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End of White Primary
In March of 1945, King won the King vs Chapman case, which resulted in the end of the white primary. Blacks in Georgia officially had the right to vote with nothing standing in their way from this date on. -
Eugene Talmadge's Death
Herman Talmadge Interview on Three Governors ControversyWhen Eugene Talmadge died on this date, there was a lot of confusion about who would take his place. Herman Talmadge, Ellis Arnall, and Melvin Thompson all thought they should be governor, leading to the "Three Governers Controversy". The 1946 governor's race was one of the most bizarre events in Georgia's history. -
Herman Talmadge Sworn In
Herman Talmadge served as governer for a couple of months in 1947 duing the "Three Governors Controversy", but had to run again in a special election to settle the disagreement in 1948. Talmadge won the election and was sworn into office on this date. -
Brown vs Board of Education
Montgomery Bus Boycott VideoBrown vs. Board of Education VideoThe U.S. Supreme Court declared that segregation in schools went against the 14th amendment, making it unconstitutional and illegal, on this date. The Board of Education began integrating schools soon afterwards. -
MLK Montgomery Bus Boycott
Montgomery Bus Boycott VideoThe Montgomery Bus Boycott started on this date and lasted a little over a year. It was led by Martin Luther King Jr. and was the first civil rights movement that brought him to attention. After this successful boycott, Martin Luther King Jr. became a very well-known civil rights activist. -
1956 State Flag
John Sammons Bell suggested that Georgia get a new state flag that incorporated the Confederate Battle Flag. During the 1956 General Assembly session, a bill was introduced to change the state flag and was signed on this date. -
Sibley Commission Created
The Sibley Commission was created in 1960. Since Governor Vandiver was having a hard time deciding whether he should close public schools or desegregate them, he decided to have a committee led by John Sibley to find out what the people of Georgia thought. The committee helped make sure desegregation of schools wasn't violent, but there was still a lot of resistance towards integration of schools. -
SNCC Founded
The SNCC was founded in April of 1960. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee was a group of students that protested against segregation. The group was known for organizing nonviolent civil rights movements like protests and sit-ins. -
Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes to UGA
In January of 1961, Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes became the first African American students to attend the University of Georgia. There was still a lot of resistance towards integration at this time, so having two black students at UGA was a big step towards desegregation. -
Albany Movement Formed
The Albany Movement was a coalition formed on this date that worked together to bring attention towards the civil rights movement and end segregation/discrimination in Albany, Georgia. -
March on Washington
March on Washington VideoOne of the largest political rallies in history occurred in Washington, D.C. on this date to fight against segregation and discrimination towards African Americans. This march was one of the causes of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 the Voting Rights Act of 1965. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Civil Rights Act of 1964 DocumentThe Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination towards all. Along with banning racism, it also made sure discrimination based on gender, religion, or national origin was completely illegal. The act was signed on this date by President Lyndon B. Johnson. -
Lester Maddox Sworn In
Lester Maddox was sworn in as Georgia'a governor on this date. Maddox was known for being racist and resisting against the Civil Rights Act. He refused to serve African Americans at his restaurant and was openly against segregation. Despite his reputation as a racist, he actually played a big role in improving employment for blacks. -
Benjamin Mays Elected to Board of Education
After years of fighting for civil rights and trying to end segregation, Benjamin Mays was elected president of the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education on this date. Mays was a big contribution to desegregation and got to watch while it happened in schools after years of hard work and protesting. -
Maynard Jackson Elected Mayor
Maynard Jackson was elected mayor of Atlanta in 1973. Jackson worked to improve race relations in Georgia. He also helped rebuild Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport and was reponsible for getting money from the federal government to pay for the construction of MARTA. -
Andrew Young Elected Mayor
Andrew Young was elected mayor of Atlanta on this date. Young was a civil rights activist and was very involved in the civil rights movement. Along with being the mayor of Atlanta, he spent time serving as a Congressman and the United States Ambassador to the United Nations.
