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Period: to
Civil Rights Movements' Main time Frame, and GA's influences
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Benjamin Mays becomes president of Morehouse College.
With this new position, Mays quickly became of national importance. He was a big influence on Martin Luther King Jr., and the two maintained a close relationship until King's death in 1968. Among Mays' other accomplishments, he also helped refine Morehouse College into a fine school and "streamlined the structure of the institution and enhanced its academic reputation." -
Herman Talmadge becomes Governor of GA after Three Governors' Controversy (Somtimes referred to as 1946's Governor's Race)
In March of 1947, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that the Lesgislature had acted unlawfully, and then Herman immediately left office. He then won the special election held in 1948 against Melvin Thompson. (And the subsequent 1950 election which promised him a full four-year term.) Talmadge was, like his father, completely against any and all integration. When the Supreme Court ruled segregation illegal, he was one of the biggest critics of the decision.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Zgc_7QypH0 -
Supreme Court justices unanimously decide to de-legalize segregation in light of the Brown V. Board of Education case.
A congolmoration of five cases, the most famous of which involved a father fighting for her little girl's enrollment at a white school, to ensure a better education. The case placed pressure on the Supreme Court, and the justices decided that the doctrine of "Seperate but equal" had to place in the school system, nor society. -
Supreme Court justices hand down plan on how desegregation was to proceed.
Brown and Brown II were responsible for getting the process underway. -
Georgia's State Flag changes
After the Brown V. Board of Education case had outlawed segregation, many georgia politicians took it upon themselves to not only honor their Civil War fighters with a confederate battle flag, but also to show what Georgia always fought for. (Blacks and whites aren't equal, never have been, and never will be.) Most just followed Governor Marvin Griffin's platform of "Massive Resistance" to desegregation. -
Sibley Commission is created.
John Sibley was chosen as its head by the governor, as he opposed integration. Sibley developed many ways to undercut Federal law and attempt to keep the segregation active in schools, which some people were satisfied with. He tried to minimize Massive Resistance, stating it was futile. The governor at the time, Ernest Vandiver, was later forced to back away from the idea after two black students attempted to join UGA... -
SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) is founded.
The effort was inspired by student-led sit-ins protesting segregated lunch counters in a few states. It "sought to coordinate youth-led nonviolent, direct-action campaigns against segregation and other forms of racism." The SNCC members were instrumental in coordinating Freedom Rides, and the 1963 March on Washington. (Video Link down there)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZE0a5-p9pg -
A federal judge orders that two black students, Hamilton Holmes, and Charlayne Hunter, be admitted to UGA.
Ernest Vandiver (Current Governor) attempted to shut it down, by citing state law to close UGA entirely. The judge revoked his action, and Vandiver was forced to back away from "Massive Resistance". He still agreed to Sibley's proposed methods of slowing down desegregation, and so it was not until the late 1960s that desegregation among school systems truly started in the south. -
Rise of Albany Movement
It was the first modern mass movement whose pure intent was the desegregation of the colored. Over 1,000 African Americans near Albany were arrested as a result. The SNCC played a heavy role in its creation, as three of its members were crucial to making it happen. King attempted to help the movement several times, but later deemed it a failure. Southern African Americans and historians don't seem to think so. (Video Link down there)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCwy1bkObYQ -
Fall of Albany Movement
After King had gotten himself arrested several times attempting to aid the movement, he gave up. The movement didn't completely die, however. Many SNCC workers continued its legacy for many years. Today, Albany is a much different place. It still deals with racial inequality (More African Americans with lower incomes, jailed) but shows definitive growth in the fight for racial equality. -
March on Washington
Around 200,000 people lined Washington D.C.'s streets, all striving for civil rights. The event featured Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I have a dream", speech, and is referred to as a monumental stepping-stone in the process of gaining equality for all. (Video down there)
http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/march-on-washington/videos -
Civil Rights Act Enacted
Ended all desegregation indefinitely. -
Lester Maddox becomes governor after the end of the Democratic Primary's results are in his favor.
While Lester was thought to be on the side of Massive Resistance, instead, he proved to be quite progressive on racial matters. He helped fuel prison reform, among other things. He also helped bring bigger funds to UGA. Despite some later controversy, Lester was still loved by many after his term ended. -
What's left of the SNCC crumbles away after H. Rap Brown, facing legal troubles, ran into hiding.
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Maynard Jackson elected Mayor of Atlanta.
The first African American mayor of a major southern city, who was integration friendly and whose legacy was recognized in the city's largest airport (Harstfield Jackson Airport). He ran two consecutive terms, convinced Andrew Young to replace him for a term, and came back after Young's term was up. Both believed in the same values. (Video Link down there)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajkv5AWMltY
