At a time when Black history is under attack nationally, Atlanta native Janita Poe is fighting back by making sure our stories get preserved. Her new project, Black Atlanta Documented, launched March 16 on YouTube with a mission to capture oral histories spanning from enslaved people to current community leaders.
Poe, a veteran journalist, was inspired to start this after watching the Trump administration dismantle DEI initiatives and remove slavery exhibits from national sites. Last month in Philadelphia, workers had to restore a slavery exhibit that had been ordered removed, which really drove home how fragile these historical records can be if we don't actively protect them.
What makes this project especially valuable is its focus on Atlanta specifically. We have such a rich history of Black excellence and leadership here, from the civil rights era through today's cultural and business innovations. By creating a dedicated archive of these stories, Poe is ensuring that future generations will have access to firsthand accounts of what made Atlanta the cultural and economic powerhouse it is today. The monthly release schedule also means this will be a sustained effort rather than a one-time project.
