For the last half-century, tens of thousands of incoming freshmen at the University of Georgia have lived in dormitories on Baxter Street in what was once the Black community of Linnentown. A new musical about how Linnentown residents were forced from their homes to make way for the university opens Friday, April 12, in Athens.
Linnentown: The Musical tells its story through one family, the Thomases.
“Man, this was such a beautiful community until all the urban renewal stuff happened. It just kind of hits home,” says Savonte Wilson.
Wilson plays the family patriarch, Abe Thomas Sr. Wilson says Abe fought for his family’s home through the federally supported effort to displace Black families. The role inspires him as he thinks about his own future.
“What happened to this family? Just thinking of what would that look like for me? For somebody who wants to be a future dad, to provide for my wife and my children and my family. So me playing this role was very sentimental and emotional,” Wilson said in a recent interview with GPB News.
The play follows the story as told by Abe’s daughter, Hattie Thomas Whitehead, in her book “Giving Voice to Linnentown.”
Tracey Brown plays Whitehead’s mother.
“I feel like this community is a beautiful display of what life actually should be like and could be like, those beautiful possibilities when everybody is vested in each other within their community,” Brown said.
Linnentown: The Musical will play at the Classic Center in Athens this weekend. Friday night’s show on April 12 is at 7:30 p.m. Sunday’s matinee is at 3 p.m.
Click here to purchase tickets or visit the Classic Center website.
This story comes to Now Habersham in partnership with GPB News
