I was listening to a local radio station earlier this week and they were discussing how much Atlanta has changed over the past decade. They talked about how so many young, black men were being killed in the streets by other Black men. They talked about the increased crime rate. They talked about how that Southern Hospitality trait had disappeared and more harder cord has been struck amongst the people of the A.

As I listened to this conversation, I had to think about my time spent in this city. For the better of a decade I’ve lived in Atlanta. Coming for college, leaving and returning for another spell. I can remember when I got here back in 2002 and the people were truly amazing. While I had some interesting run ins with Panhandlers, I was very surprised and excited to see so many people with a very helpful spirit. This type of behavior was the norm not the exception.

Despite going to the one of the most well known schools in America, we still had our dangers just outside the walls. Because as we all know, every single HBCU in America is based somewhere in or near the hood. And my school was no exception to this rule. So while I enjoyed the people when I was away from school, I easily caught a glimpse of what could be looking right outside the walls and confines of my school.

With all the fuss about the parties and late night activities in the city, there was also a robust amount of normal things to do. Sports team galore, entertainment always in and around the city. Trips to take and so many different people to meet. This city was booming and the little known secret was Hollywood was on it’s way. Already boasting numerous Spike Lee films, Drumline was shot here in Atlanta and seemed to open up another dynamic. Add to that Tyler Perry’s love for Atlanta and you could see this city was about to become something serious.

But along the way to all those things, a national tragedy happened that, if you ask me, changed the trajectory of the city and also began the downward turn we see in a number of places today in Atlanta. Hurricane Katrina happened in 2005. Many people forget that Atlanta took in more people from New Orleans and surrounding areas than any other state. There folks was the beginning of the down turn. Don’t get me wrong, I love people from the Big Easy. I got to meet quite a few who were displaced after that storm and while some were bitter and hurt, others were still upbeat and optimistic.

But you see far more became honest with themselves about what life would look like that they began to take a more pessimistic and bitter tone. Then you add to that the rapid influx of people from Northern, more rigid states coming down South and it made for the perfect storm. People displaced and struggling to find a way to make it, doing whatever it took. Even if that means lying, stealing, killing, using and abusing or just bumming their way to survival.

The overcrowding of the city, scarcity of jobs and decline in the economy further led to the hardship faced by native Atlantians and the transplants alike. The other thing that people don’t like to admit, but is very true, is that sooo many black gay men flocked to Atlanta in the latter part of the 2000’s. Seeing that cost of living was cheaper and the ease of access to other highly attractive men, the gays wanted Atlanta to be home base and it was.

One of things this city used to be known for was Black people coming to make a life and be successful. The old saying was you could come to Atlanta with a dream and leave with a career. Unfortunately because so many came with that same idea and companies started pulling out, the competition was unimaginable. Again, having a Republican Governor who decimated the Education budget made it harder for this city to continue the promise it once held.

Now, the city is climbing back out of a bad place and jobs are returning in different forms to Atlanta, but the violence and abuse and nastiness is still at an all-time high. So many people have been hurt and scared by boyfriends, girlfriends, employers who aren’t loyal to their people, the government and that’s why we still sit in the same place for the past 11 years. Stuck and not sure how to get out.

It’s not everything, but it’s a damn good synopsis for why the city rose and fell. Maybe, in this reincarnation the city’s people will remember what truly made it stand out from so many other major Metropolitan cities and bring the Southern Charm back to formally Hotlanta, now just Cruelanta.

Thoughts? Opinions? Feelings? Tell me what you think. Let’s talk about it. I’m always ready.