When people think of Augusta, they automatically think of golf. But in the words of Mr. Walter "Roundhead" Newton, this is James Brown's town – home of the golden blocks, birthplace of Springfield Baptist, and the founding ground of Morehouse College. Only two hours from Atlanta, the second-largest city in Georgia remains predominantly Black and steeped in Black history! Here are my recommendations on how to spend a weekend supporting Black-owned Augusta!
Eat
Cafe on 8th: As soon as we arrived at Cafe on 8th, a delightful aroma greeted us at the door. Greeted by two smiling young ladies and the Chef, my eyes grew wide as I perused the menu. Flavored waffles? HOW, I said to myself. I've never had a grits and salmon-infused waffle, and now that's the only way I will eat them! The food was memorable and delicious, and meeting the owner, Mr. Dallas Hooks, and hearing his vision for the restaurant and the local community is why I'll always support him. Truly inspiring – get your taste buds ready.
The Brunch House of Augusta: We made the mistake of arriving late on a Saturday morning – and take it from me, DON'T. With lines out the door, if you don't arrive first thing, the Brunch House of Augusta is clearly a favorite! Owned and operated by Mr. Asian Brown, it feels like home from the moment you walk in. Make sure you come hungry because the portions are large. It was so good we came back the next day! By Day two, we knew everyone's name, and they greeted us with warmth and excitement. I had the regular shrimp and grits on day one, and they also have the option of the low country shrimp and grits, which I heard do not disappoint! And on day two, I had the chicken and waffles with home fries – and both days, I CLEANED MY PLATE! I'm talking not one morsel could be found. Open until 3pm daily, trust us when we say get there!
Humanitree House: As soon as you walk into Humanitree, you feel a sense of community. Colors, fresh scents, art, and vibes – I was excited to visit Augusta's Health Food Haven! I got to the register and asked the employees what to order, and to my surprise, I said, "I know you." One of the long-time employees, Truez, and I met in 2018 when I first started this journey of representation in the travel industry.
Not only was it a full-circle moment, but I knew whatever he told me to get, I could trust! Juice and a wrap it was for me, and with the freshest ingredients, everything was perfect. I had a chance to eat physically, but when I sat down with Brother B, my soul got fed too.
Learning his Augusta story made me appreciate my health and meal that much more. He also gave us a private tour of the space where he also paints, and his work is incredible! Brother B paints solely with his fingers, and it was a sight to see. We had to get to our next location, but we did not want to leave Humanitree. Go for the food, stay for the vibes.
Lennox on 10th: Lennox on tenth was our first introduction to Augusta cuisine, and we knew that if this was what we could expect, it would be a great weekend. I'm an aesthetics person, and from the moment I walked in, I wanted every painting, picture, and anything they didn't have pinned down that celebrated the culture. With photos of James Brown, Outkast, MJ, and Dolly P, I knew it was going to be a time. I love a good drink name, and all theirs made me smile. I had a "Call Me Old Fashioned" and an "I'm sorry Ms. Jackson"! We ordered so much as we were starving and couldn't believe the food came out within 10 minutes! Everything was good. Lennox on 10th is also referred to as "this must be the place," and there is always something interactive going on! This particular night was Karaoke, and the host was so good. We recommended Lennox on tenth to a couple we were on a tour with. We were eating at a restaurant across the street when we saw them walking out, bellies full and a smile on their faces!
Learn
Black History Tour: If you have the chance to book Mr. Corey Rogers, PLEASE DO! He makes the streets of Augusta come alive with vibrant stories and first-hand accounts. Black Churches of Augusta come in abundance, and as someone who grew up in the church, I love all the history. Everyone will tell you you must visit Springfield Baptist church and village. Walking into the church, I felt at home. With tall ceilings and those traditional pews, I thought to myself if these walls could talk. With superior architecture, this is the birthplace of Morehouse college. Learning that history and seeing the photo on the wall of prominent people in Morehouse history gave me insights and knowledge I didn't previously have. Across the street from the church is the village that commemorates the legacy and aspirations of the oldest black church in the United States. If you visit the church, you must visit the village.
