The Atlanta Voice E-Edition 020626

The Black Vote

Will Georgia’s Black male vote impact the 2026 election cycle?

By DONNELL SUGGS

There has been plenty of talk about how the Black male vote impacted the 2024 presidential election. Whether one believes it helped the current administration secure the electoral votes in Georgia or hurt the previous vice president’s chances of becoming the first woman to hold the office of Commander-in-Chief, the Black male vote will be under the microscope again in 2026.

Georgia has just over two million registered Black voters, according to data from the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office. The impact on an election can be swung in either direction if the Black voter base decides to support a candidate. In the 2026 gubernatorial election, several Black men are running for the state’s top seat. Former State Senator Jason Esteves, former multi-time statewide elected official Michael Thurmond, who most recently was the DeKalb County CEO, and State Representative Derrick Jackson (D-68) are all running for the governor’s seat and will have the attention of the state’s Black male voters.

On Tuesday, January 3, Esteves held what was being advertised as a Black men’s

roundtable downtown at Atlantucky, a local business owned and operated by the rap group, Nappy Roots.

Black men gathered in small groups near the bar closest to the stage and at the tables near the windows. The room was full of potential voters, and they were there to hear what Esteves had to say about running for governor. Before he took the stage, he shook hands with the men in attendance, posed for photos, and exchanged greetings.

Asked how impactful the Black male vote can be in not only the gubernatorial election, but the other races being settled in November, Esteves said, “Black men have always had a significant impact on elections in this state. We are the second most reliable block when it comes to Democrats.”

With the most reliable voting block being Black women, the Black male vote has a certain significance in these Georgia races, like it did when Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock was running, for example.

“In order for me to build a multi-generational, multi-racial coalition that it’s going to take to win, Black men are going to be an important part of that coalition. Which is why discussions like this are so important.”

Esteves said he wanted to make sure he was in front of Black male voters talking about the solutions to problems that are plaguing Black communities, but also

“I’m the only candidate in this race who is offering plans and real solutions to the problems that people face every day,” he said.

During the event, Esteves introduced a

Black Men’s Agenda, a three-part agenda based on health, wealth, and opportunity. As one of four Black men running for governor, Esteves, a husband and father of two children, said no matter who is running, the three pieces of his agenda are of interest to the voters. Black, white, Hispanic, or otherwise.

“No matter who you are, you care about those things,” he said. “We all know what the issues are, and for a long time, politicians ignored those issues.”

The former State Senator was joined on stage by State Rep. Eric Bell (D-75), who introduced him to the crowd, Curtis Akeem, founder of D Dubs Arts Foundation, Mario A. Reyes, the president of Undugu Brotherhood, a grassroots organization, Atlantucky’s operations manager Kevin Irvin, and Marty Monegain, the executive director of The Black Man Lab. Each man took a moment to introduce himself, his organization, and his profession before Esteves began explaining why they were there.

“This is a powerful moment as I look around the room and see Black men gathered to talk about the issues,” Esteves said. “We’re going to have a real discussion about the issues.”

Sitting on stage at one of the few Blackowned breweries in Georgia, Esteves acknowledged that Black men don’t always get recognized for their contributions to the communities they live in, the families they help raise, and the businesses that help make those communities better.

“We have to counteract that narrative,” Esteves, a small business owner, said. “We have this roundtable here this evening, and we’re going to continue to have roundtables

‘Know the law, own your power’: Atlanta town hall focuses on voting rights and civic action

By NOAH WASHINGTON

With voting rights under renewed legal scrutiny, The Links, Incorporated, brought students from the Atlanta University Center and members of the broader community together Thursday night to examine how an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case could reshape minority political power nationwide.

Hosted by the Buckhead/Cascade City (Ga.) Chapter, the town hall, titled “Know the Law. Own Your Power.” This town hall was focused on Louisiana v. Callais, a redistricting case that could further limit how race may be considered when drawing congressional and legislative maps. The forum took place at Big Bethel AME Church and drew students, faith leaders, legal experts, and longtime civic advocates.

The discussion was moderated by Inga Willis and featured Gary Spencer, senior counsel at the Legal Defense Fund, alongside the Rev. Jay Augustine, senior pastor of Big Bethel AME Church. Panelists outlined the legal stakes of the case, warning that changes to redistricting standards could weaken minority voting strength and further erode protections under the Voting Rights Act.

Spencer explained how voting restrictions often operate incrementally, describing laws that appear neutral but create additional hurdles for participation.

“These are all laws made to make it more difficult for folks to have access,” Spencer said, referencing polling place changes, ballot access rules, and identification requirements.

Augustine emphasized that elections are

frequently decided by slim margins and that even minor barriers can have outsized consequences.

“Elections normally are not won or lost by large portions,” Augustine said. “They usually are small portions, a few hundred people.”

He described the cumulative effect of added burdens, including travel, time off work and transportation, as a modern form of poll taxation.

“If you have to take off from work to go vote, you just paid to go vote,” Augustine said. “That’s a poll tax.”

