Gavin Godfrey

Is Atlanta still America’s Black mecca? Here’s what we found. What UATL learned about the city of Atlanta’s past, present and future as “the Black mecca.”

Closed out my Black Mecca series with @ajc.com over the weekend.

Been years of brainstorming, and 10 months of reporting. So grateful for every person who contributed in this project and believed in me.

Here's my last dispatch: www.uatl.com/news/2026/01...

How Trap Golf brings Black players to the greens College Park native helped launch brand that fuses the game with hip-hop culture.

From my latest:

“We made this golf stuff cool. It’s a whole lot of people that come in that’s trying to ride the wave. I was like Takeoff; I was leading the wave."

www.uatl.com/404ward/2025...

Are the Dream Atlanta’s best sports franchise? They could be. The Atlanta Dream is more that just a professional sports team -- it is a part of the city that supports it and a part of the city's culture and community.

I fell in love with journalism reading the sports section of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution with my late father. Any time I get to pick up the pen and write a sports story is a blessing. Just wish Pop was here to read this one.

www.uatl.com/entertainmen...

Atlanta built a mecca for Black businesses, but inequality persists Atlanta has a seeming abundance of Black millionaires and Black-owned storefronts, but researchers say individual successes can’t on their own overcome the deep inequality.

Thoughtful, thorough and engaging storytelling from my colleague Mirtha Donastorg for our latest installment in the Black Mecca series.

www.uatl.com/news/2025/09...

How Atlanta remains a higher education mecca for Black students Atlanta's institutions are showing that large-scale equity and opportunity in higher education are possible.

Here's the latest from our Black mecca series from Ernie Suggs w/guidance from @ericstirgus.bsky.social.

Grateful to have two of the best Black journalists in the business contribute to this project.

Is Atlanta America’s Black mecca? Natives and transplants have thoughts. Atlanta’s “Black mecca” status is under the microscope. Residents — from Grady Babies to newcomers — share what life is really like for Black residents in Georgia’s capital.

If Atlanta is “the Black mecca,” what do the folks who live here actually think?

We asked the question.

Y’all answered.

www.uatl.com/news/2025/07...

Why a former New York lawyer moved to the Black mecca for music Rochester native Danielle Ponder is slowly making a name for herself in the music industry. For the attorney-turned-singer, moving to Atlanta could propel her career further.

"... Atlanta presented an opportunity to be in the arts but to also be surrounded by Black culture, and that was something that really drew me here."

I'm really excited to share this latest entry for the Black mecca series from my colleague Najja Parker.

www.uatl.com/entertainmen...

Is the Black mecca ‘10 years behind the rest of the world’ on mental health? Residents, advocates and policy experts are fighting daily to bring equity to underserved communities.

The next installment in the Black mecca series was inspired by my own search to find a therapist.

Instead, I found everyday Atlantans living through their own struggles and others trying to bridge coverage gaps and eradicate mental health stigma.

www.uatl.com/news/2025/05...

Paul Bianchi, founder of The Paideia School, dies at age 79 Paul Bianchi, founder of Paideia School, passed away at 79. He was a beloved educator and leader who shaped the school's identity.

Thank you for everything 💔

roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/05/10/p...

‘It started all right here’: Rico Wade immortalized with East Point monument Friends, family and fans gather to celebrate a permanent dedication to the Atlanta legend.

I’d like to think the earthquake in Atlanta today was just Rico Wade making some beats in heaven.

www.ajc.com/uatl/it-star...

Atlanta's Black mecca status: Do the numbers match the reputation? Credit: AJC | Getty Images | City of Atlanta Mayor's Office | Outkast LaFace/Arista Records | Pew Research | Annie E. Casey Foundation | ACS | Forbes Advisor

I'd like to think my longtime math tutor -- Mr. Ioannidis -- would be proud.

Latest video installment for the Black mecca series is here.

www.ajc.com/news/atlanta...

Is Atlanta still America’s Black mecca? This native isn’t so sure A new monthly content series from UATL — the AJC’s Black culture franchise — will shed light on the reality (or mirage) behind this question.

ICYMI: Here's the series intro.

Black mecca math: How does Atlanta stack up? It’s complicated. How do the city and metro stack up? We look at demographics, income, voting power and more.

Goin' up on a Tuesday!

The next story in the Black Mecca series is LIVE.

Big thanks to the data reporting (and viz) wiz's @stephanielamm.bsky.social, @charlesminshew.bsky.social and @petecorson.bsky.social.

It’s beautiful.

Is Atlanta still America’s Black mecca? This native isn’t so sure A new monthly content series from UATL — the AJC’s Black culture franchise — will shed light on the reality (or mirage) behind this question.

Had a question and idea floating around in my head for years: Is Atlanta still living up to its status as "the Black mecca?"

Proud to say that the @ajc.com is giving me the opportunity to lead a 10-month editorial series exploring this question.

