Are race issues underground understood?
The photo on page 29 (cover story, “Code blue,” Jan. 25) addresses the question that your interviewer did not pose and the panelists did not broach: mainly, what role race has played and is likely to play in deciding the fortunes of Underground. The shot of the crowd at the House nightclub is exclusively black. Most probably do not live in the Underground “neighborhood‚” which means they are willing to travel from other points to party there. Any solution to revitalizing Underground must take as a given that those same folks will avail themselves of the opportunity to party in a new and improved facility. The subtext of the redevelopment discussion, then and now, is how can Underground be made more appealing to whites, be they tourists or residents? The deciders are deluding themselves if they think Underground can be remade to discourage black patronage. — Earl Picard, Atlanta Support your own! The issue raised is to Hugh Saxon of the city of Decatur (Fallout, “High expectations, lac
