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Benjamin Mays Becomes President of Morehouse College
Dr. Benjamin Mays was an African-American scholar, educator, and minister. He was a civil rights activist before the movement really picked up in the 1950s and 60s and a mentor to Martin Luther King, Jr. In addition to serving as President of Morehouse College (a historically black college) from 1940 to 1967, Mays was also a key figure in groups such as the NAACP, the YMCA, and the Urban League. -
White Primary Elections in GA End
Blacks' right to vote in general elections was constitutionally guaranteed, but southern Jim Crow laws prevented them from voting in the primary. This was declared unconstitutional, and, in 1946, blacks voted in GA primaries for the first time. -
Herman Talmadge Becomes Governor of GA
After the Three Governors Controversy was resolved, Herman Talmadge was elected in following the special election and served as Georgia's governor until 1954. During his time as governor, the state's public education system saw much improvement due to the state's first-ever sales tax. Talmadge also broguht new industry to the state, but was a segregationist that strongly opposed school integration.
<a href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Zgc_7QypH0s' >Talmadge on the 3 Governors Controversy</a -
Brown vs. Board of Education
5 major school segregation cases from around the US are condensed into Brown vs. Board of Education, in which the Supreme Court decides that "Separate but Equal" is unconstitutional and declares school segregation illegal. This overrules the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896.
Supereme Court Decision -
Rosa Parks Arrested
Rosa Parks, a 42-year old African-American seamstress, refuses to give up her seat in the white section of a bus in Montgomery. The police are called, and she is arrested for violating Jim Crow segregation laws. A major bus boycott followed, which crippled Montgomery's bus company because African-Americans made up around 75% of its business.
Rosa Parks on What Happened -
GA Changes its State Flag
In 1956, the red and white bars on the GA flag are replaced by the Confederate Battle Flag. There are different beliefs as to why this was done, but many agree that it was to commemorate the Confederate Soldiers who lost their lives in the Civil War and to protest school integration and desegregation in Georgia. -
Sibley Commission Formed
In 1959, Georgia's school system was ruled unconstitutional and Ernest Vandiver Jr. (pictured, GA's governor) was forced to integrate it or close it altogether. The Sibley Commission was formed to figure out citizen's point of view on the issue to ease the government's decision, and it was found that 60% of witnesses at the hearings held by the Commission favored total segregation. However, school integration began in late 1960 anyway as a result of pressure from the federal government. -
SNCC founded
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee is founded to organize students in nonviolent protests against segregation and racial discrimination such as sit-ins and freedom rides. Its headquarters were in Atlanta after a meeting in 1860. -
Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter Admitted to UGA
With a federal court order, Georgia is forced to integrate UGA and admits Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter. Both were distinguished students who "would have already been admitted had it not been for their race and color." Holmes was also elected to two honor societies. -
The Albany Movement Begins
The Albany Movement was a mass African-American desegregation movement in Albany started by NAACP and SNCC members. SCLC groups also joined later on. Although considered a failure by MLK Jr., who joined it shortly after its formation, the Movement managed to hold several protests and mass public meetings that did indeed greatly increase African-American voter registration in the area. Throught the Albany Movement, over 1,000 African-Americans were arrested, including Martin Luther King twice. -
MLK Jr. Gives His "I Have A Dream" Speech
Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most distinguished figures in the Civil Rights Movement. He was an eloquent speaker and gave many speeches advocating civil rights, most notably his "I Have A Dream" speech during the March on Washington in 1963. MLK Jr. was also a founding member and first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Cpnference (SCLC), a prominent African-American civil rights organization.
The Full Speech -
The March on Washington
The March on Washington was a gathering of over 250,000 people to oppose segregation and support the passing of the Civil Rights Act then stalled in Congress. Led by members of the NAACP, SCLC, and SNCC, the March was a huge success and was a key factor in the passage of the Civil Rights Act later. The highlight of the event was Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech. -
Civil Rights Act Passed
After heavy debate in both the Senate and the House, the Civil Rights Act pf 1964, considered "one of the crowning legislative achievements of the civil rights movement" is signed into law by president Lyndon B. Johnson. It outlawed segregation based on race, religion, or nationality in any public areas, or by labor unions and employers, among other things.
Civil Rights Act of 1864 -
Lester Maddox Becomes Governor of Georgia
Lester Maddox was a progressive governor who was popular with both whites and African-Americans. He supported major prison reform and increased funding for Georgia's universities along with raising salaries for grade school teachers. Maddox also appointed more African-Americans to state office than all previous governors combined. -
Maynard Jackson Elected Mayor of Atlanta
Maynard Jackson, a Democrat, becomes the first African-American mayor of Atlanta. Under his office, Atlanta's police department was further desegregated to prevent mistreatment of African-Americans. He oversaw construction of an extensive new terminal at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, leading it to be renamed "Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport" in his honor. -
Andrew Young Elected Mayor of Atlanta
Andrew Young immediately followed Maynard Jackson as Atlanta's mayor, becoming the city's second ever and second consecutive African-American mayor. He was a strong advocate of civil rights, programs to help the poor, and education reform. Prior to becoming mayor, he was a pastor and served as both the executive director and later the executive vice president of the SCLC.
