About an hour's drive southeast of Atlanta sits the small, predominantly Black town of Sparta — the seat of Hancock County, Georgia. It was the first county in the U.S. to be politically controlled by Black people since Reconstruction. Sparta thrived for a while, but today, about 35% of the population lives in poverty. There is no hospital, downtown buildings are burned out, and the people are crying out for help. Tomeka McClendon lived in Sparta for 13 years. She learned about Sparta's rich, African-American history, and she sees beyond the dilapidation and desperation. She believes that with economic development, visionary leadership, and hope, Sparta can once again live up to its reputation as "the hidden jewel of Georgia."
