Capital B’s Black Political Power Tour Lands in ATL Wednesday – Capital B News

It can’t be overstated: The stakes are high for Black Atlantans in the November general election. From three recently passed bills that will change the way Georgians go to the polls, to concerns over inflation, affordable housing, a yawning racial wealth gap, and gun violence, many are wondering how to put it all in context before they head to the polls.

This week, Capital B has you covered when our summerlong Black Political Power Tour makes its second stop, this time in Atlanta as part of our annual Capital B Fest. 

“Georgia is at the forefront of some of the most important political conversations in the country this election cycle, and we wanted to create an event that would center the concerns and questions of the Black residents whose votes will be so meaningful this November,” said Lauren Williams, Capital B’s co-founder and CEO.

Just consider: Georgia’s 2.4 million Black voters make up about a third of the overall number of eligible voters, making the Black electorate critical in a state that flipped from then-incumbent President Donald Trump in 2016 to his opponent and current President Joe Biden in 2020. 

Black voters’ significance here mirrors that found in the national electorate: more than a third of the estimated 30 million Black voters eligible to vote for president in 2020 live in nine of the most contested states, according to data from the Pew Research Center. 

To add context and depth to the issues important to those voters, Capital B will host two days of programming at Pittsburgh Yards on Atlanta’s west side, highlighting how our reporters have covered those stories here on the ground.

The event kicks off on Wednesday, June 26, with panel discussions delving into the impact of Georgia’s new voting rights legislation, how Atlantans are keeping each other safe from gun violence, and the issue of school choice through the lens of Georgia’s newly passed legislation to set up publicly funded voucher accounts to pay for private schools for some students. You can register free for day one here.

On Thursday, we’re back with a deep dive into Black wealth and inequality in Atlanta, with panels on Atlanta’s increasing housing insecurity, building wealth through entrepreneurship and a special panel with the authors of the new book “Fifteen Cents on the Dollar: How Americans Made the Black-White Wealth Gap.” Free registration for day two is here!

Over the two days, the Capital B Atlanta editorial and community engagement teams will be in conversation with authors Ebony Reed and Louise Story, Atlanta City Councilman Antonio Lewis, Mothers Against Gang Violence founder Tekesia Shields, state Sen. Donzella James, Invest Atlanta President and CEO Eloisa Klementich, and many other Atlanta leaders, community organizers, Atlanta residents, activists, and elected officials. 

We’ll close out the event Wednesday evening with a live debate watch party, where we’ll gather at Wild Heaven Brewery in the West End, just 2 miles from Pittsburgh Yards to watch Biden and Trump face off for the first time this election cycle. Register here for the watch party!