Sweet Auburn

Sweet Auburn

Sweet Auburn
It is called the greatest street on the planet. Forbes magazine once declared it “the richest African-American street in the world. The birthplace of Martin Luther King, it is the center of Black business, social, civic and religious life, and the cradle of the civil rights movement. Located in the heart of Atlanta (Auburn Avenue), it anchors the MLK center, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), Centennial Park, and the Center of Civil and Human rights. These days it is the location of one of the Southeast’s largest festivals. Its name is the Sweet Auburn Heritage Festival.
Situated in the middle of the city, it would be wise to show up early. Some people were seen walking from miles down the road. The area was full of illegally parked cars, all trying to get a good view of the action. The festival, itself, took up about four to five blocks of the entire street. The area was full of old and somewhat decrepit buildings, each older than the next as you move closer to the Church in the center of it all. You could see the ages on each of the building “faces”. They don’t build them like they use to, and I’m beginning to believe that’s a good thing. The Avenue is a tight street, and with thousands of heads floating around, the congestion level is on full tilt. If you’re suffering from sociophobia, this is not the festival for you because you’ll be dodging shoulders like Barry Sanders on a good day. Wherever you park, the festival is definitely worth the trip.
Annually celebrating its rich history and heritage, the Sweet Auburn Heritage Festival brings people of all races together. Black, White, Hispanic and Asian were all in attendance. From little girls who couldn’t walk yet to old men who couldn’t walk anymore, people of all ages were there to enjoy the festivities.
Have you ever heard of a fried Twinkie? Neither have I before attending this unique festival. With further investigation, I found that most people felt...