Atlanta, like any major city in America, looks to progress by bringing in new business, residents, and improving the local environment. Idealistically, improvement would be mean progressive and agreeable changes for everyone in the area. Unfortunately, in the real world certain groups are left behind or purposely hindered from said improvement.
The Central Atlanta Progress Inc. has been in operation since 1941. The group is dedicated to providing services that help maintain and stimulate the Downtown Atlanta area- namely through economic means with the help of investment by businesses in the area. CAP also works in association with the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, another partnership with public and private sectors to help with the livability of the city.
The organization’s president, A.J. Robinson, “manages the overall strategic functions of the organizations which are designed to make the Downtown Atlanta community more livable, vital and diverse.” (link) (“A.J. Robinson (President, Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District,” WNBA.com).
In print that sounds great. Diversity and progression are words we (millennials especially) love to hear. CAP’s initiatives like Trees Atlanta, COPA Inc (to improve the Centennial Park area), and the Downtown Green Source Program. These plans have brought back a good payout for the city- tourism, capital, general environmental improvements.
However, when it comes to the bigger picture who is actually benefiting from the changes CAP and ADID have brought to the Atlanta area? Maybe it is everyone, maybe it is a certain class of people. Whichever the case, the digital environment of CAP presents a slanted idea of “diversity” in the downtown Atlanta area. The environment, especially through digital images, doesn’t fairly represent what one might actually see walking down Peachtree Street.
Out CAP’s executive board of 21 people, 17 are white. The last U.S. census recorded (link) says that 54% of the Atlanta population is African American, 38% are white, and 8% Asian, Hispanic, or other (“Atlanta City Georgia Quick Facts.” Census.gov).. Now does that seem like a proper board to help promote interests of the population?
In the picture to right we see Woodruff Park as shown in a video (link) sponsored by CAP. A picture similar can be found on the front page of their website. The problem with these images is almost similar to false advertising.
If you were to visit the park and walk the length of it you would notice copious amounts of homeless people and a majority of the homeless people being African American. According to the 2015 Homelessness Report (link) distributed by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, 65% of Georgia’s homeless are African American. 500+ homeless persons are found in Fulton County (“2015 Report on Homelessness,” dca.ga.gov).
Said video, “The Real Downtown Atlanta” (link) takes us down Peachtree, all the way to the Sweet Auburn Market, and we see a snip bit of Centennial Olympic park. Real downtown Atlanta is more than white collar business people, but for some reason that is the only kind of person presented to the viewer.
Interestingly enough, almost all of the images that feature the working class are African American people. When African American people are depicted as part of the business class, there will always be one or more white people as well.
The main CAP website also creates binaries through other photos throughout their site. I noted that a majority of the photos depicting Atlantan’s enjoying a night on the town or the activities that Atlanta has to offer are white people. With 62% of Atlanta’s population being non white, these photos may not attest to a real night on the town depending on the area (“Atlanta City Georgia Quick Facts.” Census.gov).
The area’s of Atlanta that have undergone gentrification are depicted in dark blue. This data covers the 2000 census to present day (“Atlanta Gentrification Maps and Data,” governing.com). Interestingly enough those areas fall in line with the areas that CAP have focused on. A rise in area income, house value, and college degrees is never a bad scenario, however a problem does arise in leaving out or pushing out half of a cities population-as previously mentioned.
Clearly there are still African American people in the Atlanta area. Unfortunately, this problem of binary thinking and unfair misrepresentation from the real world to the digital environment is more than just a CAP issue.
According to the 2015 CAP annual report (link) big names in business and in the Atlanta area support the efforts made by CAP. Creative Loafing, UPS, Zipcar, The Fox Theatre, The Tabernacle, the Georgia Institute of Technology, churches, hotel chains, law firms, and construction companies are among the some 172 members. Partners to CAP include the Atlanta Police Foundation, American Institute of Architects- Georgia, and Sustainable Solutions Georgia, LLC among 38 others. Currently their “Be Downtown” campaign is being funded by names like Coca-Cola, the Atlanta Falcons, and Georgia Power.
I looked at each website for the businesses explicitly listed above to see if the same binary trends displayed on CAP’s website were present and voilà!
Not only just a majority of white people in photos show up, but only African American and white people generally can be found. On Coca-Cola’s page about employment and diversity, photos most predominantly feature white males. Ironic, is it not, as diversity is supposed to represent an assortment of different things.
Even the websites that had as many African Americans as white people, there was an alarming amount of no one else! It is almost like an unspoken rule throughout all of the websites that as long as there is at least one African American person in a photo it is diverse. However, as diversity is an assortment of different things as previously stated- more specifically in this case those things being race. Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander. If it is on a “race category” for a job application to one of these businesses, why aren’t these people being represented digitally?
The scary part about this when it relates back to Central Atlanta Progress is that members and partners have a definite say in what is happening in the city, where the money is going, and what that means for the people that live here. With the numerous amounts of different kinds of companies CAP works with, it is alarming to find trends so blatant across all their digital environments.
It becomes a kind of network that creates inherent inequalities in the digital realm. These inequalities then support gentrification and leaving out groups in the real world because one visiting the area would not expect to see certain groups anyways.
As of 2016, 88% of adults in America use the internet in America. The internet is practically another world now and the way information is processed through it is impactful. We become programmed by the subliminal, little things in the photos we see become big things.