The comment resonated with students in attendance, several of whom raised questions about how to move from political awareness to meaningful action. Jordan Greene, a senior political science student at Spelman College, asked how young people can engage without feeling overwhelmed or ineffective.

“As a student who feels a little bit apprehensive to speak up, we’re not sure what to do or say to make effective change,” Greene said. “Not just another hashtag or a post, but actual effective change.”

Panelists encouraged students to view civic participation as ongoing work rather than something limited to election cycles, emphasizing organizing, education and accountability as essential tools for sustaining political power.

Ivan Walker, a college student who attended the forum, framed his question through the words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., citing a 1966 Mother’s Day speech urging Americans to “march to the ballot box.”

“Many people think the ballot box is the destination,” Walker said. “But it’s only the beginning. From

The Links, Incorporated, brought students from the Atlanta University Center and members of the broader community together Thursday night to examine how an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case could reshape minority political power nationwide. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

your perspectives in the church and the law, what’s the most urgent action people need to take right now to protect and expand Black political power?”

Concerns about voter intimidation and political retaliation also surfaced during the discussion. C. Henry Adams, a community member, shared his fears following recent law enforcement activity tied to election investigations.

“The FBI came to Fulton County and raided for some votes based on 2020,” Adams said. “I’m upset, because I feel that I’m in danger now.”

Adams said he worried that his voting record may have been accessed.

“I feel that whatever they took from that facility had my name on [it] because I voted against Donald Trump,” he said.

The discussion extended beyond redistricting to broader national concerns, including immigration enforcement, foreign policy rhetoric and what speakers described as coordinated efforts

Rep. Ruwa Romman, local leaders stand in solidarity with Minnesota and anti-ICE protests

By LAURA NWOGU

Georgia State Rep. and gubernatorial candidate Ruwa Romman hosted a press conference on the steps of the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday morning in solidarity with Minnesota and anti-ICE protests across the nation. The conference comes just days after federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, in Minneapolis. The shooting marks another violent and fatal incident resulting from ICE’s occupation of Minnesota.

When she took the stand, Romman noted that Georgia had the fourth-highest rate for ICE arrests in the country for 2025. According to the Deportation Data Project, Georgia had 8,742 ICE arrests in 2025.

“Legislators from all around the country were invited to stand in solidarity with the people of Minnesota as they navigate the escalating terror that ICE and the Trump

administration are inflicting on their state. The reality is that this administration is making it clear that it is targeting all of us. So, to our friends in Minnesota, you are not alone. Georgians stand with you.”

Romman was joined by State Reps. Marvin Lim, Segun Adeyina, and Eric Bell. She was also joined by Micaela Lattimer, an organizer for Dialogue Collaborative; Murtaza Khwaja, ED of Asian Americans Advancing Justice; and Annette Aguilar, community organizer for the Georgia Latino Association for Human Rights.

The conference was a way to show support for Minnesota residents, but it also focused on the impact of ICE in Georgia. Mildred Pierre stood at the front of the steps with a sign that read “Free Rodney Taylor.” Taylor is a double amputee and a Georgia barber who has been detained by ICE since January 15, 2025, at the Stewart Detention Center. Pierre, his fiancé, has been advocating for his release.

“Today, Rodney is in ICE custody, where his

health is rapidly fading. ICE has failed to provide necessary and timely medical care, forcing him to endure new diagnoses that he did not have prior to detention, including neuropathy, bone spurs, and uncontrolled high blood pressure,” Pierre said. “As of yesterday, the warden at Stuart Center informed him that accommodations will no longer be provided. I cried. That means Rodney will starve to death. He does not have the physical capability to walk. Rodney does not have any feet.”

Pierre said the denial of accommodation includes no access to food, showers, or medical care. She shared that, due to safety concerns, Rodney is also required to wear his prosthetics for 24 hours, against the recommended eight hours.

Leaders at the conference emphasized that these acts of violence and lack of care are not isolated incidents and called for action, justice, and for humanity to be restored.

“I know many Georgians are scared, but we

to limit civil rights protections. Willis pointed to the role of repetition and messaging in shaping public perception.

“We’re living in the era of the power of propaganda,” Willis said, urging attendees to pay close attention to how policies are framed and justified.

Spencer emphasized coalition-building as a necessary response to shrinking legal protections, pointing to collaboration across communities as a path forward.

“Black and brown folks working together is a powerful thing,” he said. “If we divide ourselves, we’re going to fall.”

Willis closed the forum by calling on students to remain engaged despite political uncertainty and rising tensions.

“This moment requires so much from you,” she said. “We need you to graduate with excellence, and we need you to get out here on these front lines with us.”

Georgia State Rep. and gubernatorial candidate Ruwa Romman hosted a press conference on the steps of the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday morning in solidarity with Minnesota and anti-ICE protests across the nation. Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice

are not powerless. Join your local organizations. Attend Know Your Rights streams, be there for and with your neighbors. There are way more of us than there are of them. Now is the time to be great,” Romman said. “Look at Minnesota. Look at all of you. Then we’ll get better tomorrow, but it’s going to require all of us to fight for it.”

