Atlanta, GA
‘Atlanta’s Berlin Wall’: One Atlanta neighorhood’s history of racial roadblocks
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Owning a home is part of the American dream many families are never able to realize because of the color of their skin.
This Black History Month, Atlanta News First anchor Tracye Hutchins sheds light on a little-known part of Atlanta’s history when a roadblock was used as a barrier for Black people.
Cascade Heights has been known as a home to Black prominence and power in Atlanta. Several notable politicians, sports figures and celebrities have settled in there, but only in recent history.
In the early 1960s, the neighborhood was on the brink of a major transition when a doctor named Clinton Warner bought a home there. The problem was Warner was Black and that area of Cascade Heights was all white.
It wasn’t long before Atlanta Mayor Ivan Allen Jr., who was in office at the time, decided to keep the peace and keep more Blacks for moving in — a permanent barricade made of steel and wood built on Peyton Road. The barricade became known as the Peyton Wall, a symbol of segregation.
Dr. Ron Bayor, a retired Georgia Tech professor, said the Peyton Wall was Atlanta’s most blatant attempt to block Black migration.
“The whole effort was to push Blacks to the west side. But it was a travesty, this was the year after the Berlin Wall was built, and it was often referred to as Atlanta’s Berlin Wall,” Bayor said.
Bayor has written about Atlanta’s segregated history in his book “Race And The Shaping of Twentieth Century Atlanta.”
The existence of the Peyton Wall prompted multiple protests and negative national headlines, which became too much for Atlanta city leaders. A judge later ruled the barrier unconstitutional, and the Peyton Wall was torn down after 72 days.
Bayor said the wall’s impact is still being felt today.
“Generally, Atlanta is still a pretty segregated city, and this is a legacy of what happened before,” Bayor said.
Archie Emerson, the local board president of the Empire Board of Realtists, has seen the impact firsthand.
Emerson represents the same group of Black real estate brokers who fought to help Black homeowners in that neighborhood in the 1960s.
“In order for us to elevate to the next level, we must change our mindset and understand that we have the right of homeownership,” Emerson said.
But in 2025, there are still barriers for Black people, including historical prejudice, economic disparities and denied mortgages.
The most recent data from the Atlanta Regional Commission found that Black homeownership in Fulton County was 25% lower than white homeownership, even though Black people make up a larger percentage of the population.
“So why wouldn’t we continue to fight now? Unfortunately, we’re still fighting,” Emerson said. “So that we can continue to have growth in homeownership. It starts right here on Peyton Road.”
Copyright 2025 WANF. All rights reserved.
Atlanta, GA
When and Where to Watch ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ Season 17 Online
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Sunday, April 5 is a stacked night for Housewives fans. Season 17 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta premieres at 8 p.m. PT/ET, followed directly by the second-ever Real Housewives of Rhode Island episode at 9 p.m. PT/ET. And since The Real Housewives airs on Bravo, cord-cutters can watch new episodes live on any streaming service that carries the network, including DirecTV (with a five-day free trial), Sling and Hulu + Live TV.
Additionally, new Housewives episodes stream on-demand the following day on Peacock (meaning the season 17 premiere drops on Monday, April 6), and while the streamer doesn’t offer a free trial directly, deal seekers can enjoy free Peacock access through partner subscriptions, including DirecTV, Instacart+ and Walmart+. More on each option below.
At a Glance: How to Watch The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 17
- Premiere: Sunday, April 5, 8 p.m. PT/ET (new episodes air weekly during same time slot)
- TV channel: Bravo
- Stream online: DirecTV, Sling and Hulu + Live TV; next day on Peacock
Where to Watch The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 17: Air Date and Time, Stream Online Free
Season 17 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta premieres on Sunday, April 5, at 8 p.m. PT/ET on Bravo, which can be streamed live via DirecTV (with a five-day free trial), Sling or Hulu + Live TV. Remaining episodes will air weekly on Sundays during the same time slot.