Livability does not mean push out the people an upper middle class America does not want to see or hide certain groups on digital platforms. These ideas of progress and diversity are severely thwarted with misrepresentation.
especially through jasa ekspedisi jakarta batam, doesn’t fairly
pictures that created a Rental Mobil Bandung dengan Supir timeline of our journey and accomplishments.
everyone will need money, and the way is to pawn at Hartadinata Abadi
If you need a digital marketer, Willy Maulana is the right person
always treat soft Erothots
thanks for guide us Erothots
images, doesn’t fairly rental alphard bekasi one might actually see walking
investment by Sewa Mobil Bandung Dengan Supir in the area
were given spot instagrammable by a few primary children
back a good jasa kontraktor event city- tourism
especially through event contractor bandung, doesn’t fairly
You don’t have to look anywhere else, here, play games and earn real money.
สมัคร แทง หวย บี
It’s very informative and you are obviously very knowledgeable in this area. You have opened my eyes to varying views on this topic with interesting and solid content. Spouwmuurisolatie Leuven
You have done a amazing job with you website Zonnepaneel installateur Antwerpen
I am hoping the same best effort from you in the future as well. In fact your creative writing skills has inspired me. Spouwmuurisolatie Oost-Vlaanderen
wow, great, I was wondering how to cure acne naturally. and found your site by google, learned a lot, now i’m a bit clear. I’ve bookmark your site and also add rss. keep us updated. Zonnepanelen Limburg
wow… what a great blog, this writter who wrote this article it’s realy a great blogger, this article so inspiring me to be a better person Spouwmuurisolatie Vlaams-Brabant
With so many books and articles coming up to give gateway to make-money-online field and confusing reader even more on the actual way of earning money, Zonnepanelen installateur Limburg
I have express a few of the articles on your website now, and I really like your style of blogging. I added it to my favorite’s blog site list and will be checking back soon… Spouwmuurisolatie West-Vlaanderen
Nice knowledge gaining article. This post is really the best on this valuable topic. Zonnepaneel installateur Limburg
Three are usually cheap Ralph Lauren available for sale each and every time you wish to buy. Thuisbatterij kopen
I found Hubwit as a transparent s ite, a social hub which is a conglomerate of Buyers and Sellers who are ready to offer online digital consultancy at decent cost. EPS
I think about it is most required for making more on this get engaged EPS parels
A debt of gratitude is in order for giving late reports with respect to the worry, I anticipate read more. Zonnepanelen
I am overwhelmed by your post with such a nice topic. Usually I visit your blogs and get updated through the information you include but today’s blog would be the most appreciable. Well done! Polystyreen korrels
Hi to everybody, here everyone is sharing such knowledge, so it’s fastidious to see this site, and I used to visit this blog daily Zonnepanelen kopen
Your article has opened my eyes to new possibilities and perspectives. sòng bạc betgames
through digital Rental Mobil Dan Supir Bandung, doesn’t fairly
and we see a Rental/Sewa bit of Centennial
especially tarif cargo jakarta batam images, doesn’t
“Great article, felt good after reading, worth it.
i would like to read more from you
keep posting more.pega training in hyderabad“
environment, chitose ekatalog through
It has fully emerged to crown Singapore’s southern shores and undoubtedly placed her on the global map of residential landmarks. I still scored the more points than I ever have in a season for GS. I think you would be hard pressed to find somebody with the same consistency I have had over the years so I am happy with that. Thuisbatterij
I have read your excellent post. This is a great job. I have enjoyed reading your post first time. I want to say thanks for this post. Thank you… Spouwmuurisolatie
I have read your article, it is very informative and helpful for me.I admire the valuable information you offer in your articles. Thanks for posting it.. Zonnepanelen Leuven
I wanted to leave a little comment to support you and wish you a good continuation. Wishing you the best of luck for all your blogging efforts. Spouwisolatie
I read your post and I found it amazing! thank! Zonnepanelen installateur Leuven
Awesome blog. I enjoyed reading your articles. This is truly a great read for me. I have bookmarked it and I am looking forward to reading new articles. Keep up the good work! Muurisolatie
Super site! I am Loving it!! Will return once more, Im taking your food likewise, Thanks. Zonnepanelen
Welcome to the party of my life here you will learn everything about me. Spouwmuur isoleren
this is really nice to read..informative post is very good to read..thanks a lot! Zonnepanelen kopen
Atlanta sewa hiace bandung murah it is everyone
I need to to thank you for this very good read!! I definitely loved every little bit of it. I have you bookmarked to check out new things you post… Muur isoleren
You have done a amazing job with you website Zonnepanelen installateur
It’s very informative and you are obviously very knowledgeable in this area. You have opened my eyes to varying views on this topic with interesting and solid content. Buitenmuurisolatie
Great Article it its really informative and innovative keep us posted with new updates. its was really valuable. thanks a lot. Zonnepanelen Antwerpen
Took me time to understand all of the comments, but I seriously enjoyed the write-up. It proved being really helpful to me and Im positive to all of the commenters right here! Its constantly nice when you can not only be informed, but also entertained! I am certain you had enjoyable writing this write-up. Spouwmuurisolatie Antwerpen
I would recommend my profile is important to me, I invite you to discuss this topic… Zonnepanelen installateur Antwerpen
environment, sewa hiace murah bandung through digital
seem like a proper Rental Mobil Lepas Kunci Bandung to help promote