Voices

We Are Pointing at Ourselves

By REVEREND GRAyLAN SCOTT HAGLER

Every single moving mouth and face I see in the media seems to be obligated to stress the barbarity and illegitimacy of the Maduro government to establish some acceptable moral clarity, even before they can carry on with any analysis of the current political situation or the current political conditions in the world.

Likewise, each personality seems obligated to make similar statements as a prerequisite to speaking on the Iranian regime and the religionists controlling the country.

Each is evil, they must claim, and they expressively disagree and denounce them in all shapes and forms. Each is beyond the specter of acceptable civilization, they must state. Each has no inkling of morality but is simply obsessed with power and control.

This was the same in any discussion of Hamas in Gaza. Every political critic was required to denounce the various regimes and point out their flaws without spelling out the historical influences that helped create them and set them in motion. Anyone who has ever spoken up for peace and credible reflection knows what it’s like to be baited or accused of being an apologist for the bad guy. But this is not necessary and distracts from a full and meaningful analysis.

Four Fingers Pointing Back

I am not going to seek acceptability by engaging in some litmus test of morality, regurgitating a litany of flaws, and explaining how I don’t agree. I believe there is a collective of people so tired of moral denunciations that they can look past my refusal to criticize and denounce and hear what I am trying to say.

I am reminded of my experiences with my work in the drug and alcohol recovery community in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and the very poignant but grassroots logic and moral challenge that often flowed from that recovery community. People would remind us that when we were so busy pointing fingers at others, there were four fingers pointing back at us.

This means that when we point out the deficiencies, the cruelty, the lying, the racism, and the hatred of others, it is not all in them, but it also resides in us. We are not exempt, and we are not free from all

while practicing it at home. iStock.com/@mirzamlk

the dismissive political distances that we try to create. There is some Nicolas Maduro in us. There is some Ali Hosseini Khamenei in us.

Putin is in us. We find that Hamas is in us and has always been part of who we are. We find that Palestinian dismissal resides in so many of us as it does in Netanyahu and Donald Trump. We need to quell our objections and realize that in so many instances, there is a mirror that projects a reflection onto ourselves, and we discover them in us.

I am astounded that, given all of the vigorous and vehement denunciations and dismissals of Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, Colombia, and the denunciation of Hamas, there are still four fingers pointing back at us.

If we look closely enough, we find all of the criticisms and flaws that we recognize in the other of the flaws and our strong objections are mirrored in this government and in this historical moment in this country.

What We Condemn Abroad

Murders don’t only happen under the brutality of other governments; they happen here too — as in Minneapolis, where Renee Good was killed. That killing happened not too far from where George Floyd was also killed.

As we point out the roundup of people in other countries, we must remind ourselves of the undocumented immigrants and United States citizens that the Trump administration has arrested.

More than 328,000 people have been disappeared in the illegal

and unconstitutional sweeps carried out by the administration. 327,000 have been deported. At least 32 people died in ICE custody in 2025. Most of the facilities are operated by private corporations that have raked in huge profits, such as the GEO Group.

Just as this administration is obsessed with crushing Tren de Aragua, a notorious gang that reaches from Venezuela into the U.S., the parallels are frightening with the U.S. reaching into Venezuela, creating a vassal state, stealing oil and other resources, claiming that they have a right to do so, and arrogantly stating that they are running the government.

There are four fingers pointing back at us. The sheer arrogance of demanding that Greenland be controlled by the U.S., the hard way or the easy way, points to the U.S.’s rogue status. There are many other examples of racism, hatred, cruelty, brutality, the looting of other countries, the demanding of rare earths, and, in general, street racketeering, but on a broader scale. The expression of this moment with the U.S. government is theft, fear, bullying, and simple old street protection and racketeering. There are four fingers pointing at this government and this country.

Begin at Home

The Fellowship of Reconciliation-USA, the oldest peace and justice nonviolent organization in the country, embraces this hard truth. They are us, and we urge that we move away from the paradigm of

the other and, almost in confession, leading to contrition, that what the country claims as the other is us, and four fingers are pointing back at us. Our humanity demands that we cease claiming the evil in others without recognizing it in ourselves. The hypocrisy is when people go through all the denunciations of the other over legitimacy and brutality, over legalities and dictatorship, and fail to acknowledge the mirror that reflects back on this country, first and foremost, and our claims of deep immorality, where objections are strongly expressed, belong to us.

If we are going to denounce any place to gain credibility in our analysis or criticisms, then the talking heads and the experts need to state that this is us in all of the shapes and forms of political repression and immorality. They are us, and our denunciations begin at home — stating that we are strongly opposed to what is happening in the U.S., and that we do not agree with the images and political agenda there, just as we do not agree with what is happening abroad. The reflections of the flaws of other places and countries are, namely, a reflection of us, and on us, and four fingers are pointing back at us.