Here's the intro.

www.ajc.com/uatl/is-atla...

Five Atlanta artists we want to see perform at the World Cup halftime show Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Phil Harvey will help select acts for the historic FIFA set. Who from Atlanta should make the short list to headline? We have a few suggestions.

www.ajc.com/uatl/five-at...

Atlanta’s Dallas Austin is remixing FIFA’s 2026 World Cup theme song Atlanta producer joins others in creating unique songs highlighting host cites.

ICYMI: Reported on two bits of 2026 FIFA World Cup entertainment news.

www.ajc.com/uatl/atlanta...

The Black culture highlights from Dickens' ‘State of the City’ address These were the most Black culture moments from the 61st mayor of Atlanta's annual speech.

“This is some Black history month stuff going on. I can tell Atlanta’s just different.”

www.ajc.com/uatl/the-bla...

How Black entrepreneurs in Atlanta are responding to DEI cuts at Target, Walmart and other stores Local business owners with major retail experience discuss how Trump's executive orders affect them.

Boycott? Buy out the store? Business as usual?

“It may not lead to the change that we want, but the strategy is to show that refraining from spending our economic power can yield results that move the pendulum back.”

www.ajc.com/uatl/boycott...

How a stained glass church window in Atlanta changed this Pulitzer Prize winner’s life The famed W.E.B. Du Bois and Martin Luther King Jr. biographer excavates his own complicated family story.

Pulitzer Prize winner, David Levering Lewis, found his latest muse (and himself) in an old stained glass window in Atlanta.

We spoke about his new book on family history, and losing our fathers.

Here’s that story.

www.ajc.com/uatl/how-a-s...

Picture him rolling: Photographer Cam Kirk shows off new Beltline studio New Beltline studio space aims to continue mission of empowering city's creative community

"To now be able to personalize a space truly for our community, and to see it now come to life, it is amazing."

www.ajc.com/uatl/picture...

How the Hawks are celebrating Black History Month with local creatives Hawks executive vice president talks importance of celebrating Black creatives.

Trae Young got the All-Star snub, but here's why the Hawks still have something to celebrate.

ajc.com/uatl/how-the...

Why Marcus Freeman coaching a CFP final on MLK Day in Atlanta is ‘extremely significant’ Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman, his players, fans and experts talk about potentially making history on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

"If we win, and he becomes the first Black coach to win the championship in the history of college football on MLK Day here in Atlanta, it’d be something that was written, man."

www.ajc.com/uatl/why-mar...

How Coalition DJs are bringing the party to Martin Luther King Jr. Day DJ collective celebrates 17 years of breaking indie artists with MLK Day concert.

My latest: The Coalition DJs have spent the past 17 years breaking and developing independent rap and R&B artists in Atlanta and nationwide.

Today, they're kicking off a weekend of anniversary events that closes out with an MLK Jr. Day concert.

www.ajc.com/uatl/how-coa...

The year in Black culture, according to UATL reporter Gavin Godfrey UATL’s Gavin Godfrey looks back at what mattered last year.

Just some very short thoughts on a very long year.

www.ajc.com/black-atlant...

Let the Michael Penix Jr. era begin? Falcons fans have some thoughts... Fans on social media share their thoughts on the switch from Kirk Cousins to Michael Penix Jr..

Fun fact: the name for one of my fantasy football teams last year was "Draft Penix," and now here we are.

www.ajc.com/uatl/let-the...

Want to see Usher in Europe? Have dinner with Jermaine Dupri? Read this. ASCAP is giving fans exclusive experiences with Usher, Jermaine Dupri, and Akon.

Here’s your chance to blow that holiday bonus.

www.ajc.com/uatl/want-to...

Why Big Boi was giving away free $750 bikes Legendary OutKast emcee partners with local nonprofit to deliver bikes to accomplished middle school students.

“Big loves the kids!” is what OutKast’s Big Boi told me when he partnered with local nonprofit, Bear Strong, to deliver Specialized bikes to middle school students in metro Atlanta.

www.ajc.com/uatl/why-big...

Atlanta museum brings African diaspora art to Black communities UATL explores ADAMA, a Black-owned Atlanta museum by Fahamu Pecou, showcasing African diaspora art and connecting Black culture through powerful exhibits.

Back in October, I went to visit Fahamu Pecou's African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta (ADAMA). He was generous with his time and spoke with passion about ADAMA, and why access and representation matters in the art world.

Big up to producer Ron Williams on the 🎥.

www.ajc.com/news/video/a...

AJC’s Black culture team reacts to Kendrick Lamar’s surprise ‘GNX’ album The 12-track LP is Kendrick Lamar’s first in more than two years, released after a highly publicized rap battle with Canadian pop rapper Drake.

So we had some thoughts …

www.ajc.com/uatl/ajcs-bl...