Read on Twitter
I drove around the hood yesterday in Atlanta, just drove around. And there’s some things that dawned on me in the midst of this heightened political discourse.
First and foremost any and all social media has become a huge distraction. A place where it’s easier to become critical of thought and opinion as opposed to a place where true understanding is taking place. Everyone is pointing fingers, everything is becoming divisive
Yet in REAL LIFE there is not much change to be seen in our impoverished neighborhoods, not much infrastructure being built, not much beauty or architecture being sustained by our own people. Not much to be proud of driving down streets, not much hope to be seen by the kids
That live in their neighborhoods. Their world view remains small because they aren’t getting the chance to see it everyday they wake up. We’re recycling information and constantly being critical of each other’s thought when i really feel like the people that need it the most are
Still being forgotten about. Collective trauma is bringing us to fight amongst ourselves when in reality everyone is trying to cope, trying to figure out how to help, trying to figure out how to progress together. Figuring which orgianizarions to donate to, and hopefully those
Monies solve problems that haven’t been solved in the our lifetimes. I’m not asking for someone to educate me, i am doing my own research, but sharing knowledge is important, why do we look down on those who may ask, where does the “you can do the research yourself” attitude help
I’m in the process of trying to learn from black architects, black urban planners, social justice organizers, grant writers to really figure out ways to rebuild our communities a day at a time. Bring infrastructure that allows our kids the ability to think big, and also foster
Their thoughts and show them that we can rebuild our own neighborhoods, we can grow our own business, we can teach each other and we don’t have to move out to do so. Im trying to become closer to the problems so that I can understand it. That’s the role id like to take in this.
Boarding up houses and tearing down abandoned buildings aren’t erasing problems. Turning those buildings into community spaces of learning, charity and inspiration will help change our communities, will help employ our people, and maybe that leads to a brighter future.
Constantly inspired by everyone’s thought process and criticisms, and shouts to @TheasterGates for really breaking things down on an elementary level, and show how it can Be done.
If anyone has any friends that work in that space of architecture, urban planning etc. please feel free to connect us. Let’s stop erasing our historically black neighborhoods and let’s renew them one step at a time. The mom and pop way.
Also. @Earthgang is in the process of building this community garden, we will be taking donations in the future to fund it. Hopefully that will lead to future horticulturists, agricultural scientists and a profitable farmers market for the community. We’ll give more info later.
