With an attempt to bring in the late night life scene in the 1970s, Underground Atlanta has contributed by attracting the partygoers to its events in its venues. Also, this tactic was used to attract the African American crowd considering that over half of the population in Atlanta is of African Americans. Not only was the district attempting to attract is black audience, the majority of the merchants that owned the retail shops and venues were black-owned. Being black-owned attempting to bring in black crowds has made the area deem as a black exclusive district where white counterparts are likely to feel unsafe to come across in and stir away from entering the environment.

Because the targeted audience was of the black population, the suspicion of crime and violence has occurred following with the district having excessive crime rates that have caused the area to close for nearly a decade during the time of its revamp and the construction of the Five Points MARTA Transit Station.

Footage of a police officer chasing after a rioter on Peachtree Street during the wake of Rodney King’s trial in 1992.

According to the traveler and photographer, Galen R. Frysinger, on the wake of the Rodney King trial in 1992, the area was looted and destructed by [black] rioters causing a 40% decline in sales. David Treadwell (1992) of the Los Angeles Times wrote that more than 400 people gathered at a non-violent rally in front of the white marble crypt of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Another group of rioters were carrying signs as well as chanting “Rodney King, Rodney King, Rodney King,” when they marched down Peachtree Street attacking the Macy’s department store which caused the store to close early sending their employees home. The riots caused by the frustration of the young African Americans nearly destroyed the Underground Atlanta area and almost forced the area to be shut down. However, the riots of that time weren’t the only acts of crime and violence that occurred within the area.

Last year, it was reported that one person died after a shooting at Underground Atlanta. WSB-TV Channel 2 Atlanta (2015) reported that police said that two men got into an argument and one of those men shot the other. Anthony Grant, a witness of the crime, stated “He just pulled out a gun and shot the guy. I think they were arguing. I didn’t know what over, though.” A MARTA rider, Ardell Teasley, also stated that they heard a couple of gunshots as they were coming and also heard a lot of scattering. Then, it was released that 24 year old Allan Delano Dumas was charged with the murder of Maurice Cosby in a hallway that leads from Underground Atlanta to the Five Points MARTA Station. Because the incident also happened during the evening rush hour, investigators stated that they were shock that the crime would occur especially with so much security around.

Recently, Tim Darnell (2016) of WXIA 11 Alive stated that there was an interest report of two people that were involved in a homicide that occurred at Underground Atlanta. Police reported that 34 year old Jerron Ramsey was shot and killed at 30 Alabama Street after some of type of argument or the confrontation turning violent. There was another unidentified person that was also shot on the scene, but had survived. The Atlanta Police Department has released the surveillance video in which they believe that would solve the murder. Due to the acts of violence and crime occurring nearby or in the Underground Atlanta, people have expressed their fear and feelings about the general area.

11 Alive (2013) posted on their Facebook page asking if people felt safe in Underground Atlanta after a fatal daylight shooting had occurred which sparked concerns about the security in the historic Atlanta district. With over 200 comments, users stated that they did not feel safe in the area. Some have stated that the area was a nice tourist attraction during the times of the 1996 Summer Olympics that were held in Atlanta and during the Peach Drop of the turn of new year, but have also stated that the area has been run down and taken over by criminals such as thugs, drug dealers, and the unappealing smell of urine. Others have commented that the area needs to demolished and rebuilt again in a positive matter or turned into a casino. Many people have expressed their views of the Underground Atlanta historic site warning tourists to stay away from the area. Many have also stated to not go to the area for any reason, that it is a waste of time, and that there is nothing to see in the area. Due to the dark and dimmed likeness of the area itself, people that have visited the area expressed that Underground Atlanta has become a disappointment.

Underground Atlanta during the time of the 1996 Summer Olympics.

However in the recent year when I have made visits to the area, the site would have an average amount of visitors and consumers. Also, the area would be surrounded by security guards searching about for any potential and uncircumstantial crime and violence to occur. However, the security has also become a factor as to why many people have turned away from visiting the Underground Atlanta area anymore despite attempting to protect the area.