Reverend Graylan Scott Hagler is the senior advisor for the Fellowship of Reconciliation–USA, director and chief visionary of Faith Strategies LLC, and pastor emeritus of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Washington, D.C.

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ELECTION

Continued from page 2

throughout this election to make sure people understand that I’m not just talking the talk, I’m actually walking the walk.

“We need to make sure we have a governor that has a plan, and I certainly have plans.”

During the roundtable, the topics of discussion included investing in early childhood education, medicaid expansion, building fresh food systems throughout Georgia, strengthening fatherhood rights, and creating a universal childcare plan. Esteves has often used the state’s budget surplus as a way to pay for these programs and others. One of those programs would be a billion-dollar small business low-interest loan program.

Many of the Black men in the room, who one could assume will be voters in the primary election in May and in the general election in November, took time to ask Esteves questions during and after the roundtable. He has their attention

“Black men need to know they are an integral part of the winning formula here in Georgia,” Paramount Consulting Group founder and CEO Tharon Johnson told The Atlanta Voice during a recent discussion on the Black male vote.

Johnson agreed with Esteves that the Black male vote will lean Democratic when the chips are down, and both men said Black voters want to be heard.

“I believe Democratic candidates are

going to take their concerns very seriously,” Johnson said.

Esteves closed the evening by saying that he’s running to change politics in

Georgia. His candidacy, along with those of Michael Thurmond, Olu Brown, and State Rep. Derrick Jackson, gives Georgia’s Black voters multiple Black male options in the

May primary.

“If we work together, organize together, and vote together, we’ll change the face of leadership in this state,” Esteves said.

Arts

Gallery Anderson Smith opens doors to Atlanta’s art lovers in West Midtown

By NOAH WASHINGTON

What began as a search for a place to work has become a new Midtown destination for Atlanta’s art crowd.

Gallery Anderson Smith celebrated its grand re-opening Saturday, January 31, at its new location in West Midtown, with attendees braving the winter frost to take part in the festivities.

For Anderson Smith, the night also marked a reset, not just for his own practice, but for the kind of gallery experience he wants to offer in a city he’s been navigating for decades.

Smith moved from Chicago to Atlanta in 1998 and said he spent years finding his footing in the local art market, first through photography and eventually through exhibiting work and building community ties.

“Being an artist, I was into photography for a minute, just kind of planting my flag,” Smith said. A trip to New York City, he added, helped sharpen his perspective and pushed him to take his work more seriously. Not long after, he participated in an art show in Brookhaven, where he realized he wasn’t just making images, but beginning to define his artistic voice

That sense of direction eventually led to a first gallery chapter in Buckhead. Smith said he opened a space there in September 2022, though at the time, he wasn’t chasing the title of “gallery owner.” He was looking for a studio.

“I wasn’t really looking to open a gallery at all,” Smith said. “I just wanted a space, a studio space.”

For years, he worked out of the Goat Farm

until it closed, forcing him back into the market searching for somewhere to create. That search overlapped with his growing dissatisfaction with the gallery he was exhibiting with at the time.

A decisive push came from Brandon Franklin, owner of B.M. Franklin & Co., who encouraged Smith to stop hesitating and take concrete steps toward securing his first gallery space. Smith said Franklin urged him to reach out to contacts in Buckhead and ultimately connected him with the right people after growing impatient with what Smith described as his own overthinking.

“He got tired of me talking and talking and talking and complaining,” Smith said. “So he put me in contact with the people.”

Franklin said Smith already understood both the artistic and business sides of the work.

“He knows how to sell himself. He knows how to sell his art,” Franklin said, describing Smith as “a student of the game” who remains committed to learning.

Smith’s Buckhead gallery operated through June 2025, he said. From there, he began searching for a space that better aligned with his evolving vision, a search that ultimately led him to Midtown and the gallery’s current home.

The new gallery is the former home of the UTA artist space, and he first learned it was vacant through his friend Troy Gibbins, who mentioned it after hearing about the transition out of Buckhead. Smith said Gibbons initially raised the possibility in May, then again in June, and that the team spent months, from late spring through December, working to get the new location ready.

What sold him, Smith said, was how “ready-made” the space felt. The downstairs gallery, he said, was essentially turnkey, and the structure allowed for two distinct moods: a boutique-style upstairs and a more traditional exhibition space below.

“The beauty of the upstairs and downstairs, the dichotomy of it all, I was like, OK, this can work,” Smith said.

That split-level identity speaks directly to Smith’s larger goal: to build a gallery that feels like culture, not ceremony.

He described the Midtown location as part of what he sees as Atlanta’s art hub, positioned near SCAD Atlanta, MODA, and the High Museum of Art, where students, visitors and longtime locals can realistically walk in off the street.

“It makes me feel great being right here,” Smith said. “It makes me feel good that people recognize and want to come in and experience not only the art, but the whole vibe in itself.”

Smith said the gallery aims to create space for younger artists while also recognizing established artists who want to stretch beyond what audiences expect from them. The gallery is currently displaying selected works, including pieces by DL Warfield and Jiggykorean.

