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New Years Eve


Last night was a lot of fun so I will tell the story through some pictures that I took.  At the beginning of the night we really didn't know what to do, and we did some internet searches and just decided to head down to the Peach Drop.  The website said some hundred thousand people came last year so we decided that would be interesting.  

We took Marta down to Underground Atlanta and just started walking around.  It was crowded at this point, cops were everywhere, and I was getting hungry.  As we got our bearings we started walking but soon got stuck in a mob of people, about saw a couple dudes throw down, and finally got out of the mass of people and went into underground part of Underground Atlanta.  

During this whole time I started to see a side of Atlanta I had never been exposed to while at Tech.  I knew on paper that Atlanta was about 60% Black, but I had never been in a situation that the statistic actually was true.  To be honest since leaving Northwood I have had minimal interactions with Black people.  Tech has very few, its something that causes the student body to lose some of its tolerance of other races.  I see so much blatant racism at Tech, its terrible, it breaks my heart.  Because this mindset of Black people as the Drug Dealers of Atlanta just reinforces the negative stereotype of the entire race.  Its causing more and more division between these groups of Humans.  Therefore last night was great because I would say that the ratio was 80/20, Black to White.  


This is where we got trapped with no outlet!  Poor Planning!!!
Once we got out from the underground part of Underground Atlanta they decided to not let people back into the doors.  Therefore they were pushing everyone out into the steps with nowhere to go.  Since they did not let us back into the undergound area we were forces to get back into another mob and fight our way up the stairs.  During this venture we about had three fights, one EMS caravan of officers and others fighting their way through, and a pregnant lady cussing people out.  Eventually we all made it out and witnessed a rap battle going on between this super drunk white dude and this old lady.
After that escapade we decided to go and grab some food.  This time we got smart and basically walked around the block to get to a sub shop and throw down some food.  We only got stuck once on the walk over and that mob ended when EMS rammed there way through the crowd and everyone just followed the leader out of the mess.  

Once I was fed we wet outside and watched the Peach Drop.  It was very anticlimactic, but it was still very interesting.  That was my first time being at a New Years Eve celebration.  For some reason getting drunk and wandering around Atlanta is not my definition of fun, therefore these types of gatherings are not that much fun for me.  Also since I am introverted I would have enjoyed a night just chilling in my room working on some reading I am behind on.  
Before the Peach Dropped


 Once the Peach Dropped everyone went crazy and then the Fireworks started.  We were right next to where the Fireworks were being fired from, therefore it was really cool and scary at the same time.  The cardboard shells from the Fireworks would rain down on us, so I got a lot of stuff in my eyes but it was still cool.  

We were in position to escape once the Fireworks stopped so we got away from the crowds really quickly. As we were walking to the Marta Station the traffic was stopped and everyone was out of their cars dancing and being crazy.   I tried to get a photo but the camera is terrible at night and didn't focus or stabilize at all.  The product of my attempt is below.
Cool picture but it doesn't show anything
Walking past the Capital Building on the way to Marta


We got to the Marta Station and realized that we were at the Georgia Southern Station.  Therefore we would have to go to Five Points to get back to Tech.  That proves a problem because Five Points was packed out with people coming directly from Underground Atlanta.  But we had a lot of fun waiting for our train, interacting with drunk people, and finding objects to occupy our time.   Once we got a train to Five Points we were able to get on a train back to North Ave soon after.  

Last night was a lot of fun that had spurts of very frustrating interactions.

All is Great in the Lord

Paul Shackelford


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