ATL Still “Got Something To Say“…

The story behind the ATL8393 Project

In 1982, I arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, to attend Spelman College. I moved to Atlanta from a suburb of Washington, D.C., and in my freshmen year, joined the Atlanta University Center (AUC) D.C. Metro Club, a student-led group catering to the interests of students from the D.C. area. After graduating from Spelman, I lived in Atlanta until 1999.

ATL8393 commemorates and pays homage to a magical time, event and place in the history of Black people and Black culture; and its commemorative shirt design is an artistic snapshot of that time. ATL8393 uplifts and celebrates the essence of an indelible era.

ATL – Black Power & Ingenuity

From the moment I arrived in Atlanta as a college student, I was captivated by the city’s soul and magnificence. The consortium of HBCUs within the Atlanta University Center – Spelman, Morehouse, Clark and Morris Brown; the City’s social, political, economic, cultural and historical backbone and character; and the People are what enchanted me.

On and off campus, from midtown to downtown and throughout southwest Atlanta, I was surrounded by wit-smart, fierce, bold, gifted, intelligent, ingenious people in education, civil rights, politics, business, leadership, entrepreneurship, entertainment, arts and culture – AND, from ALL walks of life. As an undergraduate student, a beginning journalist, an entrepreneur, and a culturally, socially and politically conscious, engaged and aware young Black woman coming of age, 1983 to 1993 was a period of inspiration and magic.

FreakniC/K – A ‘mighty’ thing

ATL8393 also captures the formation and evolution of FreakniC/K, the annual gathering founded by members of the AUC D.C. Metro Club. In 1983, we founded Freaknic/k, a mighty, mighty thing that evolved from an HBCU annual gathering to become one of the most iconic and enduring events in Black culture and history. I sincerely believe Atlanta is the only city in the U.S. where FreakniC/K would have begun and endured. That is a testament to the power and ingenuity unique to AUC students, Atlanta and HBCU magic.

“A thing is mighty big when time and distance cannot shrink it,”  ~Zora Neale Hurston

The ATL8393 Design

The vision for the design captures the moment of Atlanta and FreakniC/K’s history and it is intended for those who weren’t around at the time or too young, and for those who did experience that time. Some elements of the design will be understood and recognizable, while other elements will be “if you don’t know, ask somebody.” No doubt the shirt will be a nostalgic and conversation piece to treasure.

ATL8393 is a bonafide collaborative effort, {em}powered by Toomer Strategies. The project would not have reached this point without the devotion and talent of collaborators, Multimedia Artist Val Ashford, Historical Dream, designs; Eric and Christopher, curators of exclusive collections; and WEB interactive Technologies in Baltimore.

Last but certainly not least, so many of us are indebted to the good, solid people at Mass Appeal and Swirl Films for bringing the full-scope story of FreakniC/K into the feature documentary film, “Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told,” airing March 21, 2024 on Hulu.

As a consulting producer on the documentary, I can attest to the heart and determination of those who conceptualized the idea for a Freaknik documentary, and the heart and effort of the people who pulled it together.

Enjoy your ATL8393 commemorative shirt, and share your own ATL8393 story with us on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.

With Love,

Sharon

FreakniC/K founding member, organizer and fierce advocate (1983 until the wheels came off in late ‘90s); and 
Consulting Producer, ‘Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told’ feature documentary.