Auburn Avenue is home to historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthplace, and his tomb. But, tucked away just off the avenue is a small space that pays tribute to a unique aspect of African-American heritage – The Madam Museum.
It's the personal collection of Ricci Deforest, and he has turned it into a place celebrating an African-American pioneer of hair care -- Madam C. J. Walker.
"It's almost like the spirits just dictated, that you do something other than just crank out hair," said Deforest.
Those spirits spoke on an ordinary day. He says was cruising through Atlanta's Auburn district when suddenly a name on a window stopped him like a record scratch: Madam C. J. Walker Beauty Shoppe.
She was a pioneer in African-American beauty and hair care, and self-made millionaire in the early 1900s. Deforest says the building was an original beauty shop owned by a Walker agent.
"Flash-forward 30 years, I need a new location, I come back over here, and the name is still on the window," said Deforest.
Inside the building, deForest says he found pressing combs and pullers. He calls the tools sacred. They are vintage tools used on African-American hair in the days when the south was covered with signs like: WE SERVE COLORED -- CARRY OUT ONLY.
"By virtue of the fact that this is my desk, and I can sit in front of this sign, it's like I am paying homage to those that were suffering as a result of this sign," said Deforest.
A decade after moving in, Deforest still does hair at the location. With the artifacts, signs and thousands of classic albums on display, he calls it a museum. It's a place where you can chill out and listen to Billy Eckstine and reflect on the area's unique history of survival.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:37 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:37:15 GMT
You've seen us handing out Good Day Gas Money for weeks now, and Gurvir and Karen have met plenty of those lucky winners in person.
You've seen us handing out Good Day Gas Money for weeks now, and Gurvir and Karen have met plenty of those lucky winners in person. But Paul turned up the heat when he enlisted the help of two actresses from the new movie Operation Heat to play a little prank on his unsuspecting coworkers.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:30 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:30:53 GMT
Does your summer road trip include mouth-watering stops at mom-and-pop eateries? Ours does, and it'll be even better with the help of a new Southern Living book!
Off the Eaten Path: Second Helpings is dedicated to finding the best meals in the south-- and it features some great restaurants right here in north Georgia. Good Day's Paul Milliken checked out two of those gems-- The Hil in Serenbe, and Weaver D's in Athens! As usual, he didn't leave hungry.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:17 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:17:14 GMT
The new season of Masterchef features a local contestant from the metro area! Jessie Lysiak is from Social Circle, and she's about to make her big debut on the hit FOX show.
The new season of Masterchef features a local contestant from the metro area! Jessie Lysiak is from Social Circle, and she's about to make her big debut on the hit FOX show. But first, she stopped by Good Day to cook us up one of her favorite recipes.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 9:56 AM EDT2013-05-22 13:56:24 GMT
Americans are known for their pearly whites, but we pay for it—and it isn't cheap.
Americans are known for their pearly whites, but we pay for it—and it isn't cheap. If you have more than one child who needs braces, you have quite an expense on your hands—but FOX 5 I-Team reporter Dana Fowle found some ways to make it a little more manageable.
This week's Good Day Casting Call is loaded with opportunities! Whether you're a jock, a hipster, or a funky-looking worker (WHAT?), there's a job on the big screen for you!
This week's Good Day Casting Call is loaded with opportunities! Whether you're a jock, a hipster, or a funky-looking worker (WHAT?), there's a job on the big screen for you!
Our own Katie Beasley is about to get hitched! She's finally finished planning her big day, and she did lots of it herself. She let us in on her DIY secrets on Good Day!
Our own Katie Beasley is about to get hitched! She's finally finished planning her big day, and she did lots of it herself. She let us in on her DIY secrets on Good Day!
Wednesday, May 22 2013 9:29 AM EDT2013-05-22 13:29:22 GMT
Summer is almost here, and that means lots of people will be hitting the roads on vacation. But before you go, don't forget to give your car a little TLC to get it ready for the highway.
Summer is almost here, and that means lots of people will be hitting the roads on vacation. But before you go, don't forget to give your car a little TLC to get it ready for the highway.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:51 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:51:47 GMT
Chances are your child or someone in your child's class has at least one food allergy.
Chances are your child or someone in your child's class has at least one food allergy. A study by the CDC released last week shows that one in every 20 kids is dealing with food allergies. It's a challenge, but doctors say it's important that kids get diagnosed and treated.
