Social Justice
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Valerie Boyd Recognized For Her Impact on Writing Community by Georgia Writers Hall of Fame
On April 12, the personal journals of Alice Walker — Georgia native, literary revolutionist and the first-ever Black woman to receive a Pulitzer Prize in fiction — will be released to the public. Walker chose a University of Georgia professor to work with her to publish “Gathering Blossoms Under Fire:…
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‘Queer People Shake $#*! Up’: LGBTQ Representation in Government and the Driving Force Behind It
The LGBTQ Victory Fund, founded in 1991, is the only national organization dedicated to electing openly LGBTQ people to all levels of government in an effort to “achieve and sustain equality.” The Victory Fund provides campaign, communications and fundraising support to LGBTQ candidates nationwide, while its sister organization, the LGBTQ…
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Breaking Chains: How One Georgia County Helps Inmates Get a Second Chance
It’s easy to make mistakes. It’s easy to falter under the weight of a wrong decision, and it’s easy to become burdened by the missed opportunities and the failures. In those moments, getting a second chance matters most, but if you’re an inmate, who has already been rebuked by…
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More Than Skin Deep: Effect of Racial Disparities, Discrimination on Black Children’s Development
As more Americans begin to understand the insidious nature of racism and discrimination faced by Black Americans, little attention has been given to the impact of racism from the very beginning of Black Americans’ lives. Research shows, however, that structural and interpersonal racism experienced during the first 18 years…
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Charlayne Hunter-Gault: 60 Years After Making History at UGA
The year 2021 marks the 60th Anniversary of the desegregation of the University of Georgia. An exhibit at the main library on the campus of UGA, honors people like Hamilton Holmes, who passed away on Oct. 26, 1995, and Charlayne Hunter-Gault, the two students who desegregated UGA in January…
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Revisiting a Forgotten Athens Cemetery: Updates and Community Connections
The atmosphere in Brooklyn Cemetery holds the stories of past Athens residents and represents a strong tie to the past. Local residents are working to restore Brooklyn Cemetery, a historically Black cemetery in Athens, Georgia after it fell into disrepair in the 1980s. As volunteers continue to beautify the cemetery,…
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Local Artists Use Pop-Up Sales to Fill Pandemic Void
When local artist Jessie Lamay lost her job in March 2020 to the COVID-19 pandemic, she didn’t know this would only be the start of her difficult year. Two months later, her mom died after a 10-year battle with cancer. Shortly after, Lamay was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Mourning and…
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‘We’re Here Because of Ya’ll’: Police, Church Leaders Gather With Watkinsville Community for National Event
The Watkinsville Police Department joined over the weekend with local church leaders and members to connect with the community in light of the pandemic and protests across the country about police brutality. This was one of many events happening across the United States organized by Faith & Blue, a national…
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‘It is a Sacred Place’: Returning Dignity to Brooklyn Cemetery
Birds twitter, sunlight breaks through the trees, and the gate at the entrance to Brooklyn Cemetery clangs in the breeze. The rush of passing cars on the nearby road contrasts the hush of this sacred place. Brooklyn Cemetery is a historically Black cemetery in…
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In-Depth: Exploring the Impact of Social Justice on Music
Over the course of four months, a team of Grady Newsource reporters took an in-depth look at the relationship between social justice and music. The project reviews the history of social justice songs in the United States and specifically in Athens-Clarke County, which is known for its music scene. It…