Local Author's Book and Musical Highlight Linnentown's Historical Significance and Impact of Urban Renewal

Hattie Thomas Whitehead, the author of Giving Voice to Linnentown, plays a key role in the Linnentown Project. This initiative aims to educate people about the history of Linnentown, a historically black neighborhood in Athens, and the effects of urban renewal in the 1960s. Whitehead's personal experiences growing up in Linnentown inform her writing.

Whitehead wrote her book to help others understand Linnentown's historical significance. She drew heavily from her own experiences and memories, without needing extensive research. Her family and friends, especially her daughter, supported her throughout the book's creation.

Writing the book allowed Whitehead to confront and express her emotions related to her experiences. She self-published her book in 2021 after a year of writing, revising, and rearranging the content.

Whitehead also wrote a musical based on her book to present the story in a different format. The musical serves as a fundraiser for The Athens Center for Racial Justice and Black Futures, a new Black history center. Whitehead thinks that a play can effectively communicate the story to a younger audience.

The musical explores the emotional aspects of the historical narrative in more depth than the book. Whitehead hopes it will help people understand the effects of urban renewal and encourage young viewers to understand the importance of voting. The musical is scheduled for performances on April 12th and 14th, 2024, at The Classic Center.

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