In the summer of 2011, Atlanta Intown collaborated with writing students at the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) to produce a special issue filled with their reporting and features. As part of Intown’s 30th anniversary celebration, we decided to do it again.
While the stories in the previous version were more eclectic in nature, a theme was suggested for this collaboration. This month is the 60th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and since Atlanta is the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement, it felt like a way to acknowledge history as well as explore the impact of the landmark legislation.
Over several months of conversations and meetings with the students in Paige Gray’s writing class, this special section evolved into an examination of how the Civil Rights Act continues to provide opportunity and equality while also looking at its failings and ongoing challenges.
Civil and human rights are driving much of the debate and conversation during this fraught presidential election year, so the features on Global Black Pride coming to Atlanta, the advancement of women in sports, successful Black entrepreneurs, and art as activism are timely and of the moment.
Inequity is also a theme here, with the struggle of gig workers to make ends meet, the ongoing threat of book bans to stifle knowledge and diversity, and even the challenges baseball legend Hank Aaron faced after his historic home run show just how much more work needs to be done to fulfill the dream of civil rights for all.
Be sure to visit our special SCAD x Rough Draft section to read the students’ stories which will be posted throughout June.
