When is enough, enough?
The go-to spot for the kids and teenagers in my hometown growing up was the Mall at Stonecrest. After a few violent disruptions, one involving a shooting, a curfew was enacted in 2009. In 2020, seven shootings occurred at Lenox Mall, Atlanta's most popular mall and one often mentioned in songs. A curfew was enacted, but the sense of comfort and safety that's supposed to be had while grabbing a pretzel from Auntie Anne's, buying a new pair of shoes or hanging out with friends dissipated.
Grocery stores. Movie theaters. Churches. Concerts. Schools. It's heartbreaking that places of comfort have easily become ones that bring heartbreak, terror and death.
No one should go to one of the only grocery stores in their Black neighborhood to buy their son a birthday cake and not come out alive because of a racist attack. No parent should send their kid off to school, two days before their summer break begins, only for them to get a call that there's been a mass shooting.
Two mass shootings in 10 days. 27 school shootings in 2022, the year that marks the 10th anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting. 212 mass shootings this year so far.
When is enough, enough?
— Laura Nwogu, quality of life reporter at the Savannah Morning News
Follow me on Twitter at @lauranwogu_ or email me at LNwogu@gannett.com
Pulse of the 912
Raisa Habersham: What’s the story behind your name, Mother Māelah?
Mother Māelah: "To close friends and family, I’m known as Faith. To everyone else, I’m Mother Māelah. I am my grandfather Ishmael Joshua’s namesake. Asé Ishmaelah is my middle, and I chose to go by Māelah in honor of my ancestors on my grandfather’s side. As a kid I hated my middle name it wasn’t until my early 20s I began to research my family’s history and grew to love my name. I go by it in honor of some of the most trailblazing, well-educated, hardworking and determined ancestors a girl could have. I put the mother in front of my name because people close to me always say I have a mother-like spirit. I always exert out the energy of wisdom, understanding, comfort, love and whit, just like a mother. So there you have it Mother Māelah. That's me!"
RH: Tell us about your organization Rebuild Savannah? When and why did you create it?
MM: "Rebuild Savannah 'An Unchanged Reaction' was established May 6, 2018. Our mission is to promote, establish and bring awareness to Black-owned businesses in Savannah. Rebuild Savannah also focuses on bringing awareness to the Black community about the development of the city as well as teaching the history of our Gullah Geechee ancestors after slavery. I focus on our history because we were so much more than slaves."
RH: What are some challenges you've faced in helping Black-owned businesses in Savannah?
MM: "The biggest challenge I’ve faced with Rebuild Savannah was getting the community to see the significance of supporting Black-owned businesses and becoming their own boss. It wasn’t long before I realized what the issue was — I realized my city was hurting. They couldn’t support because no one ever supported them, no one ever gave the game on how to be a successful business owner, or they knew of no one who has had a successful business. I took on this challenge and began to show them.
"I showed them through history. I showed them that Savannah once had its own Black Wall Street on West Broad (now MLK) Street that thrived for nearly 100 years, and I showed them what happens when we don’t teach our children who we are and instill ownership and pride of our culture — gentrification. That’s what happened to our Black Wall Street in Savannah."
RH: What’s been the most rewarding thing about helping Black-owned businesses in Savannah? What advice would you give to Black business owners?
MM: "The most rewarding thing about functioning under Rebuild Savannah is the faces of excitement when I tell my people of our history. I love seeing their faces light up and go back home to their families and teach them what they’ve learned. I also love that, because of my organization, my generation is now the bulk of entrepreneurs in Savannah and are heavily informed of what’s going on in the city around us and how it affects the Black community."
RH: We like to end on this question: Why do you love the 912?
MM: "Why do I love Savannah? I love Savannah because my ancestors built this city with their blood sweat and tears, hence the name Rebuild Savannah. When I look downtown and all over Savannah, I see my ancestors everywhere through the adinkra symbols on the gates and windows of homes and on the cobblestones downtown. I'm reminded that we initially built this city for them, but now let’s build it for us. Who is 'us?' We be Gullah Geechee."
Art of The 912
The 912 newsletter will highlight a local Black artist every two months as the header image for the weekly issue. This month's artist is Tafy LaPlanche.
Follow LaPlanche on her website and on Instagram:
Website: lepouf-art.com
Instagram: @lepouf_art
Stories of The 912
1: 3 things to know about Georgia U.S. Senate race: Celebrity brands, big money and turnout
Herschel Walker advances to face the incumbent, Raphael Warnock, in what promises to be one of 2022's highest-profile U.S. Senate races.
2: Dine Savannah: An award-winning Colombian brew is elevating the local coffee palate
When Marvin Duncan became PERC’s Quality Control Manager in August of 2021, the post came with a clear charge from founder-owner Philip Brown: pick out coffees that taste great.
3: It's Terrance Miller's birthday and he'll laugh if he wants to – and you're invited to join
Terrance Miller turns 29 this weekend, and he wants you at the party.
Get ready, because Saturday night, you will laugh out loud again and again when a crew of Savannah’s funniest take to the stage for Miller’s fourth annual birthday bash and comedy show.
4: History Theatre brings the story of iconic Savannah figure Susie King Taylor to the stage
History Theatre brings the story of Civil War nurse and teacher Susie King Taylor to life on stage on Saturday and Sunday at the Savannah Theatre in “What a Wonderful Revolution.”
5: A festival for everyone: UnderGo Fest returns with an all-Savannah line-up of performers
The UnderGo Fest is making a welcome return after a two year pandemic hiatus.
Founded by Rachael Shaner and her Lulu the Giant bandmates, UnderGo Fest is a free, inclusive, family-friendly, all-local celebration of Savannah’s diverse community of musicians, and visual and performing artists.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: The 912: When is enough, enough?
