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Benjamin Mays
In 1940, Mays became Morehouse College's president. At that point in time, the college was extremely lacking in its financial status, and Atlanta University had to take over its finances. But, Benjamin Mays was able to gain back authority of its finances and establish name and fame for the college. His most prominent role, though, was teaching Martin Luther King Jr. during his undergraduate years. His words became the base for King's message and the Civil Rights Movement. -
Three Governors Controversy
Three Governors ControversyAfter Eugene Talmadge's death in late December,1946, three people staked their claims as governor-Ellis Arnall, who was strongly against Talmadge's supremacist policies, and acted as Georgia's outgoing governor, Melvin Thompson, who was Georgia's lieutenant governor, and according to the state constitution, the rightful heir to the seat, and Henry Talmadge, Eugene's son who had been a secret write-in candidate. To resolve this issue, the Supreme Court called for a reelection in 1948; Henry won. -
Henry Talmadge
As the governor of Georgia, he created the state's first sales tax system, and used it to improve our public schools. He brought in new industry, namely, the timber industry. He opposed integration of public schools, and wrote a book titled "You and Segregation" to support his views. When he became the U.S. Senator in 1956, he joined the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry and promoted Georgia's farming practices, products (most importantly, peanuts) and prices. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
Brown vs. Board of EducationIn1951, Oliver Brown filed a case against Kansas's Board of Education opposing racial segregation. He stated that his daughter, Linda, had to go to a school for blacks that's 1.6 km away, when she had a school just six blocks away from home. After four years, in 1954, the Supreme Court ruled against segregation with a unanimous vote of nine to nill. The new court ruling went against the Plessy vs. Ferguson decision of seperate, but equal facilities. -
Martin Luther King Jr.
Following Gandhi's foot steps, King used nonviolent means to achieve equality for African Americans. After Rosa Parks's arrest, he became the leader of the Montgomerry Bus Boycott, asking for justice. Apart from that, he has lead the Selma to Montgomery March, Washington March and other sit-ins, all promoting fair treatment of blacks. He co-founded the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) whose motto was "Not one hair...of one person should be harmed." His "I have a Dream" is famous -
State Flag of Georgia
After the Brown vs. Board of Education incident, the Georgian leaders loathed the idea of having to segregate. They were backed with rural whites who hated to yield to the blacks. Therefore, John Sammons Bell implanted the idea of including the Confederate flag in the state flag, to prove that Georgia will uphold segregation. Unlike Mississippi's flag with the confederate emblem on the far upper corner, two thirds of Georgia's flag had the emblem on it. -
Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee
The SNCC was organized by Ella Baker, director of the SCLC. She wanted even black students to have a say on segregation, and participate in the Civil Rights Movement. Students began protesting by performing sit-ins at lunch counters where they weren't allowed, especially Greensboro. Three of SNCC's members were killed by the Ku Klux Klan for its progressive actions. Over time, the organization's leaders leaned towards a more violent approach, which lead to police arrests and the group's end. -
Sibley Commission
After Hooper ruled that desegregation must be done within one year's time, Governor Vandiver was stumped; the court made integration mandatory, but the people wanted segregation. In order to come to a conclusion, his staff, Bell, decided to send a commission throughout Georgia in order to get the people's view on the issue. Sibley was asssigned the task, hence the name. Though the people opposed integration, the Federal Government steppend in; to avoid problems with them, Vandiver yielded. -
Andrew Young
In 1961, Young joined the SCLC and took part in the Civil Rights Movement by joining the protests in Albany, Washington, Birmingham etc. He became the first African American to be elected into the US House of Representatives from GA Congress since the Reconstruction period. After returning to Atlanta, he served as cochair for the 1996 Olympic games, and was influential in promoting economic development in GA. He is also known for his actions during the state flag controversy. -
First blacks to enter UGA-Holmes and Hunter
Student Arguement on the issue. This link also provides information along with the video. -
Albany Movement
Blacks in Albany came together to march and protest for equality and integration, which resulted in 500 blacks being sent to jail. In order to gain attention and support, they called in MLK, who was also arrested and released later during the course. King's sentiment of failing to make a change was not agreed upon, since 2 months after his departure, segregation statutes had been removed from books. From this failure, he acheived success in Birmingham. -
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Lester Maddox
Lester Maddox Speech.
Maddox owned his own restaurant, called Pickrick Cafeteria, and was known to be a staunch segregationist, not allowing blacks in his cafe. Even after the Civil Rights Act had been passed, he forcibly turned away three blacks from his cafe. This made the news and earned him a bad reputation. As GA's governor, he appointed the most no.of blacks to political power in GA and supported prison reform. -
Voting Rights Act
When blacks conducted peaceful protests for voting rights by marching, they were vandalized severely by the Alabama state troops on March 7, 1965. As a result, President Johnson passed this act and made the Jim Crow Laws invalid. Even though the blacks could now vote freely , the south tried to suppress their rights. Nevertheless, this act was taken into advantage during the Civil Rights Movement and Martin Luther King was able to push for equality and justice. -
Maynard Jackson - Mayor of Atlanta
Increased businesses going to minority firms. Worked to bring the 1996 Olympics to Atlanta. He ran against Massel and won, thus becoming GA's first black mayor in 1973. Hartsfield Jackson Airport is named after him because he built its terminal using minority businesses. He lessened mistreatment of blacks in police offices and helped them to raise in positions.