Additionally, new episodes will drop on Peacock the day after airing on Bravo. Not a Peacock subscriber? While the streamer itself no longer offers a free trial period, customers who sign up for one of DirecTV’s signature packages — Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate or Premier — can get two months of the Movies Extra Pack + Peacock at no cost (a $19.98 value). Plus, DirecTV offers a five-day free trial for any plan, meaning new members can stream Real Housewives (and everything else the packages have to offer) at no cost during the trial period. Simply select your preferred signature package, then opt to add “Movies Extra Pack + Peacock Premium” where it instructs you to pick your add-ons.
The Best Peacock Subscription Deals and Free Trial Hacks
Prefer to watch it live? Learn more about each option (and their free trials and new subscriber discounts) below.
DirecTV
Five-day free trial; packages from $19.99 per month
Bravo is included in any of DirecTV’s signature packages: Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate or Premier. Plus, DirecTV is offering a five-day free trial for its streaming service, meaning new subscribers can catch new episodes at no cost.
Learn more about each plan option, including how to build your own channel lineup (starting at just $19.99 per month), at directv.com.
Sling
Half off first month for select plans
Bravo is included in Sling’s Blue Plan, starting at $45.99 per month.
For the best bang for your buck, opt for Sling’s Orange & Blue plan, which is currently half off for the first month: $33 for the first month and $65.99 monthly thereafter.
Hulu + Live TV
Three-day free trial; packages from $89.99 per month
Watch Bravo for free with a three-day trial to Hulu + Live TV, which comes bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+, starting at $89.99 per month.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta Cast for Season 17
Newcomers Pinky Cole and K. Michelle join returning cast members Phaedra Parks, Porsha Williams (star of The Traitors season four), Drew Sidora, Kelli Ferrell, Shamea Morton Mwangi and Angela Oakley. Cynthia Bailey will make her RHOA return as a friend-of.
Atlanta, GA
3-year-old dies after being shot in southwest Atlanta
Atlanta police officers investigate a shooting that killed a 3-year-old on April 5, 2026, on Washington Street SW. (FOX 5)
ATLANTA – A 3-year-old child died at the hospital after being shot in southwest Atlanta early Sunday morning, police said.
What we know:
Atlanta police officers responded to the reported shooting near the 900 block of Washington Street SW around 12:37 a.m. on Sunday.
When they arrived, police found that a 3-year-old had been shot.
The child was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital where medical staff pronounced them deceased.
Investigators are still in the preliminary stages of the investigation.
What we don’t know:
Investigators are still working to determine what led to the gunfire and the exact circumstances of how the child was shot.
No suspect descriptions or information regarding potential arrests have been released by the Atlanta Police Department at this time.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from official preliminary reports provided by the Atlanta Police Department.
Atlanta, GA
1 teenage girl killed, another injured in shooting at Piedmont Park, police say
Editor’s note: The video above is from an earlier report.
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — A teenage girl was killed and another was injured in a shooting at Piedmont Park on Saturday night, according to Atlanta police.
The shooting prompted a large police response to the Midtown Atlanta park around 9 p.m., soon after a festival there celebrating the city’s 404 Day, which drew thousands of people, wrapped up.
Upon arrival, officers located two girls with gunshot wounds.
Paramedics pronounced one victim, a 16-year-old, dead at the scene. Her identity has not been released.
The second victim, a 15-year-old, was alert, conscious and breathing, and was taken to the hospital, police said.
Soon after the incident, a witness told Atlanta News First that hundreds of people took off running after dozens of shots were fired.
Police said the park’s permitted 404 Day festival concluded around 7:45 p.m.
“At this time, there is no information indicating that the shooting is connected to that event,” police said.
Instead, the department’s “preliminary investigation indicates the incident stemmed from an unpermitted gathering that occurred near the far west end of the park,” the opposite side of the park from where the festival was being held, police said.
Earlier, a witness told Atlanta News First there was also a “teen takeover” event in the park Saturday night.
Officers were seen gathered around Lake Clara Meer in the heart of the park.
Police shut down surrounding streets, and video captured an ambulance at 12th Street NE and Piedmont Avenue, at the southwest corner of the park.
Police have not announced suspects.
This is a developing story. Check back with Atlanta News First for updates.
Copyright 2026 WANF. All rights reserved.
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