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How Atlanta Became the Black Mecca
Mar 7, 2025
#atlanta #blackhistory #blackexcellence A-town, Hotlanta, whatever they call it, it's an A list city in Black culture. But how did Atlanta become the Black mecca? Subscribe to our channel so you don't miss any future videos! Check out the books we love and recommend in our Black Excellence Book Club: https://www.blackexcellence.com/store/ Some links are affiliate links, which means we earn a very tiny commission if you make a purchase. __________________________________________________________ Sharing interesting and noteworthy stories in Black culture. All content provided by Black Excellence Media, LLC is for entertainment purposes only. None of the information or advice provided is to replace professional advice. Website: https://blackexcellence.com
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the year was
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1995 the place New York City the
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paramont theater is filled with hip-hop
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fans attending the source Awards the air
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is tense with the East Coast West Coast
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rivalries that dominated '90s hip-hop a
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new unique group comes to the stage to
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accept the award for new group of the
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year the group is Outcast and they're
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booed by the East Coast friendly crowd
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and then six words were uttered by Andre
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3000 that galvanized the southern
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hip-hop scene for decades to come those
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words I've got something to say that's
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all I got to say but you guys like that
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Batman voice but Andre 3000's words were
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not just about hip-hop by 1995 the South
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specifically Atlanta the epicenter of
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the black South had already been saying
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a lot in the world of music and culture
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and since then Atlanta's contribution to
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Black Culture has exploded but how did
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this city in the woods become the black
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Mecca Atlanta Georgia boasts a rich
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history interwoven with moments of
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Triumph struggle and transformation
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founded in 1837 as a Terminus for
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several railroad lines Atlanta quickly
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grew into a vital Transportation Hub
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originally called Marthasville the city
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was renamed Atlanta in 1847 reflecting
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its connections to the Western and
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Atlantic railroad during its early years
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Atlanta's economy was tied to The
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Agrarian South heavily relying on
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enslave labor Atlanta played a
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significant role in the Civil War as a
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Confederate stronghold and Industrial
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Center the city was a critical Supply
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Hub making it a target for Union forces
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in 1864 General William Sherman's INF
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famous March to the Sea culminated in
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the burning of Atlanta General Sherman
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ordered the destruction of all railroads
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factories and commercial buildings that
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could be of use to the Confederacy
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although Only commercial buildings were
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purposely targeted some homes and
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churches were burned to the ground 40%
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of Atlanta was left in Ruins but despite
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the destruction the city quickly rebuilt
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during Reconstruction symbolizing
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resilience and progress during this
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period Atlanta's black community began
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laying the groundwork for what would
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become a thriving cultural and economic
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presence newly emancipated black
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residents established schools churches
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and businesses institutions like Clark
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College later called Clark Atlanta
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University and morouse college were
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founded providing Education and
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Leadership training for the black
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community in the late 19th and 20th
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centuries Atlanta's black population
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faced significant challenges including
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segregation and racial violence however
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the city's leaders such as Alonzo
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hearnden founder of the Atlanta life
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insurance company and web de boys an
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intellectual and activist worked
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tirelessly to build a strong economic
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and cultural base where Atlanta earned
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its moniker the city too busy to hate
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during the Civil Rights Movement while
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this nickname glossed over the pervasive
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racial inequalities it reflected a
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degree of progressivism compared to the
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other Southern cities the Civil Rights
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Movement found a powerful base in
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Atlanta home to leaders like Dr Martin
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Luther King Jr who of course was born
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and raised in the city Kings work with
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the southern Christian leadership
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conference headquartered in Atlanta
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helped solidify the city's role as a
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center for activism the 1960s saw
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Atlanta at the Forefront of the Civil
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Rights Movement local institutions like
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the Atlanta student movement led by
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students from the Atlanta University
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Center AUC staged stins and protest to
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challenge segregation Atlanta's mayor at
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the time William beart field and his
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successor Ivan Allen Jr worked to
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position the city as a progressive
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Southern Hub supporting desegregation
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efforts and promoting economic growth Dr
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King's Legacy remains deeply embedded in
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Atlanta's identity the King Center
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established by ketta Scott King serves
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as a memorial to his life and work
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Ebenezer Baptist Church where King
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preached remains a symbol of the city's
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pivotal role in the fight for civil
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rights post Civil Rights Movement
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Atlanta became a magnet for
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African-Americans seeking Economic
