A People's History: A Rags to Riches Story of Little Five Points

Taylor Allen

English 285

As I crossed Euclid Avenue, I saw a man leaning against a newspaper stand. His rigid stance gave me the impression that he had been in this position for a while. His black boots looked like he had walked miles. His brown hair was all over his head, and he was wearing a worn jacket and pants. At first I was hesitant to approach him, however he looked like he had a story to tell. It all started with “Excuse me sir, may I take up a few moments of your time, I am new here, and I wanted to learn a little more about the history of this place.”

Little Five Points is a melting pot of culture and people that make up varying demographics. As a college student, Little Five Points appealed to me because of the shopping stores, and food. Consequently my experiences at Little Five Points has subjected me to more than just a cute vintage sweater, and a Zesto’s Shake. The neighborhood that Little Five Points and Inman Park is located in presents an interesting dichotomy. In the midst of an urban neighborhood complete with driveways and porches, one finds Little Five Points, and this gentleman I recently met who calls himself “Firechild.”

Last year in my African Diaspora Class we studied the importance of oral history. This history was special because it developed as a result of the people. Griots were responsible for passing on history purely based on memory. After speaking with Firechild, I would describe him as a Griot. Firechild’s recollection was relative to his own personal perspective. The Theory Toolbox reminds me that Firechild’s account is an “interpretation or construction of history rather than objective reconstructions of a past realities” (97). With sincere and honest questioning Firechild addressed the dichotomy that had always interested me, the offset of differing levels of wealth and economic standard.

 Firechild was happy to answer my questions. In fact he was very talkative, and knowledgeable about the area. He told me that his father used to be a barber in the 1950s. He described Little Five Points as a booming area that offered grocery stores, and many other commercial needs that served the surrounding community. Then he says things got “all bad with the blacks and the whites.” Harsh race relations and segregation resulted in violence and riots that hurt the community. Furthermore he told me that the construction of “the big ol road,” the Stone Mountain Freeway caused many people to loose their homes. Soon he told me Little Five Points had worsened to nothing but empty, boarded up buildings. He chuckled and reminiscences on the illegal behavior him and “Chucky” used to engage in during this time. Finally he tells me that a “big healthy food store” and “government dough came in.” At this point he describes the re-birth of small community owned businesses trickling into the area. These businesses were not connected to large corporation chains. Instead each small place catered to eclectic likes. The neighborhood remained and the economic standard of Little Five Points arose.

Firechild’s story shed light on the history of Little Five Points from a resident’s perspective. Not only was his story unique and relative, it was factual and candid. Currently Little Five Points is a small microcosm of businesses and stores that cater to specific likes. This small melting pot that includes various demographics is off set by a modern neighborhood. The difference of poverty and wealth is apparent through the various demographics present. However like my Mom would always say, “There is something for everybody.” Little Five Points has a special charm simply because it offers a safe haven for all. 

Citation:

Nealon, Jeffery, and Susan Searls Giroux. The Theory Toolbox. United States of America: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2003. 95-108. Print.