September 7, 2002

The Honorable Shirley Franklin, Mayor

City of Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Madam:

Concert season at Chastain Park gives Atlanta a tremendous boost in pride and magnifies its image as an international city (Lighting Fires, The DISH Vol. 5 No 29). Wining and dining some of its best supporters on Saturday, August 31, 2002, the Atlanta Conventions and Visitors Bureau featured Bony James, a rising star, and showcased the unique talents of Al Jarreau. Under the stars and thoroughly impressed with the ambience of "Chastain by candlelight," both artists rhythmically ignited flashbacks of flowery fragrances, toasting glasses and smoky dens for the aging crowd. An occasion for remembering younger years, Jarreau adoringly praised "Mayor Shirley for leading the way."

Jarreau's compliment recognized your effort to push Atlanta as an entertainment Mecca. Definitely a growth industry in Atlanta, since 1990 the city has been trying to raise its profile as "a must stop" on every musical tour and convention show's planning book. However, in this ferociously competitive arena, like a misfiring booster rocket, Atlanta has yet to separate itself form the pack of status quo venues offering cut-rates as their thrusters. Unlike most of the pack, Atlanta has a black artistic scene that has developed its own unique appeal and style. Internationally known as the Atlanta Vibe, local spoken word artists are on the cutting edge of positive changes in the hip-hop vibe (Atl-Vibe-Prospectus). Their cooperative and collaborative concepts have powered Atlanta's creative performance venues and provided employment for young black entrepreneurs.

Acknowledging Atlanta is not the only city with a spoken word community, however, uniquely its black artists have developed a style and competence that allows them to challenge all comers or any those claiming the title of "hottest spoken word venue in the world." For those unfamiliar with the changing face of hip-hop, rap and spoken word are synonymous. Therefore, poetry catches all of rap's negative flack. This confusion overshadows the positive approach and contributions of spoken word artists (Black History/Poets for Peace, Poetry Month, The Portal and Lynching: The Portal). Consequently, Atlanta City government has not recognized and embraced spoken word artists. Such profiling fails to take advantage of hip-hop's power as an adjunct to attracting new business. Thinking back over Jarreau's early career, he faced similar problems regarding acceptance. Fortunately for music lovers the world over and the young people he and Verizon Wireless will help through their new reading program, such narrow perspectives did not prevail.

Since 1997, black artists have tried to counter such narrow perspectives among Atlanta City government officials. The Convention and Visitors Bureau does not rate spoken word artists worthy of support. This lack of support limits the Atlanta Vibe's efforts to take performing arts productions into under-served and/or non-served black communities. Unfortunately, previous administrations turned deaf ears and blind eyes to requests made on behalf of spoken word artists in general and the Atlanta Vibe in particular. Madam, presenting these issues to you renews our requests to establish a dialogue concerning ways young black artists can share in and help build Atlanta's entertainment future.

To date, not one of the communiqués cited below drew a positive response, even though all the individuals approached professed a deep commitment to working with young people and support for the arts. Those communiqués include letters to Sam A. Williams, President Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Betsy Baker, Director - Georgia Council for the Arts, Susan Booth of the Alliance Theater, Robb Pitts, President - Atlanta City Council, an interview with Susan Booth, and response to Ms. Betsy Baker. However, Atlanta Vibe artists are persevering, even though our own people continue to close doors in our faces. Atlanta readily recognizes artists from other places, providing venues like the one afforded Bony James and Al Jarreau. Atlanta Vibe artists are not demanding such a lavish debut with the city, but we do deserve to be part of the dialogue about Atlanta's artistic future. The Atlanta Vibe is requesting only an opportunity to compete on a level playing field for consideration.

All we ask is an opportunity to discuss the enormous possibilities of Atlanta’s talented young people. I can be reached via email at icim@bellsouth.net or by telephone at 404-244-6023. If you experience any difficulties accessing the links to the communiqués mentioned above, log on www.thedish.ws and click on AVRC (Atlanta Vibe Repertoire Company) under Atlanta Vibe. AVRC will take you to these links and more. Thanks in advance for your prompt attention to this request. 

Respectfully,

John Burl Smith

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