A series of bomb threats and suspicious packages shook the schools within the AUC earlier this year. By Allison Joyner As the spring semester is coming to a close on most college campuses, investigating who has been executing a series of threats has not. From January to March of this year, Historically Black Colleges and […]
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New air filtration systems in APS facilities help keep students, faculty and staff safe
By Allison Joyner With its first semester of in-person learning almost in the books, it appears the investment in a new air filtration system has helped Atlanta Public Schools (APS). “Getting the air circulating, especially now that the mask mandate is optional, I think we didn’t have any pushback from staff about the options,” said […]
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Morris Brown’s accreditation restored. Now what?
An almost 20-year loss prevented students from getting financial aid. By Allison Joyner Morris Brown College’s (MBC) accreditation was reclaimed last week as the Historically Black College demonstrated operational excellence and completed “the hard reset. “On April 26th, the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools gave Morris Brown College the approval for accreditation,” said […]
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Georgia’s first Black-owned hemp farm commits to providing health and wellness products
In 2020, the state Department of Agriculture began issuing licenses to grow and process hemp. By Allison Joyner The Green Toad Hemp Farm, the state’s first Black-owned facility to grow the controversial plant, has quickly become one of Georgia’s leading hemp producers since receiving its license in 2020. “I didn’t know what I was doing […]
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Driskell prize honors namesake’s mentee, friend
The award is presented to a scholar or artist whose work makes a contribution to the field of African American art or art history. By Allison Joyner Last month, the High Museum of Art announced this year’s recipient of the 17th annual David C. Driskell Prize to one of Driskell’s former mentees and friends, Dr. […]
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Friends, colleagues remember career of Doris Derby
The civil rights activist and photographer died of cancer at the age of 82. By Allison Joyner Last week, acclaimed author, photographer and civil rights activist Dr. Doris Derby passed away, but the memories she left with the people she loved didn’t. “She was a scholar, an artist and chronicler of our culture so she […]
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Black Women’s History Month: Dr. Audra Pittman wants you to ‘think about what’s next’
As the vice president of SCAD Atlanta, she works under the school’s visionary and founder Paula Wallace. By Allison Joyner As the world evolves into a cohesive space for education today, administrators are trying to find more effective ways to teach the next generation of scholars. “I think with academia, it’s hard for people to […]
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Black Women’s History Month: Black and missing
Although African Americans make up only 13 percent of the population, 40 percent of the missing person population in this country are people of color. By Allison Joyner African Americans turn up missing at a startling pace and generally speaking take four times as long for law enforcement to locate than whites. Several organizations, however, […]
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Black Women’s History Month: Leona Barr-Davenport wants women to “use their voice”
This month, SaportaReport will highlight Atlanta-based women making a difference in their fields. By Allison Joyner As Covid progressed, more African American women made a pivot to leave their jobs and start their own businesses. “Black women — African Americans across the board — start businesses out of necessity. I need to be able to […]
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SCAD students work together to help revitalize Sweet Auburn District bakery
By Allison Joyner The Savannah College of Art Design (SCAD) worked with Sweet Auburn Work’s SPARK Innovation Lab to help a small business get a much-needed refresh. SCAD’s nonprofit, SCAD SERVE, launched its Design for Good course to use students’ creative abilities to generate elevated communication-centered solutions to make a difference in local communities in […]
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More HBCUs, ‘Despicable:’ How the Black History Month bomb threats could have been prevented
In addition to Howard University receiving its fourth bomb threat, three new schools receive their first. By Allison Joyner UPDATE: The outbreak of bomb threats to Historically Black Colleges and Universities continues to be sustained. Monday, Howard University received its fourth bomb threat this year and three Carolina schools had their first on Tuesday. Columbia, […]
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Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms joins CNN as political commentator
Keisha Lance Bottoms announced an opportunity that she calls a “dream” of hers on her social media. By Allison Joyner This morning, former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said she will be joining the CNN team. “I am thrilled to officially announce that I have joined CNN as a political commentator,” Bottoms said in a […]
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Why is Black History Month in February, and is it still necessary?
President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month during the U.S. bicentennial in 1976. By Allison Joyner For over 100 years, Black History Month has been in some form a celebration of the African Americans who contributed to reshaping the U.S. and the world. So how did this tradition begin and is it still necessary […]
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Wells Fargo ‘Open for Business’ Fund donates $20 million for local small businesses
The fund was created to help small businesses stay open during the COVID-19 pandemic. By Allison Joyner Wells Fargo announced today that they are donating $20 million to help small businesses in Atlanta — particularly those owned by minorities — create assets and make storefront improvements. “As a company, we commit to make the communities […]
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Civic leaders’ friendship results in visual symphony collaboration
Doug Hooker gained inspiration from Andrew Feiler’s books for his most recent composition. By Allison Joyner Atlanta Regional Commission Executive Director Doug Hooker recently partnered with photographer and friend Andrew Feiler to create his new symphony “Without Regard to Race, Sex or Color.” Inspired by Feiler’s first photo book of the same name and his […]
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NFT studio helps local artists sell original creations on crypto platform
Umba Daima’s brand Black NFT Art gets the unknown noticed. By Allison Joyner As cryptocurrency becomes more popular and media is increasingly digitized, Umba Daima bridges the gap between up-and-coming artists with buyers who are searching for authentic masterpieces. “We originally started in 2020 as an eCommerce store,” said Iris Nevins, co-founder of Umba Daima. […]
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Civil rights photographer releases second book of images from Jim Crow South
“A Civil Rights Journey,” by Dr. Doris Derby shows photographs of defining moments in American history and presents candid stills of Muhammad Ali, Alice Walker and Fannie Lou Hamer. By Allison Joyner Dr. Doris Derby’s latest book, “A Civil Rights Journey,” uses photographs from her time living in Mississippi from 1963 to 1972 to illustrate […]
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Atlanta REALTORS Association’s first African American female president promotes diversity and inclusion in 2022
Karen Hatcher is the first African American brokerage owner in its 112-year history. By Allison Joyner Earlier this month, the Atlanta REALTORS Association (ARA) appointed Karen Hatcher as their 97th president, making her the first African American female to lead this prestigious institution. Hatcher, who joined the ARA in 2007, is the founder, CEO and […]
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Historically Black Seminary appoints youngest president
Matthew Wesly Williams is the 11th president in the school’s 60-plus-year history. By Allison Joyner Last month, President Rev. Matthew Wesly Williams was officially celebrated as the 11th president of the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC). At 45, he is the youngest to hold the position. “I consider it a homecoming,” Williams said. “It’s a place […]
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Local website boosts visibility of Black-owned businesses
We Buy Black gives minority-owned small businesses the opportunity to showcase and sell their products just in time for the holidays. By Allison Joyner With shopping for the holidays in full swing, some are considering buying from small businesses, especially those that are Black-owned, instead of big box stores. It can be difficult, though, to […]
