly sing, as Doctor King stated, “Free at, free at last, thank God almighty, we’re free at last.”
As I looked at Bankhead and noticed the men, women, and children standing or gathered outside stores, buildings, or in vacant lots, just standing there, waiting? In some cases disheveled, unkempt, listless, and some seemingly empty. I wondered what was the problem. Also let me say here and now, that I realized that those few were not indicative of all of the residents of Bankhead, or anywhere else, and I know those few does not represent all of what Bankhead or Atlanta or anywhere is or can be. But it did cause my heart to ache. I wondered why this is the state of existence for Bankhead and for so many other cities across America. Does it have to be this way?
Even as my brother pointed out to me, the seemingly lack of a noticeable effort or evidence that this part of the city was maintained, and almost practically ignored. There’s little evidence of upkeep, or that there ever was landscaping. There are weeds growing wild, yards of homes that were bare lawns, and other areas that grasses are overgrown along the sides of the streets. This part of the city seems to be abandoned, it’s as if no one should or does live there and the residents have no choice but to remain.
My brother pointed out the boarded up, dilapidated homes, the closed businesses. He suggested those buildings and homes were boarded up, because the homeless and crack heads would probably occupy the buildings, even at risk for their own safety. It emphasized one aspect and the danger of the drug culture to the community as a whole. In Bankhead sidewalks were scarce if present at all. The streets were dirty, broken bottles and trash littered the area and streets. The people seemed lost, rarely did anyone in passing, seem to notice or see each other or even greet each other, they just trudged on to wherever they were going and for the most part they were individualized, ... lost?
That observation and those thoughts naturally lead to other thoughts, about how wonderful in a lot of ways the world is today. I noticed all at once, a city alive, and vibrate on one side of town and another impression of the city just a mile or less away, dead or dying, lost.
These impressions conflict with thoughts of the legacy of what Atlanta was, even while learning what Atlanta is, and some of what it still strives to become.
It has been said in some ways this is thought to be a dangerous part of town and if anyone ever comes here they have to be careful. I wonder if that’s was really the case, and if so, why? Why did Bankhead have to be dangerous? Why does it have to be, that in primarily one of the poorest sections of town. Were everyone seemed to have less to a man, that there was even more of a chance that they would more likely lose even that? And that the aggressor would most likely be one of their own?
He mentioned as we continued to drive that the culture oft he people we passed would gradually change and would at some point reflect a more diverse people. Which wasn't to say it was better, here or worse there, just that all the people of Atlanta didn’t frequent this part of the city and that Bankhead suffered for it.
So, as I thought about all of this as I was riding through just "learning", thinking, experiencing the vibe ... of what I saw. I wondered ... where was the dream. Where was doctor King's Dream?
I asked my brother what can I do, meaning me specifically me, what can I do to change what I see? “He said what do you want to do, what do you have to give? What do you have to offer that will address the need? He said, you’re a writer, so write.” This is that effort.
As I write this piece I realize no one written piece or even a series of words, paragraphs, articles, dialogs, or blogs could in no way possibly contain my or your thoughts, comprehend the issues, and in any way maybe achieve a resolution or hopefully if you care to contribute, accommodate your feed back, But what I hope I can initiate here is a possible groundwork for any and all of that to somehow eventually if possible happen.
So I want to discuss, topics that I think are significant and key to summarize, what is, what can be, to discuss and emphasize, and actualize how we as a people, and a nation find a path to do what can be done to make those realizations a reality. Please join me this effort, and please brothers and sisters. Let’s navigate this journey and effort in honest, sincere dialog and action when possible and necessary. Keeping in mind the cause is the reason for the effort, and the cause will always be bigger than the people involved in the effort.
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Yankee Doodle Daddy is a historical Appalachian Family Saga. The story follows a mother's reckoning as she struggles to survive and keep her four daughters alive.
