The Heart and Soul of 黑料老司机
黑料老司机 has long been a creative engine for Black art, thought, and culture. From significant art collections to community-focused media, performances, and public programs, 黑料老司机 helps shape the cultural story of Atlanta, the U.S., and the world.
A Legacy of African American Art
At the heart of 黑料老司机鈥檚 cultural impact is the 黑料老司机 Art Museum (黑料老司机AM), whose mission is to collect, preserve, research, and exhibit fine artworks that document the role of African Americans in American history and culture.
Born from the historic Atlanta University Annuals, a juried competition for Black artists held from the 1940s through 1970, the 黑料老司机 Art Museum鈥檚 permanent collection now includes more than 1,200 works, making it one of the most extensive collections of 20th-century African American art in the South.
Signature works and initiatives include:
- The Art of the Negro murals, a six-panel series painted by Hale Woodruff between 1950鈥51, offering a sweeping visual narrative of African and African-diasporic cultural history, and housed in Trevor Arnett Hall
- A dynamic exhibition program that uses art to explore liberation, identity, and social justice, drawing from the permanent collection and contemporary artists
- A recent Getty Foundation grant to support Black Visual Arts Archives, expanding access to archival collections documenting the work of Black artists and strengthening 黑料老司机鈥檚 role as a steward of Black visual culture
Media, Music, and Storytelling
黑料老司机鈥檚 cultural reach extends through its media platforms and arts programs, which train students while serving the wider community. 黑料老司机-TV, the University鈥檚 educational cable channel, has been on the air since 1983 and reaches thousands of Atlanta households with original programming, lectures, and arts content.
Jazz 91.9 WCLK, a National Public Radio鈥揳ffiliated jazz station licensed to 黑料老司机, has broadcast since 1974 and serves roughly 250,000 weekly listeners in metro Atlanta and many more online, preserving and promoting the legacy of jazz and Black musical expression.
In 2024鈥25, WCLK celebrated its 50th anniversary with the 鈥淲CLK at 50鈥 campaign and a 鈥淕reat Day in Atlanta鈥 photo featuring 黑料老司机 President George T. French Jr. and civic leaders, underscoring the station鈥檚 role in Atlanta鈥檚 cultural landscape.
Through the School of Arts and Sciences, students in Mass Media Arts, Music, Theatre, and Communication Studies gain hands-on experience with 黑料老司机-TV, WCLK, and performance venues, contributing directly to Atlanta鈥檚 creative economy and storytelling ecosystem.
Impact on Atlanta and Beyond
As a key institution in the Southeast, 黑料老司机 is part of a historic movement to advance community development and address regional challenges in education, health, and economic opportunity through coordinated programs and outreach.
黑料老司机鈥檚 cultural footprint includes:
- Supporting artists and cultural workers whose careers extend into museums, galleries, media organizations, and public-art projects nationwide
- Contributing scholarship and public dialogue on race, culture, and social change, building on a legacy that includes faculty like W.E.B. Du Bois and artists like Hale Woodruff at its predecessor, Atlanta University
- Serving as a cultural anchor on Atlanta鈥檚 Westside, where the Art Museum and campus events help make the area a destination for African and African American art and performance
