Gavin Godfrey

1 month ago | ajc.com | Gavin Godfrey

Is Atlanta truly America’s Black mecca? We know that we can’t have this conversation about ATL’s status without you. Through January 2026, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Black culture franchise — UATL — will lead the charge in connecting with residents.Our new monthly series “Atlanta: America’s Black Mecca?” will explore what’s real and what’s not behind the claim. Our reporting will include the voices of locals and transplants and discuss how changes — from ITP to OTP — affect all of us.

1 month ago | ajc.com | Gavin Godfrey

I didn’t want to be that guy. Last spring, my mom asked me to join her and one of my cousins for lunch. My cousin was with her husband. They’re like a Black power couple. Both in their 30s. Her, a nurse, and him, an engineer. They were in town from Dallas. Over brisket and pulled pork platters at Ford’s BBQ in Oakhurst, they talked about life in Texas raising their baby girl. They’d been there for about 11 years and seemed content with their current home.

1 month ago | ajc.com | Gavin Godfrey

Picture this: It’s the FIFA 2026 World Cup final halftime show, and Lil’ Jon is standing in the middle of a capacity crowd at MetLife Stadium, squawking, “Turn down for what?!”Or maybe that’s Atlanta’s own pop/R&B trio TLC singing “Waterfalls” live, in a downpour — à la Prince and his performance of “Purple Rain” at Super Bowl XLI in Minneapolis? We can dream.

1 month ago | ajc.com | Gavin Godfrey

The soundtrack for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will have an Atlanta influence. Producer Dallas Austin announced that he was selected to remix the official FIFA theme song as part of a larger initiative involving artists from host cities. Like the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup takes place every four years. The 2026 competition is the largest yet, with 48 teams and 104 matches in cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

1 month ago | macon.com | Gavin Godfrey

If things go according to his plan, Andre Dickens will be your Atlanta mayor in 2026. During his annual "State of the City" address Tuesday evening, Dickens talked about the highlights of his first three years in office. He also made his re-election plans clear and laid out goals for what a second term might look like. But when it comes to Black culture - one of Atlanta's greatest exports - what did Dickens have to say?