Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1535167
B M & T ••• May/June2025 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 17 The South doesn't audition for relevance—it claims it. From stone courthouses that once divided law from justice, to convention centers built within walking distance of oral histo- ry, the region offers more than settings—it delivers conditions. This is where Black presence moves freely between legislation and lyric, from Gullah-rooted coastlines to university towns where agendas rise beside memory. These destinations don't simply house meetings—they build climates for them. Little Rock turns policy into pageantry. Greensboro steers agendas through legacy. Jackson delivers testimony in full voice. Cities like Orlando, Miami, and Atlanta pair major-league venues with storylines that can't be prefabricated. In Palm Beach, art galleries neighbor historic markers. In Charlotte, executive towers share space with repurposed rail yards. Fort Lauderdale brings Caribbean edge to the conference table. Birmingham sets its chin high—offering more than tribute. The South no longer asks to be discovered. It's organized, prepared, and in full possession of what it offers. For those planning with foresight and con- sequence, this region doesn't stand in the past—it's running the future. BY ZYAN AVRAHAM Mercer Tower in Louisville, Ky