Explore Atlanta’s culture with journalist DeAsia Paige of The AJC’s Unapologetically ATL

When it comes to culture in Atlanta, DeAsia Paige has her finger on the pulse of the city.

It was just six months ago that Paige moved to Atlanta, and she has hit the ground running.

Prior to taking on life and culture in the city, Paige received her degree in journalism from the University of Kansas. When it was time to put her degree to use, the Detroit-born storyteller found herself working for a newspaper in Southwest Illinois, covering stories about the Black community.

“I always had a passion for documenting the issues and experiences of marginalized identities,” Paige said.

After two years of working at the paper, Paige decided it was time to take on something new.

“I always wanted to cover arts and culture, and I wasn’t doing that in my previous job … I felt like the job I currently have with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Unapologetically ATL would help with my long-term goals of telling those stories on a larger scale,” Paige said.

Paige gets to channel her creativity through the Unapologetically ATL newsletter, as she shares stories that give a voice to those who might otherwise not have been heard.

“There are so many stories and experiences that go neglected in exchange for the status quo … I want to highlight stories that are outside of that and deserve to make the news,” Paige said.

Paige has enjoyed her journey thus far, exploring all Atlanta has to offer, from new food spots to places honoring culture and entertainment.

Paige’s guide to her Atlanta

Go-to workout place: The Beltline – “The Beltline was fun. I got a workout in and even saw a few restaurants and shops that I have to add to my list. I enjoyed exploring a small portion of it for my workout; I’ll have to take some time in the next few months to explore the rest; it’s huge!”

Favorite place to eat: APT 4B – “I’ve been to APT 4B a few times since I’ve been in Atlanta. I love that their decorations are a nod to Black music history, with Jet magazine covers with icons along the wall. Plus the fact that it’s an Afro Caribbean restaurant, the food is delicious.”

Best place to grab a vinyl record: JB’s Record Lounge – “One of my hobbies is collecting vinyl records. I knew when I moved to Atlanta, I had to find a place that could help me add to my collection, and that’s exactly what I found at JB’s, one of the few Black-owned vinyl stores in Atlanta.”

While Paige finds herself using her gift to tell everyone else’s story, she’s also creating a story of her own.

“What I hope for most is that readers learn something new from my stories … I hope they enjoy the writing; I hope they make a new connection that they probably otherwise wouldn’t have heard of without my articles,” Paige said.

Keep up with DeAsia as she continues to explore Atlanta, all while telling the stories that need to be told. Subscribe to the Unapologetically ATL newsletter and follow her on Twitter and Instagram.