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Opportunity and cultural connection the
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city's black middle class grew
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substantially bolstered by educational
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institutions like the ACU and thriving
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businesses in 1973 mayard Jackson became
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Atlanta's first black mayor marking a
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turning point in the city's political
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landscape Jackson's tenure focused on
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economic empowerment for the black
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community he championed affirmative
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action policies and ensured the city's
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contracts were awarded to minority owned
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businesses his leader leadership helped
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establish Atlanta as a city where
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African-Americans could Thrive
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economically and politically and that's
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not all there is one more specific thing
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mayor Jackson did that had huge
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consequences because he believed that
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all great cities produce great art mayor
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Jackson worked with then governor of
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Georgia Jimmy Carter on providing grants
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for the Arts of course at the time the
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big players of the art and culture scene
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were New York and La Atlanta started
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attracting Talent especially in music
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the 7s and ' 80s saw the rise of the
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Atlantic music scene with bands like the
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SOS band and where art thrives culture
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and economics also thrive in the 1990s
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Atlanta solidified its reputation as a
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cultural Powerhouse the city hosted the
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1996 Summer Olympics showcasing its
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diversity and modernity on the global
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stage blackowned businesses and
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entertainment companies like LEF records
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flourished but it's like this though I'm
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tired of folks you know what I'm
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saying on the clothes minding folks you
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know what I'm saying it's like we got a
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demo tape on nobody want to hear but
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it's like this the South got something
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to say that's all I got to say Atlanta
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also became synonymous with the rise of
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Southern hip-hop artists like Outcast
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ludicrous and TI brought Southern
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hip-hop to the Forefront cementing the
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city's influence in the music industry
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countless stars have risen out of
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Atlanta some were born there but others
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moved there in pursuit of Artistic
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Endeavors today Atlanta remains a hub
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for entertainment with thriving film and
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television Industries earning it the
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name the Hollywood of the South Atlanta
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is celebrated as a black mecca for the
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thriving economy vibrant culture and
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political influence the city boasts a
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higher percentage of blackowned
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businesses than any other major US city
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neighborhoods like Sweet Auburn once the
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epicenter of black businesses continue
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to inspire entrepreneurship the city of
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Atlanta which is the capital city of
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Georgia has a population of
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51,000 while the greater metro area has
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a population of 6.3 million Atlanta has
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seen a lot of growth in the last decade
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with some complaining of the horrible
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traffic and overcrowded as of 2020 black
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residents make up 47% of the city of
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Atlanta but the percentage was as high
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as 61% back in 2000 as other races move
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into the city in higher numbers the
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black percentage has been dwindling
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nonetheless Atlanta still of course is a
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black City Atlanta's political scene
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also reflects its status as a black
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Mecca leader like Stacy Abrams and
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Raphael War exemplify the city's
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commitment to progress and
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representation furthermore Atlanta
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remains a magnet for young professionals
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artists and activists drawn by its Rich
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history and opportunity and let's not
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forget that Atlanta is a huge economic
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Powerhouse outside of the Black Culture
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Fortune Magazine recently ranked the
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Atlanta metro area as the eighth Metro
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in the US with the highest concentration
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of Fortune 500 companies there are
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currently 16 Fortune 500 companies
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headquartered in the Atlanta area Like
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Home Depot Delta Airlines Coca-Cola and
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UPS despite its success Atlanta faces
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ongoing challenges including income
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inequality and gentrification many black
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residents have been displaced as
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neighborhoods undergo Redevelopment
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addressing these issues while preserving
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the city's cultural heritage is a
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critical task for Atlanta's leaders
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Atlanta's Journey from a railroad
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Terminus to a thriving black Mecca is a
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testament to the resilience and
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Ingenuity of its residents rooted in a
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history of struggle and Triumph the city
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has become a symbol of black excellence
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and empowerment as Atlanta continues to
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evolve its Legacy as a cultural economic
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and political hub for African-Americans
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remain steadfast inspiring generations
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to come well I hope you learned
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something about Atlanta in this video
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don't forget to like And subscribe and
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we'll see you on the next one
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