Giving Voice To Linnentown

by Hattie Thomas Whitehead

Giving Voice To Linnentown is a compelling true story about a young Black girl's family that lived in a thriving small Black community called Linnentown. Written by Hattie Thomas Whitehead, she describes her early childhood years in the 1960s and how her life and the lives of other Linnentown families changed the moment the City of Athens and The University of Georgia entered into an Urban Renewal (UR) contract. As a result of UR, Linnentown properties were taken for the university's expansion, residents were forced to move, and families were separated. Decades later, Hattie Thomas Whitehead chronicles life in Linnentown and her leadership role in seeking justice on behalf of Linnentown and its first descendants. Her goal is to give voice to a once vibrant and thriving community that was erased.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir

182 pages, Hardcover

First published August 21, 2021

Reviews

[JoBeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the eye-opening story of the impact of urban renewal on a "liberal" town in Georgia - and I suspect it has heartbreaking parallels to every town where "urban renewal" decimated in-tact communities. I was angered, moved, challenged, and inspired. The author took readers into her family living in a close-knit Black community where many families owned their homes. I was horrified to learn of the deception of the city (Athens) in approving her parents’ building permit knowing the city would not provide the promised water and sewage because the land was already slated for “urban renewal,” and angered by the collusion of the city and the University of Georgia, who wanted the land for dorms. I mourned the loss of family wealth as they were forced to move into subsidised housing, and the subsequent breakup of her family. While this is very much a book about the destruction of Black wealth and community, it is also about hope and action. Ms. Whitehead and other direct descendents of LInnentown demanded recognition and redress, in spite of the white supremacy of some commissioners who tried to “soften” their demands and make them more acceptable to white people in power. I consider this to be the most important book I've read on the history of Athens, GA. I believe it will challenge readers all over the country to look into how "urban renewal" destroyed Black wealth in their own communities and to think about reparations in terms of this more recent history.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved seeing how this project came together and hearing a first person account. One passage that stood out to me was:

"Written in June 1968 by UGA social worker Maude W. Keeling, the report was titled 'How Far Will $100.00 Go These Days?' Much of the report as disturbing and humiliating. For example, Keeling wrote:

'Such families suffer not only economic poverty but from the depressed view that it imposes as well. They do not know what a better way of living is, or they have given up any hope of achieving it long ago.'

Maude was certainly not describing Linnentown residents, and her condescension was deeply offensive."

[Deborah Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, where to start. The story was sad but I am so glad I learned more about urban renewal and about Linnentown. Last Sunday I went to listen to hear the author speak at the Athens Public Library.

I always thought Urban Renewal was a good thing, little did I know what a bad thing it can be when it wipes out entire communities and separates families.
The more digging I did, this has happened in multiple cities across the US. I understand not all urban renewal projects are bad, but this particular one was used in an insidious way. I found it interesting that one of the dorms UGA built in Linnentown is named Brumby which means "luxury."

I'll be interested to see the next steps for redress for Linnentown, I'm glad Ms. Hattie Whitehead told her story. I'm glad I learned some more history of Athens, GA although an incredibly sad story and part of history I had never heard about since moving here.

A short read, that I would recommend especially if you live in the Athens, GA area. I'd love to hear UGA's side of the story, but since they currently are not saying, I have to accept what Ms. Whitehead and the research is telling me as truth.

[Colleen Craven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is powerful, an important read for short or long term residents of Athens.

The organizing efforts of The Linnentown Project were publicized during my junior year of college - a time that I was just beginning to grasp the values I wanted to cling to as a social worker. Reading about community members that advocated for, and crafted alongside the leaders The Linnentown Projects efforts to formalize the Resolution encourages me. Without lived experience of blatant racism, I am perhaps overly cautious of overstepping. My biggest takeaway from this book is the importance of community, and how much further we all travel when we’re doing it together.

Additionally, Being able to study the efforts of Hattie Thomas Whitehead as an extremely successful community organizer is encouraging as much as it is influential. The Linnentown project has made major strides, many of which are foundational for future movements.

