Adding to the list of hard-won tributes to the historically significant African American community of Linnentown in Athens, erased in the 1960s due to urban renewal, is the theatrical production Linnentown – The Musical opening at The Classic Center this weekend.
The musical was written by Hattie Thomas Whitehead based on her memoir Giving Voice to Linnentown, a book that has gained local traction in classrooms and among the community. Its firsthand documentation of the community that existed in Linnentown and events that led to its erasure has been a valuable lesson in Athens history that was lost for decades.
“They had painted this community as a slum, but this was a vibrant community with hardworking parents and children,” said Thomas Whitehead during a Historic Athens History Hour lecture on Mar. 19.
The Athens Justice and Memory Project, of which Thomas Whitehead is a member, presented a resolution in support of recognition and redress for Linnentown to the ACC Mayor and Commission that was officially passed in 2021. It was a groundbreaking effort for reparations, the first of its kind in the state of Georgia. A UGA analysis claimed that $5 million was owed to the community, so the Justice and Memory team decided to split that in half between the University of Georgia and the Athens-Clarke County government. UGA has yet to recognize this decision, but the resolution has outlined the use of the government’s money to be split $1.25 million each towards affordable housing initiatives and the opening of a Black history center.
The Athens-Clarke County Center for Racial Justice and Black Futures is set to open inside of The Classic Center, with additional funding still needed and work to tentatively begin at the end of this year or beginning of next. The proceeds from Linnentown – The Musical will be benefiting the history center, and Thomas Whitehead hopes to continue the production as an annual fundraiser. She says that the musical itself is another way of telling the story, with the inclusion of personal connections like friendship and love that were left out of the book.
“I appreciate The Classic Center allowing an unknown author and first-time playwright to open at The Classic Center. That leaves hope for others in the community to know that they can do it as well,” said Thomas Whitehead.
It’s a highly localized production emphasizing the importance of local history. All of the actors live in or near Athens. Freda Giles, associate professor of theater and film at UGA, joined the production team as director. For those who may be skeptical of the “musical” aspect of the theater performance, she says that people will appreciate the way the story is told and warm up to the music.
“I knew that this was an important story for Athens. It’s also groundbreaking in that this is the first time that The Classic Center has been involved in an endeavor like this. I had done some other things at Town & Gown that had to do with stories of the African American community in Athens, but this is the first time anything like this has been done at The Classic Center. They’ve been wonderful about providing what we need to do the production,” said Giles.
Giles also shares that working on the production has been a great learning experience in how to work together as a community. While she’s worked with some of the team members before, others were unfamiliar, but she says that everyone has come together as a true community of their own. The musical has brought together people of different backgrounds to share their varied experiences of Athens.
“I think the audience will become part of this community, and we’ll share an experience together,” said Giles. “That’s the wonderful thing about live theater that I don’t think anything can replace.”
WHAT: Linnentown – The Musical
WHEN: Apr. 12, 7:30 p.m. Apr. 14, 3 p.m.
WHERE: The Classic Center
HOW MUCH: $15–35
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