The year in Black culture, according to UATL reporter Gavin Godfrey
2024 was something else.
As the year closes out, UATL’s staff members are looking back at Black culture and remembering what mattered. In this story, senior reporter Gavin Godfrey shares his memories of the year that was.
What were the biggest Atlanta moments of 2024?
Win: Killer Mike’s Grammy sweep.
Losses: Rico Wade, Rich Homie Quan, and LT’s Wings.
What was the most memorable album of 2024?
“Blue Lips” — ScHoolboy Q.
Let’s just say getting older is hard, and who wants to listen someone rap about that? The Los Angeles rapper’s turn from party monster to soccer dad, reconciling with his personal and professional past, was pure poetry.
Which 2024 movie will you remember most, and why?
“Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was …”
For an Atlanta kid who spent 10 days in Piedmont Hospital and three months — in a pandemic — recovering from open-heart surgery that saved my life, this one hit home.
Name someone who mattered in Black culture, and why:
A blimp-sized elephant in the room of Black culture is addressing mental health and its stigma. Former music executive, Shanti Das aka “Auntie Shanti,” is doing just that with her non-profit organization Silence the Shame.
Who is someone we should be watching in 2025 in Black Atlanta culture?
Photographer Cam Kirk and the entire team at Cam Kirk Studios.
What was something people should have paid more attention to last year?
Atlanta’s growing Black improv community.
What is something you hope to leave in 2024 and not revisit in 2025?
The Atlanta water crisis.
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About the Author
Gavin Godfrey is an editor and Team Lead for UATL, the AJC's Black culture franchise. He's an award-winning writer and editor from Atlanta who's covered everything from OutKast to the water boys. Before joining the AJC, Gavin worked for Capital B Atlanta, CNN, and Creative Loafing.