Saturday’s grand opening marked the official public launch of the gallery. Smith said the doors are now open, with visitors

welcome to come in, spend time with the work and engage with the space without needing an invitation.

“People have been coming in beforehand,” he said. “But after tonight, doors are open. People are welcome to come in and just look around and really engage with the artwork.”

Asked what he hopes first-time visitors leave with, Smith didn’t talk about status or sales. He talked about feeling.

“I hope they leave with an experience, a vibe,” he said.

And when he was asked what Gallery Anderson Smith brings that other spaces do not, he pointed again to atmosphere and to an intentional rejection of the stiffness he says can define traditional art rooms.

“Art galleries can be pretentious at times,” Smith said. “But we try to bring a whole different dynamic.”

AUC Students March to the Capitol in nonviolent protests to ICE policies

By DONNELL SUGGS

At the Atlanta University Center, a march was held in solidarity with recent protests and demonstrations across the country. On Saturday, January 31, students from Clark Atlanta University, Morris Brown College, Morehouse College, and Spelman College met outside of the Robert W. Woodruff Library under the pavilion and prepared their signs for the march.

What began with a dozen students quickly became 50-60 students marching their way from their incubator of education, a safe space for many of them who are from places beyond Georgia, and on to the Georgia State Capitol.

The three student organizers behind the march told The Atlanta Voice that the purpose of the march was not only in opposition to this country’s immigration policies, but also state-sanctioned violence similar to what has taken place in Minnesota following the deaths of two Americans involved in ICE-related and Border Patrol-related shootings, and policies that harm members of the Black community.

Meyunna Montgomery, a student organizer and the president of the Accountability Initiative, an on-campus organization, made sure marchers checked in via the QR code and picked up hand warmers before the march began. “No sign in, no hand warmers,” she shouted through the megaphone she wielded. Montgomery is from Atlanta and knew she would participate in an anti-ICE, anti-administration March, rally, or protest at some point. “I have been protesting my whole life.

As a woman, as a Black woman, as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I’m being targeted every single day,” she said.

Fellow student organizer A’Nija Hughley, a native of St. Louis, said she came to school in the Atlanta University Center for moments like these.

“I want to do this. I feel like it’s a part of our role to be a part of these movements,” Hughley said.

Myanna Garrison of Baltimore was the third student organizer involved. Watching the number of marchers grow from a small group to a small army, she walked around saying to

herself, “Wow, wow, wow.”

“As a part of the Atlanta University Center, we’re founded in activism,” Garrison said. “It’s contradictory to not be a part of movements like this. This is what you signed up for.”

Both campus security and officers from the Atlanta Police Department (APD) provided a security detail for the marchers. A half-hour before the march began, APD Lt. Bailey came over to Garrison, Hughley, and Montgomery to go over the march route and safety plan. The safe word for the day was “claws.”

A female student wearing a black sweatshirt with the words “Black, Bold, Beautiful” picked

out a sign to carry and joined her friends, who were waiting for the march to begin. Adeed Boreden, a Morehouse student from Chicago, grabbed a sign and handwarmers. He said he came to Morehouse for what he called “Good trouble” like this.

“There is no way I go to Morehouse, and I’m not participating in this march,” he said. “No way.”

Montgomery stood atop a small wall outside the pavilion and asked for everyone’s attention. She shared the safe word, repeated the march route, and thanked them for participating. She is majoring in political science and has a goal of being a Georgia State Representative or State Senator one day. “This is where I get my experience,” she said of social activism. “When you apply to be a student in the AUC, you have to be included in the movement. I’m always going to be on board.”

The march was nonviolent, without incident, and completed at the State Capitol on time.

Entertainment

BAM! at SCADshow is back in Atlanta Feb. 23

By ISAIAH SINGLETON

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) recently announced the return of BAM!

A Celebration of Black Artists in Music, the university’s acclaimed concert series honoring Black History Month and the legacy of Black music.

Now in its fifth season, BAM! celebrates Black Love in all its complexities, beauty, and joy, honoring the influential voices and sounds that have shaped music and culture across generations.

Grammy Award–nominated and Broadway sensation Avery Wilson, Tony Award nominee Amber Iman, and SCAD graduate and American Idol winner Candice Glover will join the university’s dazzling, dynamic student performers, including members of The Bee Sharps, for an uplifting concert celebrating Black music and its global influence.

The performance will feature songs performed and written by Wilson and Iman, as well as iconic hits by culture-defining Black artists across pop, R&B, gospel, blues, jazz, and soul, alongside powerful spoken word and dance performances that celebrate the artistry and enduring impact of Black music.

Wilson, who recently starred as the

Food

Scarecrow in the Broadway revival of The Wiz and first gained national attention on The Voice, continues to make waves with his latest single, “Good Enough,” released earlier this month. Iman, nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in Lempicka, currently stars as Nadira in the Broadway-bound new musical Goddess.

BAM! takes audiences on a musical journey that honors the transformative voices of Black music artists, shining a spotlight on the rich traditions, innovation, and global influence of Black music: past, present, and future.