[Hanna Roucka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am an Athens transplant. I have come to love and appreciate Athens and the University of Georgia, but this book brings to light the darker side of what has happened in order for this University to become "successful" through expansion. I can sit here and complain all day about how I get paid poorly as a grad student, but my annual income is still around fifteen times more than these people were paid for their property. And the fact that the university won't go near this with a ten foot pole is gross. Do the right thing.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so glad Hattie Thomas Whitehead has written this interesting biography of her childhood community here in Athens, Georgia. And I'm even more glad she and a concerned group of activists have brought the shameful treatment of Linnentown's residents to light. So much wrong has been done, in the name of "progress," in the name of America's government, even in the name of religion. It's great to see people stand up for justice. And it's never too late.

[Hannah Doolittle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing itself is not the greatest (which is understandable when the author has never written anything else before and the publisher is small) but the story is emotional and compelling and I enjoyed the vignettes of family life the author included. Also loved the appendices that included old photos, data, documents, and the Linnentown Resolution that was adopted in 2021 by Athens-Clarke County. Definitely a must read for everyone in the UGA and larger Athens-Clarke County community.

[Devon]

Soooo I started this book because it was for a book club. That and the fact that it was being turned into a musical! I tried to read it. It was a book written by a local woman about the local history of Athens where I was living. But it was such a busy time (preparing to move, family visiting to do some last minute things in Georgia before moving/helping us pack…) that I just couldn’t bring myself to sit down with this book to read it. It wasn’t enough to capture my attention.

I did see the musical though. I am a HUGE musical person. To put it into perspective, I saw 8 shows within the 2 month span just before moving out of Georgia (a couple of Broadway tour productions at the Fox theatre in Atlanta… a couple of Athens community theatre shows… a town and town community theatre show… a Broadway tour production at the very theatre where Linnentown was performed, and a University of Georgia theatre show… in addition to Linnentown) so I do have a background to compare this production against. For being such a local production it was presented on a very large scale. It was performed in the venue that actually supports a Broadway season tour- much larger than you would expect for a local thing. And the sets were good enough to look professional. Buttttt the story was not meant to be a musical. While extremely interesting and a story worth telling and sharing and making known, it was too slow and not right for a musical at all. And the music was (I hate to say it) not good. And the acting (I really hate to say it) was also not good. But there were some very good singers! Overall it went on for too long. Probably because it was not well suited for musical… I think it would have made an amazing documentary. With interviews and images and them showing what the area looks like now. I think that would have been the proper medium to get the story out there.

[Sadona Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic memoir of a wonderful, resilient community that was uprooted and erased by the University of Georgia. Definitely a must-read if you're living in Georgia, curious about Athens history, or if you want to learn more about the impacts of urban renewal on the communities targeted by it.

[Jen G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will never look at Athens and UGA the same way. The impact of Urban Renewal projects like the one that destroyed Linnentown in the sixties are brought to life through the author’s memories of childhood. The 2021 resolution for redress was history making.

[Nevena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. Inspirational and enlightening. We must help carry this torch all the way to the doors of justice.

[Meghan Tschanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important look into yet another injustice perpetuated against the Black community by White Supremacy in our Institutions.

[Bennett Beisbier · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a young person living in Athens, you MUST read this. The things we do not learn in school are obscene.

[Gail Johnson, Ph.D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book was like being at family reunion in Georgia. We are in the kitchen listening to Hattie tell her side of the story growing up in Linnentown, Athens (Zip 30602) in the 60's. Love it!

[callie jarrard · Rating 4 out of 5]

very quick and informative read about Linnentown, the African American neighborhood of people who were forced out of their homes when UGA bought the land. very eye-opening to read about firsthand experience about the buried history there.

[Janet Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hattie Thomas Whitehead has done a great job describing the love, security and sense of community that was taken from her and others when the ACC Government and The University of Georgia chose to destroy her neighborhood and displace 50 families by paying them pennies on the dollar for their homes and land. Hattie’s family and the others living in Linnentown were forced from their property by the local government and UGA. Through the efforts of Hattie and others the ACC Government issued a formal written proclamation accepting responsibility for their part in this tragedy and calling for reparations. The current administration at UGA has done nothing. As a long-time resident in the Athens GA area this disappoints me but doesn’t surprise me.

[Haley Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading for everyone. An inside look at the effects of urban renewal and the determination of the community of Linnentown to be heard.