October 28, 2001

Mr. Sam A. Williams, President

Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce

235 Andrew Young International Blvd.

Atlanta, GA 30303

Sir:

Accepting the proposition, the most pressing problem facing Atlanta is economic prosperity and in recognition of the Chamber's theme "Common Ground for Uncommon Growth" for its 142^nd Annual Meeting, I would like to acquaint you with the Atlanta Vibe and how this proposition reflects our dilemma. My name is John Burl Smith; I am part of Atlanta's spoken word community, a consortium of Atlanta artists and entrepreneurs. We are looking for ways to access the resources of Atlanta, while seeking information about contact people and ways to participate in the economic life of Atlanta.

Specifically in 1996, young artists searching for a broader expression than "hip hop" began performing at open mics. A new genre, "spoken word" allowed artists to develop unique styles to deliver their messages. Grass-root's interest in poetry grew, as spoken word artists invested their resources in products that presented their work in a variety of formats (featured performances, concerts, books, plays, compact discs, videos, etc.). Now, five years later, spoken word and poetry are the hottest new entertainment venues in America, and the Atlanta Vibe is at the top of the charts. Atlanta's spoken word entrepreneurs are on the cutting edge of an emerging performance venue with economic potential that rivals its progenitor "hip hop" for entertainment dollars.

Unfortunately, the business community in Atlanta is either uninformed about or unwilling to embrace an entertainment genre the rest of America is racing to develop. Russell Simmons' recent pilgrimage to Atlanta is the clearest testimony to the Vibe's phenomenal growth. After appearances by two explosive Vibe artists from the CD MoorEpics Slam Team 2001, Georgia Me and Abyss on Def Poetry Jam, Simmons said during his celebrity weekend in Atlanta October 19-21, 2001, "I had to spend the last three days checking out Atlanta artists." While promoters outside Atlanta are coming from near and far to check out what local poets are doing, local business people have provided absolutely no development support for black artists trying to carve out a niche in Atlanta's entertainment future.

The Vibe's dilemma involves more than receiving art grants. According to the Chamber's own estimate, art and entertainment are vital parts of the economic life of Atlanta and produce more than a billion dollars each year for its economy. If that perception is a genuine reflection business leaders recognize, then this inquiry should be received as a positive overture. Given the possible impact on the local economy of a deepening international economic downturn, Atlanta's future economic decline, in term of loss of tourism and convention business, looms large.

Strictly from an economic point of view, the Chamber should be asking the question, "How does a city replace mounting economic losses?" Here, germinating in their midst are potential jobs associated with the emerging market of spoken word. Those interested in promoting Atlanta as a tourist mecca should see the same benefits associated with the Atlanta Vibe Russell Simmons and others recognize. Spoken word entrepreneurs are already investing resources to build venues and promote products, but to prosper, as your Annual Meeting theme suggests, we need the Atlanta business community to provide an infusion of capital to stimulate growth.

Local artists are looking for ways to interest local investment in local efforts which will produce local jobs. This dialogue is not about handouts; it is about participating fully in the economic life of Atlanta. We are asking Atlanta's business community to invest with spoken word entrepreneurs as it does in others pushing projects that create jobs and increase tax revenue for the metropolitan Atlanta economy. The spoken word community is attempting to establish a dialogue so that together we can write an end to the story of neglect and discrimination spoken word artists and entrepreneurs have endured since 1996. Atlanta's economy and image are large enough to accommodate participation by all.

I hope we can work together to make the economic promise that is Atlanta a reality for a broader segment of its community and, in the progress, grow spoken word. I eagerly await your response to this call for action and hope you share my sense of urgency in preventing a steeper economic decline for segments of our community that can ill-afford a deeper recession. Please accept my thanks in advance for your most needed assistance in putting us in touch with the right people to make prosperity happen.

Sincerely,

John Burl Smith

cc: Rob Pitts, Pres. Atlanta City Council

Susan Booth, Artistic Director Alliance Theater

Shirley Franklin, Mayoral Candidate

Gloria Bromell-Tinubu, Mayoral Candidate

Vernon Jones, CEO DeKalb County

Lou Walker, Commissioner DeKalb County

Betsy Baker, Georgia Council for the Arts

Michael Thurmond, Georgia Commissioner of Labor

Roy Barnes, Georgia Governor

Cynthia McKinney, U. S. Representative

Max Cleland, U. S. Senator