The inspiring, joyful celebration comes from the creative minds of producer and SCAD Executive Ensembles Artistic Director Mike Evariste, a Broadway acting and producing veteran whose credits include Les Misérables, South Pacific, The Book of Mormon, and Hair—and choreographer and SCAD acting professor Tiffany Evariste (Aladdin, The Book of Mormon, Motown).

The Atlanta concert is happening at SCADshow at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23.

Tickets are $20 for SCAD Card holders (students, faculty, and staff), seniors and military, $45 for the public.

For more information and tickets, visit the Atlanta event page.

Restaurant Roundup: Bar Lewis is open, Osuma Suya serves up Nigerian dining in Chamblee

By LAURA NWOGU

Part of Atlanta’s charm lies in its diverse food scene, from the rich culture to the bold flavors. The saying often goes that “Atlanta isn’t a real place,” and what makes it unique is the bustling dining and drinking spots on every corner of the city’s neighborhoods, built to satisfy every palate. Lucky for locals and tourists alike, there’s never a shortage of places to visit, especially when new businesses are rolling in every month. Here is a roundup of updates on your local favorites and recently opened restaurants.

Local Updates

Bar Lewis

1544 Piedmont Ave NE Unit 406 Lewis Barbecue is making a bigger splash in Atlanta. When the Central-Texas style barbecue spot opened its first location in Atlanta in December, locals flocked to the Ansley Mall area to try what some called the best barbecue in Atlanta. Now, Lewis Barbecue is hoping to add on to that sentiment with the opening of Bar Lewis, located right across from the main building. When The Atlanta Voice talked with owner and pitmaster John Lewis in December, he described Bar Lewis as a stop at a motor lodge on Route 66. Designed with his help, it features

a bar that spans almost the entire length of the building, with cozy nooks where guests can socialize, enjoy drinks, and eat bar bites such as pulled pork sandwiches, brisket nachos, and Lewis Barbecue’s Texas “hot guts” sausage.

Hours: Sunday-Monday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

D’Juan’s Bistro

4500 W Village Pl #1017, Smyrna

After announcing its expansion in Spring 2025, D’Juan’s Bistro has finally reopened in its new location in Smyrna’s West Village, following the closure of its original location on Cobb Parkway in Fall 2025. The popular seafood restaurant is in a new, bigger space, with its New Orleans flavors remaining.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, noon-10 p.m.

Recently-opened restaurants

Osuma Suya

5126 Peachtree Blvd, Ste 200B, Chamblee Texas-based restaurateur Uchenna Onwualu has expanded his suya empire to Atlanta with a new location of the Nigerian restaurant in Chamblee. Known for its tender and spiced suya, a popular Nigerian street food, Onwualu celebrated the grand opening of Osuma Suya’s fourth location late December. After an unexpected outpouring of customers, Onwaualu and his team had to shut down operations to regroup. They reopened Jan. 10, serving various meats of suya, jollof rice, Nigerian shawarma, and popular snacks such as kilishi.

Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 2-8 p.m.; Sunday, 1-7 p.m.

Incoming restaurants

Dos Caminos

1100 Peachtree St. NE

New York City-based Mexican restaurant Dos Caminos has arrived in Atlanta, bringing its sizzling fajitas, fresh guacamole, margaritas and cerveza to the South. The restaurant will celebrate its grand opening on Jan. 27, combining authentic and upscale Mexican cuisine.

Hours: Sunday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Atlanta prepares for economic impact of FIFA World Cup 2026

By DONNELL SUGGS

The FIFA World Cup, arguably the most-watched sporting tournament on the planet, will be in North America in just 135 days. That includes Atlanta, the capital city of Georgia, and of the South in so many ways. The business impact of the 2026 World Cup on the city and its surrounding suburbs can be enduring, similar to that of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. Maybe even more so.

The World Affairs Council of Atlanta, a non-profit organization, hosted “The World Cup in Atlanta: Unlocking Economic Opportunity” on Tuesday morning. The event took place inside The Loft, an event space in the Woodruff Arts Center.

“This is our generation’s Olympics,” said World Affairs Council of Atlanta President Rickey Bevington, the moderator of Tuesday’s conversation.

Metro Atlanta Chamber President and CEO Katie Kirkpatrick, the featured speaker at the sold-out event, agreed with Bevington. “Pretty much all of the world can get to Atlanta,” Kirkpatrick said.

The conversation lasted nearly an hour and touched on topics such as how Atlanta secured one of the two FIFA World Cup 2026

semifinal matches, transportation, what will come of the city’s unhoused population, hotel accommodations, and transportation and walkability in the city. Kirkpatrick answered all of the questions from Bevington and the audience with poise and patience. The World Cup, she said, will encompass everything that makes Atlanta a major American city and, in many ways, an international city.

“This is an incredibly instructive opportunity for us,” Kirkpatrick explained. She went on to say that the 1996 Summer Olympic Games helped “introduce Atlanta to the world,” and “now what we’re doing is elevating ourselves. This is what we exist to do.”

