The 6-part audio documentary, Hot Corner, is a story of what one block in Georgia shows about the dividing lines in our lives, and what Black communities have built in the spaces between. It is also a contribution to ongoing efforts to document and share the history of Hot Corner, the famed Black business district in downtown Athens, Georgia.
The story was reported, written, and produced by Alexander (Aleck) Stephens and Broderick Flanigan. It was edited and mixed by Alexander Stephens.
Anthony A. Hill, aka P.O. The Priceless One, produced original music for the score and collaborated on the sound design.
This project was created in partnership with Enlighten Media Productions and in consultation with the Hot Corner Association.
Support for Hot Corner came from the Willson Center for Humanities & Arts and the Athens Historical Society.
At the UGA Libraries, the Richard B. Russell Library provided production assistance through the Athens African American Oral History Initiative, and the Brown Media Archives furnished clips from its WSB Newsfilm Collection.
Our work reflects the guidance and assistance of many others, including Mr. Homer Wilson & Dr. Tawana Mattox; Christian Lopez; Professors Freda Scott Giles, Matt Lassiter & Steve Berry; David Helps; Ashley Shull & Justin Kau at the Heritage Room at the Athens-Clarke County Library; Jean Spratlin at the Athens-Clarke County Clerk's Office; and the Athens Downtown Development Authority.
News & Events
3PM AUGUST 20 @ Athens-Clarke County Library -Join Broderick, Aleck, and special guests for a conversation about the making of Hot Corner hosted by the Athens Historical Society and the Heritage Room at the Athens-Clarke County Library. Listen to the series in advance if you can!
About the Producers
Broderick Flanigan is a painter, muralist, and community organizer from Athens, Georgia. He is the Executive Director of the Economic Justice Coalition, an organization dedicated to educating, advocating, and organizing for quality jobs with living wages and benefits in the Athens area. All of his work is rooted in community uplift and love, and grounded by a mission to create spaces where people can be recognized and participate in the world as their full selves. His studio paintings and murals can be seen around the state of Georgia and beyond.
Alexander Stephens is an historian with over a decade of experience in community-based work. Born and raised in Athens, GA, he received an M.A. in History from the University of Georgia and is currently completing a doctorate at the University of Michigan. Before grad school, he served as Associate Director at the Marian Cheek Jackson Center, an organization dedicated to preserving the future of historically Black neighborhoods in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, NC. His research, writing, and audio work have been featured by the Washington Post, Foreign Policy, North Carolina Public Radio, and other outlets.