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Behind The Stripes

Curtis Jenkins

By Atlanta United FC

June 19^th, 2023

Curtis Jenkins embodies a strong balance of logic and passion.

He’s confident and self-assured, speaking with a soft clarity that still imbues strength. He wears a black fitted cap with the words “Footie Mob” sewn in gold, representing the supporter group he belongs to.

As one of the vice presidents of Footie Mob, it’s important for Jenkins to possess both qualities. Passion is needed from any supporter that fills a seat at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The supporter section gives life to the stadium, setting the tone for the chants, bringing unparalleled energy and standing 90 minutes on their feet to cheer on their team.

But logic is equally important in a leader like Jenkins because that’s what gets the supporters to the matches on time and creates an atmosphere where everyone feels welcome. It’s what lifts the tents for the tailgate and communicates events for the group. For Jenkins, finding a balance is what creates an impactful experience and gives him perspective.

“There's a level of care that you want to give, you have to give, but you also have to maintain your work life,” he says. “You have a personal life to maintain and you have these outside things that do matter to you. You want to not put something that you're passionate about in the forefront for things that not only are you passionate about as well but have a responsibility to.”

Footie Mob is one of the six official supporter groups of Atlanta United. The first goal of Footie Mob is to grow and diversify the soccer fan base in Atlanta. The group seeks to be a touchpoint for people in Atlanta who are new to the sport. At its core, Footie Mob wants to invite people in and allow them space to get comfortable enough to then pass their knowledge and love onto others.

As a leader, Jenkins serves an important role one might not expect. While he’s in a position of leadership, he can often be found completing behind-the-scenes tasks. He’s not afraid to get in there and do whatever is needed. If it’s helping to set up a tailgate, he does that. He can do things on the backend such as making graphics, as much as his ability allows.

“We want to maintain the culture not only the organization but for the members and make sure there's that consistency of experience,” he says. “No matter if you joined in 2017 or 2023, while it shouldn't be exactly the same, the spirit should remain the same.”

On match days, Jenkins arrives to the Footie Mob tailgate early. There, he does what he does best: he helps and supports. He fills in wherever people need him to and allows those with a passion for the in-game management take the lead in that area.

“Knowing what my strengths and weaknesses are is key to me be able to go, ‘You know what, let me help with logistics that I can do every day of the week.’ But leading a chant? I honestly don't know if I could do that in front of a crowd of like 50,000 people,” he says.

This year, Jenkins has taken his qualities to a new level. The official supporter groups of Atlanta United formed a supporters’ union and Jenkins was elected President. Under his guidance, the groups work on things together. The union also puts all six groups under one umbrella, which helps with communication between supporters and the front office at Atlanta United by creating one point of contact so there’s a clear line of communication.

"Atlanta culture is a culture where anything can happen."

Jenkins, a native of South DeKalb County, takes great pride in his role as a Black leader in Atlanta. He says that, in his role, he can show fellow Black supporters and Atlanta residents that not only can they engage with the sport, but they can also be elected to positions of leadership and power.

“Especially in a city like Atlanta with such an upwardly mobile Black population, you can't ignore that,” he says. “You have to engage with it. You have to engage with it honestly, and with the full idea that these people are not only going to be your customer, for lack of a better term, but they want to be full participants. They want to be right there with you in the tailgate, in the supporter section, at the away games, at the watch parties. People want to get involved.”

Jenkins says that there is room for growth when it comes to the Black population responding to the efforts of Atlanta United. As someone who was born and raised in Atlanta, he’s seen empty stadiums in the past and what it looks like when a team doesn’t quite find that connection to the community. Now, feels a responsibility to be a liaison between the club and their supporters to keep that connection strong.

“I think sometimes sports forget that it is a community and that it's not just a business,” he says. “The players may come and go, the personnel can come and go, but people live in their cities for their lifetimes. And in some ways, they own the team more than the people who pay the checks.”

For Jenkins, bringing more Black people into Atlanta United means increasing visibility. When people see themselves in the sport and welcomed by the club – in the athletes, in the messaging, in the promotions, in the retail – they often find more meaning and want to be part of it, as Jenkins explains:

“I think when people look at soccer, or anything, they look for someone who looks like them, who has a similar story to them to latch on to and go, ‘Okay, if they did it, I can do it. If they're having fun, I can have fun.’ And I think that ties back into the story of Atlanta as well. It’s where everyone is welcome. No one is out of place. And to be able to have a sport where it traditionally hasn't looked as diverse or been as diverse as we would define it now, to have a place where people can celebrate Juneteenth, Pride, AAPI month, Latin American History Month, etc., all in the same group and have every group have their moment to shine and be respected is the purpose of why we do what we do.”