Kirkpatrick said the bipartisan support for the tournament by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Governor Brian Kemp helped make FIFA’s decision to choose Atlanta for one of the biggest soccer matches on the planet possible.

The amount of traffic in downtown Atlanta will be another concern. Kirkpatrick said she hopes that there is traffic because that means the locals have decided to remain in the city to take part in the festivities.

Hala Moddelmog, Woodruff Arts Center president and CEO, also spoke to the importance of the World Cup for Atlanta and how the arts center will attempt to play a part in

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY

It’s Black History Month, and while there are so many great stories to celebrate, we’d like to salute an inventor who soaked us with fun. In the 1980s, NASA engineer Lonnie Johnson was working on an idea for a water-based heat pump when a powerful stream of water shot across the bathroom. That moment inspired him to invent the Super Soaker, a toy that changed summers forever. He didn’t stop there. Lonnie Johnson holds more than 150 patents, has worked on advanced energy storage, and founded companies dedicated to making power cleaner, cheaper, and more accessible. Here’s to Dr. Johnson, and all the Black innovators who see possibilities where others don’t.

the madness to come. The arts center has five stages on campus and Moddelmog said there are plans to host match watch parties. The submission has been made into the FIFA portal for permission.

“We’re not necessarily showing the Atlanta matches, but what we’re showing are the matches that everybody in the world wants to see. We think it might attract a different clientele,” she said.

Bank of America, Atlanta President Al McRae also took to the stage to express the financial company’s interest in the tournament.

“Atlanta will be a major stage this summer for this tremendous event,” he said. “Whether you’re one of those business owners or you’re a fan of the sport, there’s going to be some type of opportunity for you.”

McRae said Bank of America wants to help local businesses benefit from the World Cup long after the tournament is over. “We cannot wait to cheer together and host the world together,” he said. “We look forward to what this series will spark and what this World Cup will allot for Atlanta.”

The World Affairs Council of Atlanta also announced a new speaker series that explores the global, economic, and cultural impact of Atlanta’s role as one of the host cities for the World Cup. The speaker series

host the world together,” he said. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

will be presented by Charlotte-based banking giant, Bank of America. On March 6, the series will celebrate International Women’s Day with a breakfast featuring leadership lessons from former United States Women’s National Team star Kelley O’Hara. A native of Peachtree City, O’Hara is a two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion and a 2012 Summer Olympics gold medalist.

Atlanta United preseason opener might be a sign of things to come

By DONNELL SUGGS

The Five Stripes began the 2026 preseason portion of their schedule on their recently renovated training ground pitch on Friday, January 30. The opponent, Lexington SC, is a United Soccer League club out of Kentucky, and the purpose of this matchup was for both teams to get some work in against an opponent. The 4-0 victory was a good start to the season, according to manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino.

“You’re seeing some of the things we’re working on. It was a good start,” Martino said to the media after the match. Martino called the opponent and the overall match good and complimented the individual play of several players.

For Atlanta United, one of the best-supported teams in Major League Soccer, Friday was an opportunity to put the 2025 season behind them and begin again.

The match began at 1 p.m., and from the first minute, Atlanta United pressed forward on offense. The ball was moving quickly, and the shots were headed towards the Lexington SC goal in a hurry. Atlanta United went ahead 1-0 in the 11th minute after a misplayed pass landed in front of the Lexington SC goal.

Miguel Almiron, the former and current Five Stripes superstar, nearly scored the second goal of the match in the 17th minute. His shot came flying off his lime green boots and flew over the net, but the goal (pardon the pun) was clear: This team was going for glory while on the pitch.

You can’t honestly use the level of play, and with all due respect, the level of competition

during this match, as evidence that Atlanta United, under new (and old) manager Martino, was back. But it was actual soccer, and for players like Pedro Amador, Tristan Muyumba, and Luke Brennan, it was winning soccer on the pitch.

Almiron scored the third goal of the match, and Alexey Miranchuk scored the fourth goal in the 37th and 42nd minutes of the match. The goal-scoring opportunities came as the ball was moving up the field in a way that wasn’t always seen last season.

On the other side of the ball, new goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos could be heard barking orders from the back. Along with Jayden Hibbert, Hoyos will

be needed to get over the retirement of former goalkeeper and MLS All-Star Brad Guzan, who was seen walking the grounds hours before the match. Guzan was recently hired as the team’s Club Ambassador and Sporting Advisor. Martino was asked about the play of both Hoyos and Hibbert, and said both players did their jobs under different circumstances.

“I think defensively, they didn’t have a lot to do, but in the build-up, we were able to see what they could do, especially in the first half when the opponent was pressing,” Martino said. “In the second half, Jayden didn’t have as much of an opportunity because the opponent had

StreetLines: 2026 Nissan Sentra SR

By DENNIS MALCOLM ByRON AKA ALE SHARPTON

Let’s get to it: Nissan presents the perfect formula for practicality, value, and attractiveness without breaking the bank with the 2026 Nissan Sentra SR.