This tour is filled with so many gems it's hard to not write a book on all that you can experience. I appreciated the things shared because these are the stories left out of the Augusta Narrative. From the Bohlers to Amanda Dickson, the Penny Savings loan bank, and the Laney Walker corridor, I highly recommend this tour as it explores #ouraugusta.
Lucy Craft Laney Museum: The Lucy Craft Laney Museum Of Black History is a true gift, and without it, our stories wouldn't be told. Committed to preserving the legacy of Black Augusta history, the museum was the original reason we came. Inside the museum, they have an exhibit called "Men on the Bag" – a dedicated collection of narratives and accomplishments of the Black Caddies of Augusta. Now, everyone talks about the Masters tournament, but there's a significant piece of the story left out – the real heroes, the men who knew the greens better than anyone else! I had the pleasure of conducting an interview there with Mr. Walter "Roundhead" Newton Jr., and we had a time! Learning about the Black caddies like Iron man, cemetery, and cigarette to name a few had me feeling like I was right there at the caddie's house with them. Talking junk, eating a pork chop sandwich, and waiting for the tournament to commence. There is so much to learn in the Laney museum, and I encourage you to go and learn about Augusta's famous Black Caddies!
James Brown Family History Tour: The James Brown Family History Tour is one that you can't miss! Let me tell you now, it's filled with his music, and you will still be singing "Get Up" months later! I mean counting yourself in and everything! You'll be calling Maseo before it's all said and done. I loved this intimate tour that chronicles James Brown's life at every age and stage in Augusta. There was one moment we went to his elementary school, and as we were riding through the neighborhood, they were blasting his music! That, of course, showed me how much impact he continues to have. James Brown was instrumental to the Black community and those in need in Augusta. The way he serviced his community is a common theme throughout the tour. His approachability despite his fame was refreshing, and no lie throughout the whole weekend, we would meet someone who talked about how he helped them and how kind he was. This narrative was important to me because people paint other pictures, and this is the one I want to remember.
We also had the pleasure of being guided through his exhibit at the Augusta Museum of History with his daughter Dr. Yamma Brown. For me, that was a top 20 lifetime experience of all time. Because she is his daughter, the exhibit came alive even more with her personal stories and experiences with her father. We stayed, danced, sang, and even had the opportunity to have a live performance from the James Brown Academy of Musik Pupils! These kids could sing, play instruments, and dance, and they were truly a highlight!
Play
The Patch: Now we can't talk about Augusta without mentioning golf in some ways, and for Black golfers, Augusta National is not their place of refuge; the Patch is! Augusta Municipal, a.k.a "The Patch," is a course steeped with history itself. When we pulled up, I felt an immediate sense of pride and excitement because I understood what this meant for the Black Golf community. We pulled up to Jim Dent Way, and I smiled understanding that he is the most decorated Black golfer in history! With no intention of running into him, that's exactly what happened! We were getting out of the car when I stopped a man getting in his. "Excuse me," I said, "Why do you love the patch?" and his response, "Because the patch loves me."
We walked in and were greeted by the manager, Demarcus. When I told him I was here for a story about the Black caddies and the impact they've had on the gold world, he told me that there might be someone I want to talk to. He said, the pro is back in the conference room. My eyes got wide, "Mr. Dent is here???" I ran back there so fast, and when I opened the door, there were about 10 men staring at me. "How can we help you, dear," one man said. I said, "I'm here to talk about the Black caddies and the impact they've had on the game." Everyone turned to the pro and said talk to him. I kid you not; I was sooooo excited to get an interview with Mr. Dent and virtually bought everything in the gift shop! The Patch is so important to our narrative, and I encourage everyone to support the patch and play a few rounds there.
To see the full interview we did on the "Black Caddies of Augusta" watch here.
Augusta is a great destination full of history, great eats, and an undeniable sense of legacy. I can say I was pleasantly surprised, and I can't wait to return!