Part of increasing visibility is paying homage to Black culture and history. And that includes recognizing and celebrating Juneteenth, or June 19, the date that commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth signifies when Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas in 1865 and announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state were freed.

As Juneteenth is becoming more widely acknowledged in the sports world – Atlanta United will be honoring Juneteenth at their next home match on June 21 against New York City FC – Jenkins says he takes pride in the fact that people are learning more about what it represents. People are coming to realize how freedom for Black citizens was a longer process than what is known. Most people assume that the Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 was the end of all slavery. The executive order was important, but it still took time for Black citizens to be recognized as equal. In fact, Juneteenth occurred in 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Having a singular moment like Juneteenth, a one-day celebration that exists across the board, is impactful. Because it’s a single day, rather than a month-long event, the holiday can have a strong influence. And the fact that it’s so close to the Fourth of July means that within about a two-week span, the United States celebrates two national Independence days.

“It's cool for me to see the narrative of it and the understanding that we grow for people to understand that abolition wasn't just the Emancipation Proclamation and that's it guys. It was a long battle,” Jenkins says. “It was a series of steps that were progressive along the way. Some military strategically, others more socially and others just because it was the right thing to do, finally. But it's very good to see that people are embracing the holiday, the ideas behind it, and even some of the some of the philosophies of it.”

"At its base, Juneteenth has always been a celebration."

Juneteenth-inspired traditions can be seen in a lot of what we see on match days. Back in the 19th century, meat wasn’t something people ate every day, especially people of a lower economic status. So, the idea of a barbecue, with a large hog or cattle that was cooked for the community, marked a special occasion. Incidentally, it’s not so unlike a tailgate – a lot of the food being brought out to people to share together and have a communal experience.

Another important tradition of Juneteenth is the color red. The color is important to the holiday because it honors the West African tradition of red being a color of power and something good for the community. Thus, a lot of foods eaten for Juneteenth are red. Not only are fruits like watermelon and strawberries in peak season in mid-June, but they’re also symbolic of African roots and to the people who were freed. Red velvet cake is also a popular dessert to commemorate the day.

“At its base, Juneteenth has always been a celebration,” Jenkins says.

The type of togetherness Juneteenth promotes is something Jenkins and Footie Mob try to live out as well beyond June 19. The work the group does isn’t limited to one day a year – or matchdays alone. A key component of Footie Mob’s identity is the tradition of Southern hospitality. The group wants to show people that they can have fun and be accepted with Footie Mob, whether they are new to soccer or a lifelong fan.

“I would say they're already accepted whether they know it or not,” Jenkins says. “I would say don't question the acceptance because you are. Now it's just a matter of what would you like to do? Where does your passion lie within this thing? Are you an artist? Are you someone who relishes being part of the crowd? Are you someone who loves doing more background nuts and bolts things? There is a place for everyone to do something.”

Another pillar for Footie Mob is bringing more awareness of Atlanta culture to professional soccer and MLS. The group seeks to show Southern traditions and educate others on what Atlanta culture means. The idea is one that Jenkins articulates clearly, and his definition of Atlanta culture is one full of hope.

“Atlanta culture is a culture where anything can happen,” he says. “It doesn't occur to us that people shouldn't be in the same room or that anyone shouldn't be in a place. It's everyone is allowed any time to do anything. And when you don't question that you have this unbridled creativity that can flourish here.”

Jenkins references the Atlanta music scene as a good example. As a whole, the Georgia music scene has produced household names, including Otis Redding, R.E.M. and the B-52’s. Many know Atlanta as the capital of hip-hop music, producing well-known artists such as OutKast, Usher, and Future. Freaknik, a famous street party celebrating Black culture and Black musicians that grew in popularity during the 1990s, also exemplifies the type of cultural celebration that the creativity born in Atlanta can bring.

“You have so many different people who come from this fertile ground of possibility that I think that's what Atlanta culture is," he added. "It's the culture of whatever you want to do, you can do it and no one's going to stop you.

Story by Sandy McAfee / Photos by Kyle Hess & Atlanta United

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