Exterior design leans aggressively sporty and I dig it. The 18-inch alloy wheels, LED signature headlights and taillights; a dark V-Motion grille, gloss-black rear spoiler, and sportstyle rear bumper gift the Sentra SR with a sharper, more sinister presence in a good way. With a starting MSRP of $25,000, and as reviewed fully equipped including the recommended Premium Package going for just under $32,000, this version changes the game for compact sedans.

Under the hood, the Sentra SR is

powered by a 2.0-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 lb-ft of torque, paired with Nissan’s Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission. And while you might not be winning drag races with this sedan, the driving experience is more about maneuverability and balance, with an independent strut front and multilink rear suspension delivering optimal handling. The trio of different drive modes—Eco, Standard, and Sport—will help you get your customizing on. This version also comes with the standard Idle Stop/Start which is geared towards improving efficiency in especially daily commuting, but I usually turn it off when reviewing cars; I like to just get up and go without the millisecond delay, but that’s me. Inside, the 12.3-inch dual-screen

display is complete with a digital instrument cluster and intuitive infotainment interface. Nissan continues to not hold back, gifting passengers with wireless Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto; a wireless charging pad; ambient lighting; Bluetooth connectivity; and multiple USB-C ports to keep everyone happy. The aforementioned Premium Package includes leatherette sport seating, power-adjustable front seats with lumbar support, and what I always appreciate—premium sound; a Bose eight-speaker audio system to be exact. The slide-and-tilt moonroof with manual sunshade ($680) is worthy of consideration to enhance the cabin.

Safety gets some love as well, with the suite of Nissan Safety Shield technologies, including forward automatic emergency braking with

dropped off and weren’t pressing as much.”

Hibbert started the second half, and defenders Stian Gregersen and Matt Edwards were also in the lineup. It is not an understatement to say that Gregersen and Edwards are going to be crucial to this team’s success this season. Both players missed time with injuries during the 2025 season. Gregersen was constantly hampered with a nick here, a spring there, and was missed while he was out. His ability to drive the ball forward from a defensive position makes him a very valuable asset when on the pitch.

In the 63rd minute, Gregersen released a long pass from deep down the sideline that almost found a teammate on a run. That same pass to Brennan or Almiron or Emmanuel Latte Lath during a regular-season match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium would have ended in a goal or corner kick for Atlanta United.

Young defender Dominik Chong Qui also looked good during the second half. The young defender spent time between Atlanta United and Atlanta United 2 last season.

What’s Next:

Next on the schedule will be MLS opponent, the Houston Dynamo, on Saturday, February 7. That match will take place at 8 p.m. on the Dynamo’s home turf, the Shell Energy Stadium in Houston.

Atlanta United will remain in Texas, playing matches against Red Bull New York on Wednesday, February 11 (noon), and on Valentine’s Day, Saturday, February 14 (1 p.m.). Both matches will take place at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

pedestrian and cyclist detection; blind spot warning and intervention; rear cross traffic alert; and lane departure warning with prevention to name a few. Other features like traffic sign recognition, high beam assist, intelligent cruise control, and highly recommended intelligent around view monitor boost the confidence of whoever is behind the wheel. With all these applications, the Sentra SR is the perfect car for a first-time driver, college student,

or couple starting up a family. Ultimately, Nissan made this automobile for anyone wanting to get the most bang for their buck and look good doing it

Fuel economy: 29 mpg city/36 highway /32 Combined

Price: MSRP of $25,000, and as reviewed fully equipped including the Premium Package going for just under $31,945

For more information, visit Nissanusa.com

SENIORS

SENIOR (62+)

Spacious 1-Bedroom Affordable! Rent Based on Annual Income Amenities, Great Location, and Convenient to Marta Please call for detailed information (404) 586-9098

LEGAL NOTICE

You are hereby notified, in accordance with OCGA 40-11-19 (a) (2), that the above-referenced vehicles are subject to a lien and a petition may be filed in court to foreclose a lien for all amounts owed. If the lien is foreclosed, a court shall order the sale of the vehicle to satisfy the debt. The vehicle is currently located at 1314 Brookwood Avenue, Jackson, Georgia 30233. Anyone with an ownership interest in this vehicle should contact the following immediately: Southern Style Towing 1314 Brookwood Avenue Jackson, GA 30233 : 470-344-1634 Vehicle 2006 Dodge Dakota VIN 1D7HW48N66S535345

Know it by heart.

This Black History Month, we honor the many ways legacy is shared and preserved, from cherished recipes and timeless wisdom to the moments that become unforgettable memories.

“Food is our history on a plate. It’s the creativity, resilience, and love that carried us through generations.”

– S. Daley, Florida

“Tradition was passed down by being included in the cooking process, from a young age until a young adult. I am writing down the recipes in a cookbook to share with my children as they get older.”

– Christina S., Georgia

“My grandmother cooked with lots of love. Her food brought the family together— nourished the soul. Watching her prepare and cook was almost magical to me as a kid.”

– M. Moses, Georgia